France, Paris, City Hall, Patent Office.
Chu Yuqiang, the shopkeeper of Dashi Clothing Store, brought another Ming man, and under the guidance of the staff, directly met Hubert, the director of the French Property Rights Office.
Hubert had met Chu Yuqiang many times, because Chu Yuqiang often came to apply for design patents for Zhu Jingyuan.
Although Chu Yuqiang is an agent, the design belongs to His Highness the Prince of Ming Dynasty. The Patent Office cannot deal with it casually.
Although Zhu Jingyuan did not specifically request it, Chu Yuqiang felt that he should apply.
You don't have to use it, but you can't live without it, otherwise you may be unable to do anything when you are deliberately disgusted.
Hearing that Chu Yuqiang was coming again, Hubert directly invited them to his office and said very warmly:
"Shopkeeper Chu is here again. Does His Highness Prince Dashi have a new design? I have to see it carefully..."
Chu Yuqiang came to apply for a patent, which indirectly allowed the patent director to have the fastest access to new designs and directly stand at the forefront of fashion. Hubert himself also enjoyed it.
Chu Yuqiang greeted him with a smile, and then directly explained his purpose:
"It is also a design by His Highness Prince Dashi, but this time it is not a costume design, but an important invention.
“These two shopkeepers Guan Zhengping are representatives of Daming Airlines.
“Daming Airlines is Prince Dashi’s local industry in Daming, specializing in flying machines.
"These two people are here today specifically to represent His Highness Prince Dashi and come to France to apply for a patent for the invention of a flying machine.
"Please also ask the Director to make arrangements."
Director Hubert's enthusiasm was obviously reduced at this time, and he asked in a rather serious confirmation style:
"Flying machine? Shopkeeper Chu... and shopkeeper Guan, are you applying for certain designs related to the flying machine, or are you applying for an invention patent for the complete flying machine itself?"
There has always been interest in flying machines, but people at the patent office have shown little interest in the matter.
Even a little numb and bored.
Patent applications at this time basically follow the first-to-invent principle, so the actual product needs to be verified and reviewed.
It’s not like later generations simply submit documentation.
Just because airplanes are so popular, relevant research has been ongoing, and many people have applied for patents.
But most of them feel like nonsense.
It would be okay if the specific details were patented.
For example, Zhu Jingyuan designed the flight rudder, wire traction control, etc.
Just show the feasibility of the specific structure.
It can be held in hand or displayed on the table without flying up.
There is no need to "comply with standards" to fly.
There is no need to establish flight standards.
As for the patent of the flying machine itself, it is troublesome.
They must first determine the nature of this thing and standardize the evaluation standards for this kind of thing.
The basic default conditions are as follows:
It is denser than air and will not float naturally, excluding airships and balloons.
It does not rely on external auxiliary power and does not require external drag and control on the ground, excluding kites.
Able to take off by itself on flat ground, able to continue flying in the air and climb to a high altitude, excluding gliders.
And it can carry at least one person.
The details of these conditions are sometimes difficult to determine accurately.
How high does it take to fly? How long does it take to fly?
If you can move around on your own after taking off into the wind, does it count as taking off on your own?
If you let go after being dragged to take off, does it count as taking off on your own?
The reason why it is difficult to judge is because the performance of early aircraft was too weak.
The main reason is that the airfoil design is unscientific and the lift naturally obtained is insufficient.
In addition, the engine power is insufficient and it cannot run at enough speed to obtain windward lift.
Usually they rely on a certain natural wind speed to fly.
When the Wright Brothers' earliest aircraft were displayed, they relied on suitable wind speeds to take off.
Many aircraft do not have wheels, because adding wheels also increases the weight of the structure, making it more difficult to fly.
They can only slide on rails or sled on grass, which limits their sliding speed.
Generally speaking, it is very difficult to make an airplane fly without a light and powerful engine.
The flight is low and short-lived, and has the characteristics of a kite, often requiring the help of wind.
It is often unclear whether they can fly on their own.
Reviewing and judging these things is very troublesome and frustrating.
Inventors generally prefer loose standards, and patent offices generally prefer strict standards.
Many people swear that their planes are flying.
Someone from the patent office asked him to demonstrate it, and he said he had to wait for the right wind.
Or it might fly a few dozen centimeters before falling, or it might not get up at all.
The Patent Office was put through a lot of troubles, and my interest quickly dropped, and I even felt bored.
Guan Zhengping, known as Shopkeeper Guan, is actually from Daming West Factory, a seemingly ordinary man.
Now acting as the representative of Daming Airlines, he smiled and said with certainty:
"It is a complete flying machine patent. His Royal Highness Prince Dashi's aircraft can already continuously fly in circles.
