Chapter 86: 85, Mastering Boeing 247 Flight, Shopkeeper Liu And Sun Debiao’s Tokens Of Loyalty
Tung oil for airplanes celebration and aircraft handover ceremony successfully completed.
At the end of the meeting, the tung oil merchants specifically asked again to confirm the time and place for monthly rent distribution.
Fang Wen and Shopkeeper Liu patiently replied that on the 15th of every month, they could collect it on time at the chief accountant’s office in Taishan Airlines Headquarters.
If they do not want to collect it every month, or if the round trip is too far and troublesome.
They can also request to accumulate the rent and collect it together after some time.
But they cannot entrust others, after all, there is no good way to verify identity these days, if someone fraudulently collects it, Taishan Airlines does not want to suffer such a silent loss.
The tung oil merchants were very satisfied with this; those from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region would naturally come once a month, while those from the Southwest Region would choose to come once every half year to collect the rent.
After the celebration ended, Shanghai newspapers also reported it, and there were even mimeographed photographs, including both the celebration and snapshots of the Japanese spies being arrested.
But the newspaper headlines did not mention anything related to the Japanese, just vaguely stating that it was a group of people with ulterior motives attempting sabotage in Shanghai.
Meanwhile, Taishan Airlines returned to normal operations.
Boeing 247 arrived, and to open the two routes as soon as possible, Fang Wen became busy again.
He arranged two important short-term tasks for Taishan Airlines.
The first was for him to do himself: master piloting the Boeing 247, then fly the new routes back and forth a few times, and standardize the processes from takeoff to landing for these two routes.
Pan Jiafeng used the standardized process to pilot the Boeing 80 from Shanghai to Fuyang and mastered it in just two days.
This shows that the standardized process can be replicated among flight apprentices with a flying foundation, even if other students have less talent than Pan Jiafeng, they can succeed with more effort and care.
The second was to confirm routes and airports in Jinan and Nanchang, rent land for airport construction, and build local relationships.
Shopkeeper Sun and Fang Shouxin would each handle one side.
But the most important contributors were those National Government officials who held dry shares and received generous monthly dividends.
These few months of dividends were enough to show that Taishan Airlines was a goldmine; upon learning of the route expansion plan, they had already expressed through white gloves that airport matters in both places were completely worry-free.
Immediately, Shopkeeper Sun and Fang Shouxin set off.
At the same time, Fang Wen began exploring the Boeing 247.
The Boeing 247 was a full-metal passenger aircraft developed by Boeing Company starting in 1930.
Originally, this model was scheduled for public test flight in early next year.
But due to the generous conditions offered by Fang Wen, as well as Boeing Company’s financial problems caused by the economic crisis in recent years, they agreed to ship two first-generation aircraft to Asia for sale.
Therefore, these two aircraft could be said to be available earlier than in the United States.
To ensure normal aircraft operation, as well as subsequent maintenance and data tracking records.
Boeing Company also sent renowned engineer Cam Sinclair Sims.
With this engineer who understood both flying and aircraft, Fang Wen’s understanding of the Boeing 247 rapidly improved.
Boeing 247 data sheet
Crew members: three
Passenger capacity: 10 passengers
Length: 15.7 meters
Wingspan: 22.6 meters
Height: 3.8 meters
Wing area: 78 square meters
Empty weight: 4055 kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 6190 kg
Engines: 2×Pratt & Whitney S1H1-G Wasp engines, power 410 kW
Maximum speed with payload: 320 km/h
Cruising speed: 300 km/h
Range: 1200 km
Service ceiling: 7620 m
In Fang Wen’s view, it was the model most like modern passenger aircraft.
The aircraft had only one engine but drove propellers on both sides simultaneously, mainly thanks to its engine adopting radial technology.
The so-called radial meant one crankshaft equipped with multiple cylinders, with multiple cylinders jointly driving the crankshaft in reciprocating motion.
This design made the engine’s power stronger.
The fuselage was full-metal structure, the wings were the newly emerging low monoplane wings, the entire fuselage had a streamlined appearance, conforming to aerodynamics principles.
At the same time, its landing gear was retractable.
As for the 10-passenger payload, it was somewhat low.
But its actual takeoff payload was 2 tons, far higher than for 10 passengers, allowing about 1.3 tons of cargo capacity.
This meant it was an aircraft with both passenger and cargo attributes.
Perfectly meeting the current huge demand for airmail and cargo.
After fully understanding the aircraft, Fang Wen began test flying it.
He boarded the aircraft and scanned the inside of the aircraft.
Because of the streamlined fuselage, the internal space of the aircraft was slender compared to the Boeing 80.
