Zhu Jingyuan and Zhu Zhongliang went around several major workshops in the park.
Large and medium-sized transport aircraft and passenger aircraft, small and medium-sized general aircraft, and small general aircraft specialized in cross-country.
This is the most popular model on the Daming Aviation market.
Ming Dynasty's civil aircraft have power and specification restrictions, so they cannot use the most powerful engines.
However, the update and iteration speed of the design is very fast, especially the small general aircraft originally planned by Zhu Jingyuan.
When this kind of aircraft first took shape, it was basically a perfect version of the crudest prototype aircraft.
The latest model currently produced on the assembly line of the workshop of Daming Airlines is very complete and fashionable even if Zhu Jingyuan looks at it from the perspective of later generations.
The shopkeeper of the small public aircraft factory is named Zhudi Kai, who is a generation lower than Zhu Jingyuan.
Outside the stop line of the corridor outside the production line, Zhu Jingyuan was introduced to the situation of this small aircraft:
"Uncle, the small aircraft we are seeing now is the top product of its kind on the market.
“The wingspan is 9.9 meters, the length is 7.9 meters, the empty weight is 820 kilograms, and the maximum take-off weight is 1,900 kilograms.
“The engine power is 290 horsepower and the cruising speed is 290 kilometers per hour.
“The aircraft has a maximum range of 1,100 kilometers, can carry up to five people, and can take off and land normally within 100 meters.
“The current market price of this highest-end model is 50,000 silver notes.
"The lowest configuration has certain reductions in power, interior decoration, and additional features, and the market price is 40,000 silver notes."
After Zhu Jingyuan listened to the data, he subconsciously asked:
"These figures of two hundred and ninety and one thousand nine hundred kilograms are probably not the real figures..."
Judy Kai smiled and explained:
“The regulations of the Ministry of Industry stipulate that the wingspan of small civilian aircraft cannot exceed ten meters and the length cannot exceed eight meters.
“The maximum take-off weight cannot exceed 2,000 kilograms, the range cannot exceed 1,200 kilometers, and the number of passengers cannot exceed five.
“The cruising power cannot exceed 300 horsepower, and the cruising speed cannot exceed 300 kilometers per hour…
“Our aircraft are indeed designed to adhere to this specification line.
“In actual use, some indicators may occasionally cross the line a little bit, and that can only be said to be an error level.
"For example, our maximum take-off weight is 1,900 kilograms. If the user accidentally overloads the aircraft by dozens of kilograms, it can fly normally.
“But if it exceeds 2,000 kilograms, it really won’t be able to fly in a calm state.
“Our engines are also designed strictly in accordance with the 290 specifications.
“When the accelerator is pressed to the bottom, the maximum output is barely 300 horsepower, and there is no way to continue to increase the power.
“Other private aircraft manufacturers do have designs that intentionally mark the limits not to be exceeded, but actually break through these limits.
“But as long as we are caught with real evidence, we will be ordered to stop production and impose huge fines.
“Aircrafts coming out of real factories have very strict registration.
"If the buyer modifies it without permission, he will be fined heavily and his driver's license will be revoked if he is caught."
Zhu Jingyuan nodded slightly after hearing this. He had participated in the formulation of these regulations and provided opinions.
Basically, it refers to the automobile management methods of later generations, and then makes corresponding adjustments according to the special circumstances of the aircraft.
The frame and engine numbers must be registered in a unified manner, the overall dimensions of the aircraft must be strictly registered, and a unified standard trademark must be applied for.
Every 40 hours, 80 hours, 200 hours, and 1,000 hours of flight, you must go to a designated agency to receive different levels of inspection and maintenance.
Even if you are not flying, you should check it once a month.
The maintenance of commercially operated aircraft is also to similar standards, except that personal inspection is not required.
Radio equipment is standard on all aircraft, and there are airborne guards who patrol and inquire about the situation at any time.
The management of airspace below 3,000 meters is relatively wide. Most provinces are open to commercial aircraft and private aircraft outside urban areas. In addition, no-fly zones are set up around special institutions and facilities.
Therefore, private planes cannot fly in urban areas, and it is impossible to fly to and from get off work by yourself in the city.
Therefore, the purpose of small aircraft is mainly for rapid travel between cities hundreds of kilometers away, as well as agricultural and cross-country activities.