“No external force or wind is required, and it can fly continuously for more than two hours at an altitude of more than ten meters.
"We brought the plane right here and it can take off directly from the square in front of City Hall."
Hubert, director of the French Patent Office, was suddenly a little stunned:
"Two hours? Are the two shopkeepers really not joking?"
Guan Zhengping said sternly:
“As Prince Dashi, I won’t joke about this kind of thing.
“The Ministry of Industry of Ming Dynasty has issued a patent certificate, which is included in the documents we submitted.
“We brought the plane directly over and it was ready to be displayed on site.
"I believe that no one will question the plane after it has been hovering over Paris for dozens of minutes."
Guan Zhengping said and directly took out the prepared documents.
Hubert reacted immediately, got very alert and read the documents carefully.
Then he quickly asked:
"The Ministry of Industry of Ming Dynasty issued the patent more than a year ago?"
The question is obvious, why did Ming Dynasty issue a patent a year ago and only come to us to apply now?
Guan Zhengping responded naturally:
“A year ago we were in a state of war, and it was already the end of last year when all negotiations ended.
"Furthermore, Prince Dashi has a character that pursues perfection. This year has just made the plane more mature.
"That's why we can guarantee that we can demonstrate it directly over Paris and promise that the flight can last two hours."
Hubert confirmed the other party's surging confidence, and after a brief moment of confusion, he immediately said:
"I am being reckless. If His Highness Prince Dashi's plane can really fly, we in France will be very honored to be able to issue a French patent certificate to Prince Dashi. I will arrange personnel and ask you two to prepare a demonstration..."
Hubert immediately went to call someone, and brought all the censors to the square in front of the city hall.
There were not many people in the square at this time, but people came in and out from time to time.
There was a truck parked under the building. The truck was fully unfolded and there was something covered with cloth inside.
It should be the plane.
Hubert called the police and cleared two hundred meters of space in the Town Hall Square and the street in front.
Guan Zhengping only needed one hundred meters, but Hubert was worried about getting out of range, so he directly expanded the range.
Pedestrians around him soon learned that someone was going to publicly display the flying machine in the city center.
Some wealthy and idle Parisian citizens stopped curiously on the side of the road, craning their necks to watch the excitement.
The aircraft Guan Zhengping brought were parts shipped from Daming itself, mainly engines brought by Daming.
It was assembled on the outskirts of Paris, secretly tested in the suburbs, and then brought directly to the city hall.
Although this aircraft was redesigned and specially made, its shape is the most original, or even more original.
If it were placed directly on the ground, modern people might not be able to imagine that it was an airplane.
There are only a few aluminum alloy frames for the fuselage, plus canvas for the wings and rudder surfaces, and steel wires for fixation and traction control.
Zhu Jingyuan deliberately asked to make it this way.
Except for the basic ability to ensure continuous flight, all other functions have been reduced and simplified as much as possible.
This makes it easy to disassemble and assemble at any time, and also makes it convenient for relevant personnel to carry and transport parts.
It can also minimize the possibility of outsiders discovering useful information.
The size of the aircraft body has also been reduced, the wingspan has been reduced from more than ten meters to nine meters, and the weight has been reduced to 360 kilograms.
The maximum power of the engine was increased to 64 horsepower, and it was mounted directly on the nose together with the propeller.
The transmission structure and a propeller are omitted.
A chair is installed on the engine so that people can sit and fly the plane.
The amount of fuel carried was increased as much as possible, not only to complete the display, but also for other purposes.
On the upper and lower sides of the two wings, a clear Chinese character was spray-painted, which was regarded as the trademark of Dashi Clothing Company.
It will float over Paris for two hours.
Hubert, the director of the French Patent Office, and the examiners of the Patent Office, watched several of Guan Zhengping's men unfold the plane, with subtle expressions on their faces.
Zhu Jingyuan's aircraft looked cruder than other aircraft tested.
It can be said to be extremely crude.
The proportion of wings is also smaller than that of most aircraft.
It also has three wheels and a seat, which is extra wasted weight.
According to past experience, it shouldn't be able to fly.
But the people of Daming Airlines swear by it, and they don't dare to question Daming's design, especially Prince Dashi's design.
So I can only wait patiently for the show.
The craftsmen under Guan Zhengping quickly completed the debugging, because they had already flown outside the city.
The pilot tester said hello and sat directly on the chair in the middle of the wings of the aircraft. The support staff started the engine.
In the plume of smoke, the plane began to taxi on the ground.
When he saw this scene, Hubert was stunned and seemed to have thought of something:
"Install wheels to keep moving? Have a longer sliding distance? Is this the right direction?"