There were only two rows of seats, five on each side, with curtained scenic windows beside the seats.
The rear was the cargo hold, the front was the cockpit.
The boarding gate was at the connection between cargo hold and passenger cabin, with two threshold-like crossbars inside the passenger cabin.
Passengers needed to step over these two crossbars to reach their seats after boarding.
Even Fang Wen had to step over these two crossbars to get to the cockpit.
This design was very uncomfortable, but there was no way around it.
Those two crossbars were the connection and fixing equipment for the aircraft’s left and right wings; its low monoplane wing eliminated external wire stabilization, so internal crossbeams were needed for fixation.
To ensure both streamlined fuselage and wing stability, these two things were essential.
Fang Wen walked down the corridor, stepped over the two crossbars, entered the cockpit, and sat down.
The instrument equipment in front had more than on the Shrike Hao, mainly additional electrical control equipment.
Recalling the startup steps Cam Sinclair Sims mentioned, Fang Wen activated the equipment.
“Do you need me to demonstrate once?” Cam Sinclair Sims asked from behind.
“No need.” As long as the aircraft started, Fang Wen entered mechanical perception state, and the functions of those devices were already crystal clear.
He quickly entered piloting state, skillfully operating various equipment to start the aircraft.
As the aircraft accelerated on the runway, Cam Sinclair Sims stopped recording.
Cam Sinclair Sims was too shocked; he had recorded all Boeing 247 test pilots’ operations and was very familiar with piloting the Boeing 247.
But the Fang Wen in front of him was piloting it for the first time, having only learned theory before, yet performing almost as well as previous test pilots.
The aircraft was still accelerating when Cam Sinclair Sims said in alarm:
“Mr. Fang, you cannot start takeoff operation now; we must follow the process.”
When the aircraft reached takeoff speed, Fang Wen decelerated and stopped: “Okay, we’ll go step by step; we need to gradually understand this aircraft’s performance.”
Afterward, the two practiced multiple times on the airport runway, and Cam Sinclair Sims gradually became confident in Fang Wen’s operations.
He felt that with this extremely talented pilot’s mastery of the Boeing 247, takeoff training could begin.
Thus, on the first day of flight training, the Boeing 247 took off from the runway and completed the flight from Shanghai to Fuyang.
With the Boeing 247’s range and fuel capacity, Shanghai to Fuyang could be done round trip the same day without refueling.
Among the two new routes, Shanghai to Nanchang could do round trip without refueling, but Shanghai to Jinan could not.
Fang Wen wondered if the Boeing 247 could be modified with auxiliary fuel tanks for more fuel capacity and longer endurance.
Although mechanical perception gave full understanding of the 247’s internal structure, he still wanted to hear professional opinions.
So, after a day of flight training, Fang Wen took the initiative.
“Cam, how about drinks tonight? Paul and Howard too.”
“Sure. I have some things I want to discuss with you.” Cam agreed.
In the evening, the group gathered at the small tavern.
This time, all who came with Fang Wen were foreigners: Aviation Maintenance Department director Howard, and the two mechanics dispatched by Boeing: Paul and Cam.
Paul was the Boeing 80 mechanic, and Cam would stay at Taishan Airlines as mechanic for the two Boeing 247s; the two already knew each other at Boeing Company, so they were acquaintances.
Howard also had a good relationship with Paul; Fang Wen could speak English and was company leadership, so this gathering was very harmonious.
Eating Eastern dishes, Cam praised: “Mr. Fang, your flying talent is too astonishing. And I like the food here too.”
Fang Wen and Cam drank a cup of baijiu, then said: “Is that so? What do you think of the Boeing 247? No official language; this is our private chat.”
With strong liquor down, Cam’s words flowed.
“I can make a comparison, and you’ll understand. Before the Boeing 247, the best civil airliner was the Ford Trimotor, which we called Tin Goose, a three-engine full-metal civil transport aircraft sold over a hundred worldwide. But I can assure you, when the Boeing 247 goes on sale externally, that’s when the Ford Trimotor will be out of production.”
Fang Wen nodded, recalling the Young Marshal’s aerial ride he saw at Nanjing Airport that day, which was a Ford Tri-Motor Airplane.
Howard asked: “Why?”
Cam explained proudly: “From our research, high monoplane has high payload, low monoplane has high stability; the former suits large transport aircraft and bombers, the latter is best for passenger aircraft. Our 247 outperformed the Trimotor in comfort and stability tests.”
Fang Wen agreed with Cam, but thought there was one more point that was key to the Boeing 247 beating the Trimotor.
That was its low price.
