For everyone in the conference room, although Fang Lang's proposal was incomprehensible to them, it was undoubtedly the best choice for the situation they were facing now. Lan
They had no objection to Fang Lang's idea of increasing the purchase price of trainer aircraft to share research and development costs.
General Nairo Mora was very aware of Fang Lang's relationship with the Fangyuan Group, and understood that Fang Lang's current actions must have an element of giving him face, which moved him very much.
"General Fang, I will remember your friendship in my heart, and all our colleagues in the Air Force will also remember it deeply. Thank you for solving our biggest problem."
In fact, Fang Lang felt that this matter was actually a trivial matter. Although Fang Lang said it was very complicated, it was not difficult for Fangyuan Group to redesign a propeller trainer aircraft.
Since Professor Tan Ke is not interested in this kind of propeller aircraft, it can just give other young designers who have no chance to display their talents a good exercise. With Professor Tan Ke's guidance, young people will definitely be able to grow up quickly.
This is not a bad thing for Yuan Aircraft Manufacturing Company. As for the funds required, Fang Lang doesn't think it's a big deal.
As for the piston engines used in aircraft, Fang Lang is not worried at all. You must know that during World War II, Mercedes-Benz was also one of Germany's important aircraft engine suppliers, although it could not be compared with BMW. Lan
But the bd600-bd603 series engines he produced were also widely used by the German army. Unfortunately, this engine is an inverted V-type engine, which is somewhat different from the star layout of the American aircraft engines currently used in Brazil.
If you want to re-entrust Mercedes-Benz to research the radial engine, it will obviously be time-consuming and labor-intensive and not cost-effective.
In addition, Fang Lang has several options, such as seeking support from the Bristol Company of Earnhardt's family in the UK, and Pratt & Whitney in the United States.
Judging from Brazil's current situation, the most appropriate option is obviously to seek support from Pratt & Whitney in the United States, or even purchase technology.
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Pratt & Whitney's R-1830 "Wasp" radial layout engine is undoubtedly the best choice. Why did Fang Lang think of this engine immediately?
The reason is very simple. First of all, this engine was the most produced aircraft engine in the entire World War II. A full 173,618 units were produced, accounting for 47.7% of Pratt & Whitney's total production during World War II.
Such a large output means that this is a very mature product, and the repair and maintenance costs will be very low. Lan
Second, during the war, General Motors helped Hewlett-Packard produce 50,000 units of this model, and it had already understood the technical key points of this engine. With the cooperative relationship between Fang Lang and the Morgan family, it is not difficult to negotiate the technical authorization of this engine.
Third, among the fighter jets currently used by the naval aviation under his command, the F4F "Wildcat" fighter jet and the C-47 "Sky Train" transport aircraft all use this engine. If this engine is introduced, the later maintenance costs will be greatly reduced. .
With so many benefits, it was inevitable for Fang Lang to choose this model. As for the difficulty of introduction, Fang Lang was not worried. If the Morgan family was invited to apply, it shouldn't be difficult.
In addition, Pratt & Whitney has already begun to engage in jet engine research, and it obviously does not attach much importance to this obviously outdated product.
If you really don't want to transfer it, the worst case scenario is that Fang Lang will just sell it! As for samples, Shatta Company has plenty of them in its warehouse. Let the researchers make slight changes to avoid some patent troubles and just produce it directly.
Thinking of this, Fang Lang even felt that this piston engine trainer might be put into production earlier than the T-1 project!
He accepted the gratitude from General Nairo Mora without any embarrassment. Lan
"General Mora, we are friends, there is no need to be so polite.
However, if you want to turn the T-1 project into a fighter jet, you still need a lot of investment.
I have just said that the T-1 is not suitable as a carrier-based aircraft. Therefore, if we redevelop a piston engine trainer aircraft, it will be difficult for our navy to provide subsequent research and development funds. "
Everyone in the conference room was stunned when they heard this, yes! Why didn't you think of this? If the Navy no longer invests, it will be a huge burden for the Air Force alone!
However, Fang Lang just promised that he would persuade Fangyuan Aircraft Manufacturing Company to raise funds to develop a piston trainer aircraft, which has already helped the Air Force solve a big problem.
At this time, it would be unjustifiable to blame the other party for not helping oneself by withdrawing capital midway!
After all, it was our Air Force that gave up on the T-1 trainer aircraft project! Lan
For a moment, everyone in the conference room looked at me and me, not knowing how to continue.
Finally, General Nairo Mora gritted his teeth, looked at Major Leo Canter, who was responsible for liaising with Fangyuan Aircraft Manufacturing Company, and said in a serious tone:
"Has Fangyuan Company said how long it will take and how much money will be invested if the overhaul time of this turboprop engine is increased to more than a thousand hours?"
Major Leo Kanter, who was standing in front of the drawings and waiting for the results of the elder's discussion, was stunned when he heard this, and his eyes couldn't help but look at Fang Lang next to General Nairo Mora.