Agricultural aircraft have lower wings, while cross-country aircraft have upper wings.
As for the aircraft design of Daming Airlines, which is obvious to me, I have also seen it before.
My own industry has a semi-official status, so of course I won’t leave a backdoor that can break through the restrictions through simple modifications.
Only pure private manufacturers would do that.
Just like automated conversion kits for American civilian firearms.
Nowadays, the Ming Dynasty does not completely ban guns among the people, nor is it prohibited to go out with long swords on the waist.
However, the local management of weapons is still very strict.
Because traditionally speaking, wearing a sword is a symbol of status, and not everyone can wear it.
Only those who have the most basic honorary status, including having passed the examination of being a student or above, and obtaining the status of an honorary gentry awarded by yamen at all levels, can wear a sword and go out.
Only those who have obtained the lowest formal title conferred by the emperor can hold and carry firearms.
Moreover, Ming Dynasty never opened the firearms manufacturing industry to the private sector.
All firearms are produced by the imperial court and the royal consortium, and private production by private individuals is an absolute felony.
Overseas controls on firearms and swords vary, but most are looser than at home.
In some of the more dangerous colonies, as well as those that have just been captured, the local immigrants are all armed immigrants with guns.
After the development of these places matures and the situation stabilizes, firearms management will gradually be tightened.
While Zhu Jingyuan was going through this information in his mind, Zhu Di Kai next to him continued to explain the situation:
“In fact, after several cases of exceeding the standard in the early days, private manufacturers basically stopped developing in the direction of exceeding the standard.
“They quickly determined that they simply could not compete with us and the Royal Consortium on product quality and performance.
“So they chose to keep prices as low as possible.
“Especially after the full-motion assembly line you designed has matured, they have reached the limit of this.
"Our top model small general aircraft sells for 50,000 yuan, and the cheapest model costs 10,000 yuan.
“But among the products of private manufacturers, the lowest prices are now as low as one thousand silver coins.
“I’ve learned a lot about that kind of aircraft, and the aircraft itself only weighs one to two hundred kilograms, or even dozens of kilograms.
“The engine power is usually less than a hundred horsepower, or even more than ten or twenty horsepower.
“Their flying speed usually does not exceed two hundred kilometers per hour, and their maximum range is usually only four to five hundred kilometers.
“Basically, it’s all about making things that can pass the censorship threshold.
“In the view of our design craftsmen, that kind of thing must be very dangerous, but it sells very well on the market.
“Because they’re really light enough to take off and land on a variety of terrains.
“Our cross-country aircraft also requires a take-off and landing distance of one hundred meters, as well as relatively flat beaches and grasslands.
“The ones produced by private manufacturers are simply large model airplanes.
“The more extreme design among them can take off and land within 20 meters without wind.
“They can even take off and land on river beaches, on not-so-steep slopes, and in valleys.
“These planes are really cheap enough, and when they are cheaper, more people can afford them.
"With more than one thousand banknotes, many people who open small shops or work as managers and supervisors in large factories can transfer this much in one year.
“With enough users, a variety of uses, or gameplay, can be developed.
“So much so that some people actually buy this kind of aircraft and try to explore cross-country in the mountains and forests.
“Recently, there is a group of people who have bought such aircraft specifically to participate in short take-off and landing competitions.
"Then some customers came to us and asked us to design a small aircraft that was light enough for them to participate in such competitions.
"We also want to ask Uncle Wang what you want.
“It is to push the imperial court to raise the standards for the smallest aircraft and limit the production of such aircraft.
"Or should we also join this segment of the market and develop better light aircraft with similar specifications?"
Zhu Jingyuan was obviously stunned after hearing this, and immediately remembered the various flying clubs in the United States in his previous life.
There is a group of people who specialize in small aircraft weighing tens to hundreds of kilograms.
It is to use fixed-wing aircraft to "take off and land in place" when there is already a helicopter.
Taking off and landing on the spot means that the taxiing distance between takeoff and landing does not exceed the length of the aircraft itself.
The current technical level of Ming Dynasty, if optimized in the direction of extreme take-off and landing, coupled with dedicated test flight personnel, should be able to reach this standard.
Of course Zhu Jingyuan is not opposed to playing this way.
The common people of the Ming Dynasty can really use airplanes to "play", which is what Zhu Jingyuan hopes to see most.
