Chapter 75: The Japanese Start Making Trouble
Shanghai, Zhou Wenhua was at the pilots’ club in the foreign concession, chatting and exchanging with the pilots he had recruited, this was his first time here and also the first time exchanging with the pilots he had recruited.
“Hongqiao Aviation Factory over there has confirmed they will send some trainer aircraft over to you!”
“It’s those two airplanes I showed you, which will be used as trainer aircraft, and there will also be U.S. L-5 trainer aircraft, besides that, in the future I will also give you new-style trainer aircraft, Tachikawa 99 advanced trainer aircraft, and I-15 biplane trainer aircraft!”
“Even PT-17 trainer aircraft and PT-19A trainer aircraft will be available! But this will require some time for research and development!”
“So I hope you can study flying well, one day, you may take to the skies to defend the country, and conduct air operations against the Japanese people’s air force!”
Zhou Wenhua gave a speech to the more than 20 pilot trainees he had personally selected in front of him.
“Yes! Boss!”
All the flight trainees quickly nodded in agreement.
Because they were all from poor families,
Although they had all attended school and knew basic reading and writing,
But their education was limited, and their family circumstances were average, making it hard to get ahead.
So when they had the opportunity to be hired by Zhou Wenhua as flight trainees, they felt it was a chance for them to get ahead one day,
And the salary Zhou Wenhua gave each of them was something they could not earn in factories,
So these obedient flight trainees who would give their lives for Zhou Wenhua,
Were completely different from another group of rich second generation pilots in the club, those people were just hobbyists, attracted by Zhou Wenhua’s new-style airplanes, and would often come over to hang around and chat idly.
They, on the other hand, had to undergo professional aviation training just like at an aviation military academy,
And in order to teach them the best flying technology,
Zhou Wenhua also spent a large sum to hire some flight instructors from the United States to teach flying technology.
Although on August 9, 1919, Ba Yuzo, Wang Zhu and others used the existing shipbuilding machinery and equipment at the Mawei Shipyard, concentrated excellent technicians for professional upgrades; carefully selected domestic aviation materials, and under rudimentary conditions manufactured a twin-float biplane seaplane named “Type A No. 1”.
This was an airplane that took off after sliding on the water surface, with performance not inferior at all to contemporary products from European and American countries.
This was also the first domestically trial-produced seaplane—”Type A No. 1″. It was a 100-horsepower, tractor twin-float biplane water trainer aircraft,
And by August 1922, Wang Zhu collaborated with Ba Yuzo to design the world’s first seaplane float motor hangar—float dock, manufactured by Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard, successfully solving the problems of seaplane storage and maintenance.
Up until 1930, the Navy Aircraft Engineering Department Mawei Aircraft Factory successively designed and manufactured nearly 20 aircraft including trainer aircraft, coastal patrol aircraft, torpedo bombers, etc., and cultivated the first generation of domestic aviation engineering technology talents, making Mawei Aircraft Factory the cradle of early domestic aviation engineering technology talents.
In 1931, Mawei Aircraft Factory relocated to Shanghai and merged into Jiangnan Shipyard, and in 1937, successfully researched and developed amphibious aircraft, land trainer aircraft, and the first domestically produced carrier-based aircraft—the carrier-based aircraft “Ninghai No. 2” for the light cruiser “Ninghai”!
After the Anti-Japanese War broke out, many Air Force aircraft were repaired by Mawei Aircraft Factory.
So during this period domestically, there was aircraft manufacturing technology, just scarce goods,
As for civilian pilot training, there was not much either.
Also similarly scarce goods,
So Zhou Wenhua wanted to take advantage of the second Battle of Shanghai not yet erupting, to first cultivate a batch of his own pilots for future use.
When Zhou Wenhua saw these carefully selected flight trainees being so obedient and following instructions, he was also very satisfied and nodded,
Then he continued to give a speech,
Afterward, he took these people to the hidden airport in the mountainous forest outside Suzhou city,
To conduct flight training.
There were several secretly researched and developed L-5 trainer aircraft prepared there,
As well as those two airplanes that had long been researched and produced, I-5 fighter jet, and bomber Teb-1（Ant-4）.
However, generally, L-5 trainer aircraft were used as the main trainer aircraft to train these rookie flight trainees.
Just as Zhou Wenhua was personally supervising these flight trainees conducting flight training,
The chat topic between Sanyou Industrial Company boss Chen Wanyun and Factory Director Zheng Zulian,
Also focused on the export market topic,
“Now the new year has begun, do you think before New Year we can double our towel market share here in Southeast Asia? Double the performance?”
Sanyou Industrial Company boss Chen Wanyun asked Factory Director Zheng Zulian with a face full of expectation.
“It should be possible, because last year our market share and profits were both very good!”
“Even with the Japanese people’s towel factory engaging in a price war with us, we could still maintain domestic and foreign market advantages, our product quality and innovative model are completely unafraid of the Japanese people’s products!”
Factory Director Zheng Zulian confidently nodded in response.
“Good! I like your confident reply like this!”
“Zulian!”
“As long as this time we can double the performance, then we can once again carry out updates and replacements of new equipment, to let our towel research and development achieve even better development!”
“Maybe we can achieve another technological breakthrough in this half year!”
“At that time we could even lead those foreigners’ companies, exporting far to Europe, America and other foreign powers! Open up even more overseas markets!”
“Just like our candle wick business back then!”
After hearing this,
Sanyou Industrial Company boss Chen Wanyun immediately clapped and praised.
“But we still need to be vigilant against those Japanese merchants, they won’t let it go easily after losing to us!”
“I worry they will seek revenge on us, especially since we now have organized the Sanyou Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army, a force of up to 500 people, training every morning at the factory!”
“Now not only targeted by those Japanese merchants, but also hated to the teeth by those Japanese Marine Corps, looking like they want to eliminate us at any time!”
“I saw those murderous gazes of theirs when I passed by their door!”
Factory Director Zheng Zulian reminded.
“Hmph! These Japanese people were never up to any good anyway, otherwise they wouldn’t plot conspiracies to occupy so many places in our Northeast! Otherwise I wouldn’t have formed the Sanyou Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army for no reason!”
“I worry these damn Japanese people’s ambitions are vast, sooner or later they will set their sights on our Shanghai metropolis!”
After hearing Factory Director Zheng Zulian’s reminder,
Sanyou Industrial Company boss Chen Wanyun immediately responded in a bad mood.
He saw very clearly the Japanese people’s vast ambitions.
At this moment,
“Bad news, boss, some Nichiren Sect monks came outside, along with some Japanese believers, and had friction with our factory employees, they’re fighting!”
“Those Japanese people came looking for trouble!”
“It was them who started it for no reason, provoking and hitting our factory employees!”
At this moment,
Before Factory Director Zheng Zulian could respond,
Zhao Zimo from the security room ran in with a panicked face and reported loudly.
“What!”
Sanyou Industrial Company boss Chen Wanyun and Factory Director Zheng Zulian immediately exclaimed.
Then, they didn’t care about anything else and immediately ran out to check the situation outside.
