Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 59, Deal Made, Boeing 80 Delivered
Boeing sales representative Neil Toledo picked up a ceramic bottle of Shuang Gou Da Qu liquor and poured himself a cup.

He gulped it down in one go, then ate the vegetables with a fork and scooped up the peanuts with a spoon.

He's a heavy drinker, and alcohol makes him very active.

"Two years ago, our company developed a twin-engine fast bomber, the B-9, for the Army, which can reach speeds of 186 miles per hour."

A mile is 1.6 kilometers, a standard still used in Commonwealth countries and the United States at that time.

Fang Wen used a pen to calculate on paper that it was approximately 300 kilometers.

The speed is amazing.

Neil continued speaking.

"The Army was very satisfied with this high-speed fighter and asked us to continue developing high-speed fighters. We spent more than a year developing it and finally determined the model to be P26-A. This is a great change. Biplanes will eventually be phased out, and the future belongs to high-speed monoplanes."

"Well, what about P26-B?" Fang Wen steered the conversation at the opportune moment.

"The P26-B was an improvement proposal put forward by the Army. They wanted a fighter jet with a higher speed. To this end, we replaced the R-1340-27 engine with the R-1340-33 engine. However, the fuel injection system that came with this engine had problems, and it was eventually returned by the Army."

“There’s a problem.” Fang Wen gave Shunzi a look, and he told him to open another bottle of Shuang Gou Da Qu.

After pouring Neil a drink, Fang Wen asked, "Could you explain the fuel injection device? I don't know anything about it."

“Sure,” Neil said, speaking fluently about his professional work. “This kind of equipment uses high pressure to spray fuel at high speed through the fuel nozzle and into the injection pump. In the injection pump, the high-speed fuel flow drives and mixes with the surrounding low-speed fuel flow, and then enters the diffuser. In the diffuser, the fuel flow velocity decreases, the fuel pressure increases, and finally flows out at a certain pressure to supply the system.”

It's a bit complicated. Fang Wen felt that even if he had the knowledge to witness the next few decades, he still wouldn't be able to understand what the other person was saying.

This is called specialization.

He thought of Huo Duanyang, a top chemistry student; perhaps he could understand.

He then leaned back and said to Shunzi, who was standing behind him, "Go and call Huo Duanyang here."

Shunzi ran out of the cafeteria and returned a few minutes later with Huo Duanyang.

Fang Wen handed the translated text to Huo Duanyang.

"What do you think this means?"

"An oil injection device?" Huo Duanyang examined it carefully and replied, "It should probably be a pressurized oil supply device that can ensure a stable oil supply."

The device designed to ensure a stable oil supply was ultimately returned by the U.S. Army due to its own instability.

Fang Wen and Neil continued their conversation.

"Can the injection oil system be repaired?"

"Of course, but the Army doesn't want to accept this design flaw, so we have to stop production of this model."

"Where are the P26-Bs that have already been produced?"

"There are two of them in the company warehouse. They may be disposed of as scrap after the financial inventory in two years."

"If I want to buy a P26-B, is that possible?"

Nilton sobered up immediately.

He still remembered what Fang Wen had said before.

"This is your plan? Give me a supply of tung oil from the East, and I'll give you a P-26B?"

Neil's words were not part of Fang Wen's plan.

Fang Wenben thought he would use tung oil as bait and then pay a high price to buy the P26-B.

Driven by self-interest, Neil might agree.

But now, Neil is actually willing to trade tung oil for a P26-B for the sake of the tung oil business.

This is obviously more cost-effective; all we need to do is have my fourth brother-in-law bring over another batch of tung oil to complete the transaction.

To confirm what the other party was saying, Fang Wen asked.

"Are you sure you can get it? I need a P26-B that's working perfectly."

“I’m sure, but we need to do it differently. It will be included in the trade fighter jet project, and we can modify its paint scheme to make it like the M281.” According to Neil, Fang Wenming is ostensibly buying Boeing’s export fighter jet 'M281', but in reality, he has acquired a P26-B fighter jet.

This is a win-win deal.

However, we still need to discuss the details.

"Given the current situation, I require you to be in charge of freight transportation, and all final payments must be made after the goods are received at the port."

"Yes, the tung oil can be loaded onto the ship and the plane can arrive at the port at the same time, just like in this transaction."

“I need double the quota for all the accessories for P26-B.”

"That will require additional payment."

"no problem."

Fang Wen extended his hand and smiled, "It's a pleasure to cooperate with you."

Neil was all smiles, his drunkenness completely gone.

The fighter jet deal has been completed.

This collaboration differs from the purchase of the Boeing 80; it is a private transaction that benefits both parties.

Neil could make more profit from this, such as from long-term tung oil trading and the price difference from reselling the P26-B testing machine.

For Fang Wen, it was an even bigger win. The P26-B with its fuel injection system repaired was even better than the P26-A that the US Army was about to equip, giving him more confidence in future air combat.

Meanwhile, due to the signing of the armistice agreement, although there were still Japanese troops in Zhabei District, people's daily economic activities were gradually resuming.

Members of the eight prominent families returned to Shanghai and began preparations for a private airline.

The airline was named Taishan Airlines, which means "as stable as Mount Tai," to reassure passengers.

As for the airport, they leased the airport from China Airlines. These days, there are only two airlines, and there is no conflict in the routes. In addition, because of Fang Wen, a long-time employee of the company, China Airlines does not mind having an extra stable income.

Promotional materials for the airline have also begun.

Newspapers sold by newsboys on the streets and alleys all carried advertisements for Taishan Airlines.

During the breaks in radio broadcasts, information about the upcoming opening of Taishan Airlines was also broadcast.

Twenty days later, a cargo ship flying the American flag docked at the Shiliupu Wharf in Shanghai.

May 16th, 1932 (the 21st year of the Republic of China).

The Shiliupu Wharf, located on the upper reaches of the Huangpu River in Shanghai, is as bustling as ever.

This is the largest passenger terminal in Shanghai, with a large number of passenger ships coming and going every day.

Cargo ships from overseas also pass through the mouth of the Yangtze River and enter the Huangpu River, stopping here.

Passenger and freight transport are separated by a distance.

The passenger terminal on one side was bustling with people.

On the other side of the cargo terminal, laborers carried sacks off cargo ships and stepped onto wooden planks to reach the cargo warehouse.

The loud whistle of a ship in the distance attracted people's attention, and they all turned to look at the Huangpu River.

That's a huge cargo ship!

To avoid colliding with ships on the river during its voyage, it continuously sounded its horn as a warning.

Shanghai coast guard vessels sailed over and boarded the ship to investigate the situation.

While the cargo ship was anchored on the river, some sharp-eyed people spotted something on board.

"Is that an airplane?!"

"By the way, these past few days everyone's been talking about Taishan Airlines, saying they're shipping large aircraft from the US. I think that's what it is."

"It's huge, it can barely fit on the deck, and it's still tied down with so many cables."

(End of this chapter)