The large amount of preparation and work I have done before is to achieve this result.
So now Zhu Jingyuan nodded directly and said very decisively:
“Of course we can build this kind of aircraft, and with our technical strength, we should be able to build it even better.
“Moreover, this kind of activity can be transformed from private to official, and let the Aviation Industry Association organize it.
“Hold it regularly, promote it well, and prepare enough generous prizes.
“However, when we get involved in this subdivided industry category, we must pay attention to distinguishing ourselves from private manufacturers.
"As I said before, we are high-end.
“Lightweight aircraft can be made lighter, but their quality cannot be reduced.
“It’s impossible for the price to drop as low as one thousand silver coins.
"We still have to sell at least 10,000 silver notes...
"Hmm... Selling ten thousand silver notes for such a light aircraft seems a bit expensive, but it should cost at least five thousand silver notes...
"We need to have enough profit margins and leave enough market space for private manufacturers."
Zhu Zhukai immediately understood what Zhu Jingyuan meant and also saw Zhu Jingyuan's interest in this project.
Zhu Zhukai and most people in the aviation industry know that Zhu Jingyuan's primary goal in aviation is promotion.
As long as it is conducive to the development of the aviation industry, he will basically support it or even directly provide official support.
Today's event is indeed no exception. A group of private enthusiasts organized a small event that will soon turn into a large-scale competition.
Zhu Zhukai promised very seriously:
"My nephew understands. I will organize manpower, design and prepare for production as soon as I get back.
"Then, if this kind of competition becomes an official event, can we organize a team led by the manufacturer to train and debug the aircraft to compete?"
Zhu Jingyuan was a little surprised when he heard this.
The factory takes the lead in organizing team competitions. Isn't this the model of various automobile competitions?
Can it be used on an airplane?
The key is, is it appropriate to do this now?
Zhu Jingyuan hesitated for a while:
"Your idea is good, but don't sit like this just yet.
“In the early days, it is best to grow wildly for a period of time to give ordinary people and individuals a chance to win and win awards.
“When the competition becomes more mature and the competition becomes more intense, specialized private teams will appear to participate in the competition.
“That’s also when our factory-supported teams join the competition.
"This degree is not easy to control. I will communicate it to the Aviation Industry Association later. Just wait for the notification."
Zhu Zhukai was once again convinced of Zhu Jingyuan's idea, which was to see whether it was conducive to the development of the industry.
When Zhu Jingyuan said this, he looked specifically at Zhu Zhukai, and then at the craftsmen and officials following him:
"Now that we have said this, let me unify our thoughts with everyone today.
“The standard by which I judge things, the standard by which I make decisions, and the standard by which I hope everyone will judge things and make decisions, should be whether it is conducive to the development of the industry.
“On this basis, let’s see whether it is conducive to the development of Ming Dynasty and whether it is conducive to the long-term development of Ming Dynasty.
"As long as we all have unified thoughts, even if we can't communicate at any time, the decisions we make on our own will be synchronized to the point of being coherent.
“I hope everyone can think about things from this perspective in the future.
“If someone does the opposite, then that person is the scum of our Ming Dynasty, and he is also my mortal enemy.
"I will increase the priority of destroying the opponent to the highest level in my work."
After Zhu Jingyuan said this, the scene fell silent, and both the craftsmen and officials were stunned.
If it was more than a hundred years ago, and the civil servants and businessmen at that time said such things, the probability of them being empty words and big words would be relatively high.
But now, when the internal integration of Ming Dynasty is getting higher and higher, when the concept of Ming Dynasty people is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, most young people have sincerely said this.
Especially when it comes to the special prince Zhu Jingyuan, most people have no doubt at all.
Everyone had even expected it before, but they didn't expect Zhu Jingyuan to say it so directly.
And also gave a negative threat.
If in the Ming Dynasty, or even in this world, Zhu Jingyuan was the mortal enemy, then he would probably be dead.
In this special silence, Zhu Zhongliang, who had the most special identity, spoke.
The old emperor blew hard on his white beard and shouted at the top of his lungs:
"well said!"
The surrounding craftsmen and officials also reacted, some immediately followed suit, and some immediately started to praise.
Of course some people don't mean it sincerely, and of course some people are just complimenting because of their status.
But most people agree with Zhu Jingyuan's words.
(End of chapter)
