Chapter 11: Songhu Hongqiao Aviation Factory
Regarding the feelings of Chief Engineer Ye Zaifu and Director Ma Deji,
Naval Commander Yang Shuzhuang was completely unconcerned and did not pay any attention.
At this moment, he was extremely agitated and excited.
Doesn’t the Navy lack money to build warships?
Severely lacking,
During this period, to complete his goal of expanding the Naval Fleet, he had been scrambling for money everywhere and soliciting donations from people in various sectors, already worrying to the point of poor eating and drinking, and even his sleep time was becoming increasingly poor,
Days of insomnia were also becoming more numerous,
Now suddenly receiving news that someone was willing to unconditionally donate the funds to build an aircraft carrier and a minesweeper for their Navy Department,
That was simply music to his ears!
“Prepare a car for me immediately, I’m going to the Zhou Family!”
“Also find someone who knows the way to drive the car there!”
“Although I know the great name and status of old Mr. Zhou Jixian, I really don’t know where his fourth brother’s home is!”
After the excitement, Commander Yang immediately called his adjutant Wu Dahua into the office and issued the latest instructions to him.
“Yes! Commander!”
“However, the new ship supervisor just called to say that the personnel sent from the Japanese Navy military industry enterprise to sell weaponry are about to arrive here, so he wants you to go together to meet and negotiate with these Japanese personnel!”
“Because this deal involves a large quota of weaponry, he worries that his authority is limited, and the final approval still requires your signature and seal, Commander, to take effect!”
Regarding Commander Yang’s order,
Adjutant Wu Dahua nodded in agreement without hesitation.
However, he then supplemented his report.
“Have him get the commanders of the First Fleet and Second Fleet to accompany and negotiate prices with the Japanese Navy military industry enterprise personnel, while quality must be determined by Chief Engineer Ye Zaifu and Director Ma Deji!”
“Afterward, I’ll review the report and decide on the procurement quantity!”
“Now I have a more important matter to handle!”
“Anyway, they are not doing business with the Japanese for the first time usually!”
After hearing this, Commander Yang casually waved his hand and responded.
“Yes! I understand! I’ll prepare the car for you immediately and convey your instructions to the new ship supervisor!”
Adjutant Wu Dahua immediately agreed.
Then, he quickly went to act according to the instructions.
Soon, under the escort of a team of Navy guards, a convoy of cars headed toward Zhou Wenhua’s home.
And at this time, Zhou Wenhua,
Under his father’s connections,
Under the protection of his bodyguard team, arrived at the Songhu Hongqiao Aviation Factory.
In 1927, the Songhu Hongqiao Aviation Factory was formally established under the authorization of the Aviation Administration.
Because from 1927 to 1931, Shanghai had already become the largest port in the Far East and a main port for importing aviation equipment.
For this reason, the Songhu Hongqiao Aviation Factory came into being, though at the beginning, its name was the Songhu Aircraft Repair Factory.
In the early stage just after establishment, the Songhu Hongqiao Aviation Factory not only had crude equipment, but the factory building occupied very little area; the entire factory building only had a machine shop and an engine workshop, just one small building, and the investment cost for construction was less than 20,000 national currency.
In December 1928, after the National Revolutionary Army Military Political Department Aviation Administration was established, it formally took over the Songhu Aircraft Repair Factory and renamed it the Songhu Aviation Factory.
And in February 1929, after the Aviation Administration’s allocated funds arrived, they began imitation manufacturing of the French Hanriot biplane trainer aircraft; after the imitation model was completed, it was named “Chenggong” No. 1, which was also one of the earliest domestically produced aircraft in the Republic of China period.
After the successful test flight and development of “Chenggong” No. 1, the Songhu Aviation Factory also received certain expansion funds, carrying out a one-time improvement and expansion of important facilities such as the aviation factory building, warehouse, apron, and worker dormitories.
After successful expansion, the Songhu Aviation Factory imitated the British Avro trainer aircraft and finally achieved certain results and successful test flights,
However, all the foreigner trainer aircraft imitated by the Songhu Aviation Factory were obsolete models that foreigner countries no longer wanted and were about to eliminate, not the latest aviation technology products from foreigner countries,
Because of this, the airplanes and trainer aircraft imitated by this Songhu Aviation Factory were not wanted by the Aviation Administration’s Air Force military or aviation school, and even other sales channels had no takers.
But the even worse situation was that the Nanjing capital side did not continue to provide funds to maintain and supply the normal operation of this aviation factory.
This was the rhythm of abandoning this aviation factory.
And by next year, 1932, during the first “Songhu Anti-Japanese War,” this aviation factory was also destroyed by Japanese aircraft groups in the warfare and thus disappeared.
And Zhou Wenhua’s purpose in coming here through connections was to hope to invest in shares here, and hope that the personnel here could, in the future, independently research and produce the Hawk-III fighter jet, Hawk-75 fighter jet, Rhein trainer aircraft, CW21 fighter jet, P-40 fighter jet, coastal patrol aircraft, and Sikorsky amphibious aircraft, etc., famous aircraft from the Anti-Japanese War era.
Just like the later Central Hangzhou Aircraft Manufacturing Factory, possessing increasingly advanced independent research and manufacturing capabilities for aircraft, of course including imitation capabilities.
However, domestic aircraft factories in the Republic of China period were basically just assembly plants, with most parts needing to be imported.
Without possessing their own independently developed aircraft materials and parts.
Domestic aviation industrial development was extremely weak,
When Zhou Wenhua arrived at the Songhu Hongqiao Aviation Factory under the escort of his bodyguard car team, the new factory director Fan Zhifei here also came out with a group of technical backbone to greet him with a bright smile.
Because before Zhou Wenhua came, he had already stated his intention to invest in the factory or donate a sum of money to maintain normal operations and the daily life of the technical workers in the factory.
And also planned to give the factory a batch of orders,
So upon learning of the appearance of such a god of fortune,
As the new factory director of the Songhu Hongqiao Aviation Factory, Fan Zhifei of course agreed without hesitation to meet with Zhou Wenhua.
And after agreeing, he also personally inquired about Zhou Wenhua’s background.
After learning that he was Zhou Family personnel of Zhou Jixian, and that Zhou Wenhua’s father’s business network was vast and family assets huge,
He immediately felt extremely delighted,
Tidied up his own appearance and that of all technical personnel and workers in his factory, including the factory’s hygiene,
And prepared to warmly receive Zhou Wenhua.
