Chapter 3: The Republic Of China’s First Airline Company, Airline Pilot Selection
Instructor Liu’s house is outside the school. Because the aviation school is in a remote location, prices are not expensive. He actually bought a large house with twenty silver dollars.
Looking at this antique charm folk house, Fang Wen felt eager in his heart. Houses in this era are truly cheap enough.
Following Instructor Liu into the main hall of the folk house, a woman in a qipao was sitting in front of a table of dishes. Seeing the two enter, she immediately stood up with a smile to welcome them.
“This is my wife. Come sit, taste her cooking. She rarely cooks.”
Fang Wen sat down but did not speak. The more enthusiastic the other party became, the harder it was for him to respond.
Instructor Liu took out a pottery bottle and opened it, pouring a cup each for himself and Fang Wen, then raising his wine cup.
“This is top-quality Shaoxing yellow wine. I heard you’re from there, so I specially had someone get a bottle.”
In his memory, this body could drink alcohol and particularly liked yellow wine. The other party had even figured this out, so there must be something he wanted.
To avoid suspicion, Fang Wen picked up his wine cup and drank together with the instructor.
“Instructor, if you have something to say, just say it. As your student, there’s no need to be so polite.”
Instructor Liu smiled and nodded, then showed a trace of melancholy: “This year, your batch is graduating early ahead of schedule. There will be no arrangements from above, meaning even staying at the school is impossible. Even we have to transfer to the Aviation Bureau to report for clerical work. I’ll just be idling away at the Aviation Bureau. It’s such a pity for you students, especially you, Fang Wen. You hid your talent before, probably planning to make a stunning debut, but now those above won’t even give you a chance. What do you plan to do in the future?”
“I don’t know.”
Fang Wen looked bewildered. He really hadn’t thought about this kind of thing.
It had only been a little over half a month since he arrived. He had just gotten familiar with life at the school, and now he had to find another place. It was too sudden.
Seeing Fang Wen’s response, Instructor Liu spoke again: “I have a friend outside who brought good news. Last year, a civil aviation company was established in Nanjing. The Republic of China Government Ministry of Communications holds 55% shares, while the United States aircraft manufacturer Stimson Company contributes aircraft and provides pilots for 45% shares. They built Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai and Minggugong Airport in Nanjing, using Stimson Company’s ‘Detroit’ aircraft to operate this short-haul route. In the future, they will add Beijing-Shanghai and other domestic flight routes.”
After saying so much in one breath, Instructor Liu paused and looked at Fang Wen. Seeing him sitting upright with no expression, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly that this young man had too deep a mind. Even his excellent flying talent had been hidden until now before showing. He was no ordinary person.
He continued: “Originally, all pilots were provided by the American side, but this time two pilots fell ill and returned to their country at the same time, so they’re short on manpower. The Ministry of Communications took the initiative to request that they train one of our own pilots. Originally, it was to be selected from our flight instructors. I told them about your situation there. They’ll send someone the day after tomorrow to examine you, and you can also participate in the selection. How about it? Are you willing?”
Instructor Liu looked at Fang Wen with a smile, waiting for a reply.
Fang Wen pondered in his mind.
In this era, pilots were a scarce profession, but airplanes were even scarcer.
Just like the current situation at the school: apart from a few old trainer aircraft, all the instructors hadn’t even piloted any other aircraft models.
If he graduated and left the school a few months later, what could he do?
Probably some local warlord would recruit him, but whether he could actually pilot an airplane was uncertain.
Now it was the 19th year of the Republic of China, which was 1930 in the Western calendar.
Next year would be the September 18th Incident, with the Northeast falling, and from then on China would be plunged into war.
Before that, he must have a place to go and be able to continue improving his piloting technology, so that when war broke out later, he would have the ability to pilot fighter jets in the air to compete with the enemy.
Becoming a pilot for China’s first civil aviation company was the best way out—not only with good pay, but also gaining piloting experience with new models.
He proactively raised his wine cup.
“Instructor, Fang Wen is willing to participate in the selection. This cup is to you, thank you for your care.”
Instructor Liu showed a satisfied smile. What he did was precisely to make the promising flight cadet Fang Wen owe him a favor.
As for whether it would succeed, it would depend on Fang Wen’s own performance.
After one night, the school suspended teaching work, and the students had no objections. Taking advantage of the holiday, they went out in groups to play.
“Fang Wen, going to the city?” A dormitory mate invited.
“No, I have something.” Fang Wen broke his usual routine today, getting up early to wash up and changing into a clean uniform.
“He’s afraid of getting hit on the head again.”
Amid laughter, the dormitory mates all left.
Fang Wen, dressed in his uniform, straightened his clothes in front of the military mirror and headed straight to the school airport.
When he arrived at the airport, the people hadn’t come yet, so he simply stood there waiting.
After half an hour, a group of instructors accompanied a bearded foreigner in a trench coat into the airport.
This foreigner also brought a translator, communicating as they walked.
When they reached Fang Wen, he stopped and asked in English.
The translator relayed: “Mr. Smith asks if this is the flight cadet with great talent?”
Instructor Liu responded: “Yes, that’s him. His name is Fang Wen. He has strong flying talent and performed excellently in actual flight training.”
The foreigner looked at those airplanes and couldn’t help shaking his head, muttering something again.
This time the translator’s face was a bit embarrassed but he didn’t say anything.
Fang Wen, standing nearby, could understand English. He knew what Smith meant: he just despised the school’s old airplanes, saying cadets trained on them couldn’t pilot the current new models.
He did not refute it. After all, the instructors standing beside him now had become competitors. Inappropriate words would not only fail to win favor from both sides but might even cause him to lose this opportunity.
He said nothing, but among the instructors, some who understood English were displeased.
One instructor retorted in English: “Our China has endured ups and downs for a long time. Though weak now, the day of rise will come. Don’t underestimate us. Our Air Force will be established before long.”
After speaking, he left indignantly along with two good friends.
This left the foreigner baffled.
The differences in Eastern and Western culture were on full display here.
Smith was straightforward and spoke factually; indeed, this level of training quality was concerning.
The instructors cared about their country and were triggered emotionally; their temporary indignation was not wrong.
Fortunately, the other instructors were steady. After some explanation, this misunderstanding passed.
Next was the selection.
Smith stated the requirements.
The translator relayed: “This selection is for civil aviation pilots. They must have strong learning ability and be able to pilot our company’s monoplane single-engine 6-seater aircraft after training. This airplane is different from your biplane trainers; it’s much larger in size, with a completely different piloting experience.”
In the translator’s explanation.
Monoplane single-engine 6-seater aircraft means only one wing on each side, one engine in the fuselage, and besides the pilot, it can carry 6 passengers.
Though it can only carry 6 passengers, this civilian aircraft is already the most advanced model currently, no wonder Smith said that.
Instructor Liu, who was not participating in the selection, asked: “Then how will the selection be done?”
Smith checked his watch and answered in English.
The translator continued relaying: “He says the airplane will arrive soon. Please ensure there are no obstacles on the runway.”
“The airplane is flying over?” Instructor Liu was surprised and hurriedly called the school’s ground staff to clear the runway.
After a while, a roaring sound came from the sky, and a new model civilian aircraft landed on the school runway.