Before he finished speaking, several staff members around him also realized this problem and thought they had found a certain direction.
"Taking without wheels will not allow you to take off and land on normal ground, and the friction on the ground will definitely reduce your speed..."
Then, without a few words of discussion, the plane in front of them was already floating.
From the moment the plane started to the moment it left the ground, it was probably less than twenty meters away, and it didn't even get out of the city hall compound.
What's more important is that after the plane takes off, it climbs up very naturally.
There is absolutely no feeling of being shaky, ups and downs, and likely to fall at any time like other testers before.
This aircraft does not seem to be for testing and display, but for very natural daily use.
The expressions of Hubert and the surrounding staff froze.
Everyone raised their heads and watched the plane take off and circle in the sky above the city hall.
Then he flew a figure 8 in the sky, and then began to fly forward along the street in front of the city hall.
When the plane got further and further away and became smaller and smaller, Hubert suddenly reacted and shouted:
"Oh my god! It's really flying!"
The shouts all around also came and went.
"This is a real flying machine!"
"Without a doubt, no one will question it!"
"He's really flying, really flying like a bird!"
"Those things that were messed about in the past were all **!".
"Sure enough, Daming Technology is number one in the world!"
The front of the city hall was restricted to passers-by, and pedestrians on both sides of the street also saw the planes flying overhead.
Just above the building on the street, at a height of ten to twenty meters.
After being stunned for a short time, these pedestrians also let out a series of screams and cheers.
"Flying machine!"
"It's really a flying machine!"
"They really took off!"
The shouts that started at the city hall seemed to form a wave, spreading along the streets with the sound of the plane.
Zhu Jingyuan's small plane was very slow inside the plane, its cruising speed was only a little over 100 kilometers per hour.
But compared to carriages and cars on the ground, the speed is already beyond the limit.
Moreover, there is no airspace control yet, and there are no other companions in the sky. You can fly however you want.
However, the pilot still remembered Chu Yuqiang's arrangement, flying on the bustling streets and the streets of the aristocratic district.
The plane flew over the streets of Paris, allowing more and more Parisian citizens to see the plane in the sky.
Citizens who had not received any news before were shocked and confused when they saw the plane.
But that doesn't stop them from cheering.
Human beings are finally able to fly on their own, and the joy of this event can be shared by all human beings.
As the plane continued to fly, some wealthy and aristocratic people in Paris began to see the plane and noticed the patterns under the wings.
That was the pattern on the buttons of their clothes. It was said that it was actually the emblem of the Ming Empire, which made them quite proud.
Now seeing this emblem flying into the sky, all the people with similar emblems on their clothes also feel proud.
It seems that the operator and maker of the aircraft with this emblem are their own companions.
It has to be said that Chu Yuqiang's publicity plan was very advanced and directly raised the hearts of users.
This is the same as the advertisements of many brands in later generations that do not directly promote products, but only promote technology and taste.
It may not directly increase sales, but it can make users feel worthwhile.
Although I spent 200,000 yuan on clothes, I can’t tell you what’s good about them except for the unique design.
But these clothes are high-end and the style is unique.
At the same time, the fifty-nine-year-old Duke of Orleans saw the plane in the sky.
Then he subconsciously asked his son Louis Philippe beside him:
"Is this a successful flying machine? Is that family's logo on it? Who funded this invention?"
Thirty-three-year-old Philippe was the only king of the Orleans Dynasty in French history.
I was in a daze looking at the emblem in the sky. When I heard my father's question, I subconsciously raised my arm.
Holding the buttons of the cuffs of his slim-fitting suit, he proudly showed it to his old father:
"This is the emblem on the authentic Ming-style formal attire. It is said that this is the emblem of the royal family of the Ming Empire..."
The Duke of Orleans looked stunned:
"The emblem of the Ming Dynasty royal family? Now the nobles of France have the emblem of the Ming Dynasty, and there is also the emblem of the Ming Dynasty in the sky of Paris. Has France become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty?"
Phillip's expression suddenly became awkward. Dad, if you don't know how to speak, stop talking.
On the other side, when the plane arrived over the French Academy of Sciences, it triggered a new round of cheers.
Lagrange, Laplace and other researchers all received reminders from their assistants and saw airplanes flying in the sky.
"This is a flying machine. Could it be that Daniel Bernoulli's has succeeded?"
"According to his calculations, more power is needed to make his plane fly."
"So he found a way to get the engine from the Ming Dynasty, and he should be able to succeed."
"Bernoulli's plane is different from this one, and it has the emblem of the Ming Dynasty on its wings!"
"The emblem of the Ming Dynasty? Is this the Ming Dynasty's troops occupying Paris?"
"The war ended last year, and you haven't read the newspapers!"