Fang Lang didn't look at him, he could only bite the bullet and said:
"This... they didn't say."
Hearing this, General Nairo Mora and all the air force officers in the conference room frowned and were speechless for a while. Lan
In fact, Fang Lang is also paying attention to this issue. Fang Lang has also heard about the actions of the Power Research Laboratory. As far as Fang Lang knows, Professor Tan Ke personally recruited some outstanding talents from Germany to join this power R & D team.
Among them are engineers who participated in the development of the world's first mass-produced turbojet engine, Junkers Yumo 004b, although the working time of this engine did not exceed 150 hours.
But this is because Germany is blocked and lacks many trace metal elements. Brazil does not have this problem now.
As a professional, Professor Tan Ke knew very well what kind of talents he needed, so Fang Lang's expectations for this engine were actually very high.
Seeing the look of everyone in the conference room, he was a little worried that if he didn't cheer them up, the Air Force Ministry might not dare to invest in it later.
"General Mora, don't worry. As far as I know, the current power research laboratory is already thinking of ways to solve these problems.
If my expectations are correct, within one year, it will definitely be able to meet the Air Force's requirement to increase the engine overhaul time to more than a thousand hours. "Lan
Of course everyone believed Fang Lang's words, after all, he was the boss behind Fangyuan Group.
After General Nairo Mora took Fang Lang's reassurance, his face immediately turned rosy, he laughed and looked at the people in the conference room and said:
"If it takes one year, everyone should be able to withstand the pressure!"
Only then did Fang Lang realize that the reason why General Nero Mora invited him to the conference room this time to discuss these issues in front of so many people was probably because of the different voices below him!
Seeing that this self-produced aircraft research and development project led by him did not achieve the results that everyone wanted, some people raised objections and put a lot of pressure on him!
It took a long time, but it also involved a political struggle!
In this way, it is not that General Nairo Mora really thinks that the T-1 has excessive technology and wants to abandon the more advanced turboprop engine and use a backward piston engine. Lan
It seems that this piston engine trainer project is basically a political compromise project!
After hearing this, all the air force generals in the conference room laughed quickly and said:
"No problem. In one year, we will definitely be able to withstand the pressure."
"Yes! Yes! We will spend less on military spending this year, and we will definitely support the improvement of T-1 into a fighter jet."
Although everyone was smiling, Fang Lang made a judgment in his mind. When he looked at the expressions of these people, he could find many interesting details that he had not noticed at first.
Unexpectedly, the Brazilian Air Force, which has been established for less than five years, has already begun to become a mountainous place!
Compared with the Rio de Janeiro aircraft carrier battle group built by himself, General Nairo Mora's life is not easy! Lan
Turning to look at General Nairo Mora beside him, Fang Lang really wanted to ask him. Now that he knew that the overhaul time of the engine could be increased to one thousand hours within a year, should he give up the backward piston engine project and continue? T-1 trainer aircraft project.
But after seeing the serious expression on the other party's face, Fang Lang chose to shut up.
Anyway, the manufacturing of the T-1 prototype has been completed. When the engine overhaul time is increased, the T-1 project can be declared a success.
Fangyuan Group can start selling this trainer aircraft with a turboprop engine, and it doesn’t bother to care whether the Air Force buys it or not.
As for the development of fighter jets based on the T-1, in fact, there is no need to invest much energy at all, because when Fang Lang first started developing the T-1 project, many of his suggestions were to transform the T-1 project into The basics of a fighter jet.
In order to facilitate the T-1 to become a series model like the successful "Super Tucano" in Brazil in later generations.
Therefore, today's meeting of the Air Force was for Fang Lang to agree to persuade Fangyuan Aircraft Manufacturing Company to manufacture a piston engine trainer aircraft, thus actively lowering the technical level of the trainer aircraft. Lan
At the same time, Fang Lang was asked to express on behalf of the Navy that he would no longer participate in the project to transform the T-1 into a fighter jet, which would save the Navy some subsequent research and development funds.
As for the success of the engine research, the T-1 will naturally succeed, and the Navy can also directly obtain the technical ownership of this model.
From this point of view, this political struggle within the Air Force is simply hurting the enemy by one thousand and damaging itself by eight hundred, which is completely unnecessary. Even Fang Lang felt it was a waste of his time.
General Nero Mora was obviously very dissatisfied with this. After hearing everyone say that there was no problem, he stopped talking and stood up directly and said:
"In this case, this meeting ends here."
After speaking, he looked at Fang Lang beside him and said:
"General Fang, I'm really sorry for causing you so much trouble."
I hope you don't mind if you can come to my office for a cup of tea. "
After hearing this, Fang Lang stood up directly pretending not to know, smiled and said to General Nairo Mora:
"General Mora is joking, I came here because I heard you invited me to drink tea. Of course I want to drink tea in your office.
However, tea is not enough now, you have to treat me to a big meal. "
Fang Lang's performance made General Nairo Mora breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that Fang Lang was not angry because of his actions this time.