Precisely because of the price war, Ford Company stopped developing aircraft and focused on automobile business.
The chat continued, and Fang Wen asked: “Cam, what do you think of auxiliary fuel tank design?”
“Very good design idea; it can temporarily increase range, suitable for military aircraft on long-distance special missions.”
“If I add auxiliary fuel tanks to the 247, is that possible?”
“Theoretically no problem; our aircraft engines have high stability, tested in labs for ultra-long operation. But the company does not endorse any aircraft modifications.”
“Not endorsing doesn’t mean it’s impossible, right?”
“Yes, if you succeed in modifying it, no one will object.”
Cam subtly expressed support for the modification but would not participate.
That was enough.
Fang Wen decided to modify one of the Boeing 247s for the Shanghai-Jinan route.
The reason for modification was not just from Taishan Airlines’ business interests, but also for Fang Wen’s Rich and Noble Legion plan.
He had already planned the initial plan.
That modified Boeing 247 would then depart from Jinan and fly to Shenyang.
The range was straight line, crossing Bohai Bay, over 750 km.
Only the modified Boeing 247 could make a 1500 km round trip in one go to bring things back.
A month passed.
Airports in Jinan and Nanchang both received local approval.
Airport construction in Nanchang had already begun.
In Jinan, there was an old Beiyang Government-era airport that closed due to the Central Plains War and had never reopened.
It was perfectly rented by Taishan Airlines for its own use.
With the airport ready, Fang Wen piloted the aircraft back and forth between Shanghai and Jinan several times, standardizing the entire flight process from takeoff, heading determination, flight speed, to landing.
Then, Pan Jiafeng became the first standardized operation pilot for the Shanghai-Jinan route; he strictly followed Fang Wen’s processes and, after one day of adaptation, easily completed the entire route flight.
This also proved that Fang Wen’s standardized flight processes were feasible.
Subsequently, two outstanding flight apprentices completed 100 hours of biplane trainer flight training, and after further training, took over Pan Jiafeng’s Shanghai-Fuyang flights.
Thus, Taishan Airlines’ first route pilot position had been taken over by the two graduated flight apprentices, and Fang Wen no longer needed to fly personally.
He was now hosting the opening of the new Shanghai-Jinan flights while preparing to implement the Rich and Noble Legion plan.
September 1932
Jinan Airport repairs completed; after two round-trip takeoffs and landings, Fang Wen confirmed it was ready for service.
Recruitment for a new batch of flight attendants began again.
Shanghai to Fuyang, with two crews, added one flight attendant security and one flight attendant service.
Shanghai to Jinan was also two-crew system, needing 4 flight attendants similarly.
The soon-to-open Shanghai to Nanchang would also follow the same system.
Therefore, this recruitment added 10 flight attendants.
People from the Eight Great Families, those introduced by Jiaxing Fang Family, and Northern Fang Shouxin fellow disciples who came to join were all competing to sign up.
Competition was fierce, but ultimately people from all three sides were selected, a win-win for all.
These people would then receive training from Sun Debiao and Xie Yuwen, teaching them onboard work methods.
After training ended, they would take shifts on duty, and the Shanghai-Jinan flights would officially commence.
During this gap, Fang Wen had rare leisure; he gathered his small circle for a party.
This time not at the small tavern, but at his home.
In the small courtyard, one large table, eight people.
Sun Debiao, Shopkeeper Liu, Shao Sishen, Howard, Fang Shouxin, Fang Shun, Pan Jiafeng
And Fang Wen.
He looked at the seven and said:
“I called everyone here today because there’s something I want to discuss; before that, I want to ask, are you all people I can trust?”
This question was long-awaited for some.
Sun Debiao and Shopkeeper Liu exchanged a glance and took the lead.
Shopkeeper Liu took out a booklet: “I, Liu Qiufu, went pioneering in the Northeast with family members as a child, worked from employee to shopkeeper; originally, there was nothing to hope for in this life. But at Taishan Airlines, I feel reborn. This is my certificate of allegiance; General Manager, take it. From now on, you are my patriarch.”
Fang Wen took the booklet and opened it; it detailed things Shopkeeper Liu did in the Northeast, some ordered by his old patriarch, some for personal gain, all shady deeds. This was handing his handle to Fang Wen voluntarily, representing severance from his old patriarch.
Sun Debiao said nothing and also took out a booklet.
But when handing it over, he was clearly hesitant, ultimately steeling himself and giving it to Fang Wen.
“After the patriarch sees my certificate of allegiance, don’t be scared; I, Sun Debiao, am your man from now on, turning over a new leaf.”
