The reason why Dong Mingde was so surprised was because the maximum speed of the Hawker II fighter jet was 325 kilometers, which of course was a level flight speed.
Even so, Li Hang was surprised when he flew at a level flight speed of 330 kilometers per hour.
Because Li Hang's wooden plane used the Wright R-1820-78 engine, which has 700 horsepower.
With the same engine, Li Hang made the plane fly faster. How could he not be surprised?
"It can't be calculated like that." Li Hang shook his head, "My plane is not equipped with a weapon system. It is much lighter and can fly faster. And this plane is only as fast as this. No matter how fast it is, it will disintegrate. Luckily there was something wrong with the engine.”
Having flown the plane himself, Li Hang naturally understood the situation of the plane.
"Is it because of the wooden structure?" Mao Yingchu asked.
"Yes, but not entirely. My aircraft is actually more suitable as a trainer aircraft than a fighter jet. Its aerodynamic shape is destined not to fly too fast, otherwise the load on the aircraft body will be too great, which can easily affect the safety of the aircraft body." Li Hang explained.
No wonder the Chujiao Six was a training aircraft in later generations.
Of course, if Chujiao Liu's aircraft was equipped with a high-horsepower engine in the future, it might be able to fly at high speeds, but Li Hang had not tried it.
It seems that if you want to use wood to build a fighter jet, you have to change the starting shape. The starting shape of the original Lager series and the later Brazilian Super Tucano may be a reference.
After all, Li Hang is just a pilot. Although he also understands aircraft maintenance and some shooting, he is not specialized in that. He was able to copy the No. 6 certificate only because he was familiar with the structure of the aircraft.
"Then will we continue to build this aircraft?" Mao Yingchu was also looking forward to it, but he was also worried that the project would be scrapped.
"It depends on what the superiors think. However, Commander Zhou has given me a lot of funds. I plan to perfect some details during this time, add weapons and wait to see how it performs.
I think the 700-horsepower engine of Hawker II still has room to explore its potential. I don’t know if it’s an issue with the old American aircraft design or other reasons, but I feel like the engine isn’t fully utilized. "Li Hang expressed his opinion.
There is certainly a basis for what he said.
The engine used by Xiaojiizi's Type 96 carrier-based fighter in its current complete state is only a 710-horsepower air-cooled engine, but its maximum speed can reach 440 kilometers per hour.
The Hawker III's engine is 745 horsepower, but its maximum speed is only 360 kilometers per hour.
Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Hawker III can carry bombs, but this is really poor use of the engine.
The reason is also simple. Although the United States is the world's largest industrial country at this time, it is not the most powerful country, especially in terms of high-precision technology.
There are reasons for talent, and there are also shortcomings in the technology itself.
If it weren't for the Great Depression and German anti-Semitism, perhaps the industrial development of the United States would have lagged behind.
Just like the P51 Mustang fighter, which is known as the best performance in World War II and the king of air combat, the engine is the British Merlin V-1650 engine, which greatly improves the performance. Its maximum speed at high altitude is 614 kilometers from the prototype. The speed increased to 709 kilometers per hour.
After all, Britain is a long-established industrial power. Although it started to lose weight after World War I, its top industrial technology is still very strong, but its overall manufacturing capabilities are not as good as those of the United States.
Generally speaking, in terms of the aviation industry capabilities of various countries during World War II, if we only focus on engines, Britain and Germany were in the first grade, Laos and the United States were in the quasi-first grade, and the Soviet Union and Japan had to be ranked further back.
The Soviet Union was stronger than Japan.
Of course, there is no comparison between China and Japan. Japan was able to bully China, which had little industrial strength, among the major participating countries in World War II.
"It's a bit. I heard that the United States even sold us the original Hawker III with a reduced version. The metal wings were changed to wood and the radio was removed. Otherwise, the performance of the Hawker III would not be that much worse. I know what those people who bought the plane thought at the time." At this point, Mao Yingchu was also a little aggrieved.
After all, they are all young people, and they are still very angry about those injustices.
"Captain, let's not discuss these things. When Li Hang improves the aircraft, maybe we can build the aircraft ourselves.
I really didn't expect that a wooden airplane could fly at such a high speed before, but I was worried about the structure of the aircraft. "Dong Mingde still felt a little unsure when he thought of the fallen wooden planks.
"If it wants to fly at a speed of four to five hundred per hour, the body structure needs to be strengthened, but the wooden structure is no problem, as long as the key parts are strengthened.
If we further improve the aerodynamic layout, I believe we will be able to produce an aircraft that can be used in actual combat within a year. "Li Hang is very confident in this.
He can even fly such a simple plane into the sky, what else can be difficult for him?
"Haha, I'm waiting for your good news. Just stay well during this day of confinement. I've already had the plane towed to a hangar. You can slowly improve it later."
After Mao Yingchu and the others left, the people from the 23rd Squadron came over quietly, and naturally they didn't forget to bring some delicious food.
At noon, Chen Lu also came running after learning the news.
I heard that Li Hang almost fell off during his test flight, and I was so frightened that I started crying.
"If I had known earlier, I shouldn't have found a carpenter for you, and what happened this morning wouldn't have happened. It's all Daddy's fault."
"Okay, okay, isn't this okay?" Li Hang comforted the other person.
"My dear, I might have to go abroad." After hesitating for a while, Chen Lu finally said what she had been thinking about for a long time.
"Going abroad? How long does it take to leave?" Hearing this, Li Hang was a little reluctant to give up, but the other party had mentioned it a long time ago, and this day would come sooner or later.
"We should go to Hong Kong first in half a month and take a boat to the United States from there." Chen Lu said this with a look of reluctance.
"Have you decided which school to go to?"
"It should be to Columbia University. Can you come with me? I don't want to be separated from you. It's really too dangerous in China. Come to the United States with me!"
Facing the other party's expectant eyes, Li Hang shook his head and refused, "It would have been okay in the early years, but not now. But since you are going to the United States, do me a few favors."
"A few things can help your family's economic strength to a higher level. In a few days, you come to me, and I have to make preparations." Li Hang thought for a while, and decided to poach Lao Mei's corner. Why not? Aren’t you giving others an advantage?
"Okay." Chen Lu didn't think the other party had this ability, but she still agreed.
What she didn't know was that the few favors Li Hang mentioned could really increase the strength of the Chen family to several levels.
Li Hang didn't say what it was specifically, and she didn't ask.
Even Li Hang is thinking about what to provide, or which corner of Lao America to start poaching first.
