Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 356, Section 354: A massive order for 100 aircraft; pressurized cabin technology secured.

In the reception room of Taishan Airlines' Wuhan headquarters, a Pan Am representative sat on a wooden armchair, enjoying a cup of coffee prepared for him by the reception staff.

The reception room, decorated in a classic Chinese style, immersed him in the atmosphere of Eastern culture.

And everything I saw and heard while flying from Guangzhou.

The interesting in-flight food, airport security measures, and various thoughtful services showed him what made China Eastern Airlines different, and it was these things that made him understand why Taishan Airlines was so successful.

Next, he was about to meet the company's founder, and he couldn't help but feel excited.

Voices came from outside the door. "Is he inside?" "Yes." "I'll go back to my office and bring him up in a bit."

A moment later, the door to the reception room opened, and a staff member from the administration department of Taishan Airlines walked in, smiling and saying, "Sir, the general manager is back. Please come upstairs with me."

The man put down his coffee, got up, and followed him out of the room to the general manager's office upstairs.

Although Fang Wen is often not in the company, the office of the general manager of Taishan Airlines is cleaned every day, and the room is very clean and tidy.

Fang Wen sat behind his desk, waiting to meet with Pan Am representatives.

The door opened, and a staff member led the foreigner in: "General Manager, the person has arrived."

"You can leave now. I want to talk to him alone."

"Yes."

The door closed, and only Fang Wen and a representative from Pan Am were in the office.

"Hello Mr. Fang, I am Pine Reed, sent by Pan Am to discuss the purchase of long-haul civilian seaplanes with you."

"You want to buy the same model of aircraft as the Xuanming?" Fang Wen asked in English.

“Yes, Pan Am has always wanted to open a route between the Americas and Asia, but in the last competition, the aircraft you manufactured proved to be the best choice. Originally, we thought we were competitors and could only temporarily put the Americas-Asia route on hold. But in the past year or so, you haven’t developed in this direction, which makes us feel that there is a possibility of cooperation. So the company sent me here to negotiate.”

Fang Wen replied with feigned emotion, "The situation has changed somewhat. As you have seen, war has broken out, and the Japanese fleet has blocked the southeast coast."

Pine Reed quickly responded: "Yes, the war has indeed had a great impact, but our Asia-Pacific route, with its Asian terminus in the Philippines, will not be affected by the war. If you sell the Xuanming model long-haul seaplane to Pan Am, it will create a direct route between the Americas and Asia."

Fang Wen nodded: "How many do you need?"

"We are prepared to order 100 aircraft."

Payne Reed's words stunned Fang Wen.

This is a very large order.

This could even allow the Taishan Aircraft Manufacturing Plant to dedicate all its production capacity to manufacturing this type of aircraft.

Fang Wen was rapidly calculating in his mind.

The Xuanming seaplane is a civilian version manufactured by imitating the US military's PBI seaplane.

The cost is $4, while the US military's order for the PBI-1 seaplane fighter costs $8 per unit.

If sold to Pan Am, the price would be even higher because it's a commercial aircraft; Fang Wen thinks a price of $9 per aircraft is reasonable.

In this way, the profit from 100 aircraft would be $500 million, with a total amount of $900 million.

This is a very large sum of money, which can be used to purchase more military supplies.

Furthermore, this opportunity can be used to expand the production capacity of Taishan Aircraft Manufacturing Plant, recruit and train more technical personnel, and lay the foundation for the aircraft manufacturing industry.

Fang Wen, though somewhat excited, remained expressionless and asked calmly, "Explain clearly. Don't tell me you're using 100 Xuanming-type seaplanes to operate the Asia-Pacific route. If you do, you'll definitely go bankrupt."

"Yes, sir. We only plan to deploy ten aircraft on the Asia-Pacific route; the majority will be used for round-the-America flights."

Pine Reed explained Pan Am's plans in detail.

Pan Am, an airline controlled by the Rockefeller and Whitney families, has been seeking more aviation business resources in recent years.

In previous years, however, American Airlines secured Boeing's entire annual production capacity for the Boeing 247 for a high price of $350 million, thereby significantly increasing its market share in the US aviation sector.

Other airlines, including Pan Am, suffered significant business setbacks as a result.

The adage "No new planes, no customers" has become a new industry warning for the US aviation industry.

Therefore, airlines are working with aircraft manufacturers to produce the passenger planes they want.

Pan Am has made many attempts in this regard and reached cooperation agreements with several aircraft manufacturers, but the results have not been good.

It wasn't until their match against Fang Wen that they realized the value of the Xuanming.

This large seaplane can not only fly on trans-Pacific routes, but also has many other uses.

For example, there are many business opportunities in flying Atlantic routes, and in flying along the US coastline to South America and other North and South American routes.

After listening to Pine Reed's explanation, Fang Wen realized the enormous profits involved in the other party's business plan.

He calmly inquired, "The Xuanming-type seaplane has undeniable advantages in realizing your business plans. We can continue our discussion; what price are you prepared to quote for each aircraft?"

“$7,” Pine Reed replied.

Fang Wen's expression darkened: "No, the price is too low, it shows no sincerity whatsoever."

His emotions quickly influenced Pine Reid, allowing him to successfully seize control of the negotiations.

Fearing the meeting might fail, Payne Reed quickly said, "This is just the initial quote. If you think it's too low, we can negotiate. I'll report it to the company."

"$9 per aircraft."

“9!” Pine Reed swallowed hard. The $2 price increase was beyond his expectations.

Fang Wen continued, "This price is already very low. You need to understand that this is an exclusive procurement price. We will be like American Airlines and Boeing, producing this type of aircraft exclusively for Pan Am for a period of time."

Pine Reed was drawn to the term "exclusive procurement," and he understood the benefits this approach would bring to Pan Am.

However, the decision-making power was not in his hands; he had to report to the United States and wait for a reply.

In response, Fang Wen directly arranged for someone from the Commercial Telegraph Office to come and be responsible for sending telegrams to the United States specifically for Payne Reed.

Payne Reed, eager to report to headquarters, was about to sneak off to the telegraph room when Fang Wen stopped him.

"Wait, I heard you have a letter for me?"

“Yes.” Payne Reed took a letter from his briefcase, handed it to Fang Wen, and then left with the people in the telegraph room.

Fang Wen cut open the letter and took out the letter paper to read it.

Dear Mr. Fang Wen:

Hello!

Right now, I'm sitting by the window in my study, gazing at the beach outside. My mind drifts back to a year ago, to those days and nights we spent adventuring together on the Pacific Ocean. Like vivid paintings, they slowly unfold in my mind.

Looking back on that summer, our fleet, along with seaplanes, searched for unknown treasures on the vast Pacific Ocean. Those days were filled with countless storms and challenges, but what I remember most vividly is that sudden gunfight at sea.

In our despair, it was you, Mr. Fang Wen, who, with your extraordinary courage and wisdom, led us to successfully subdue those bad guys.

There are also Caribbean pirate ships, their mysterious history, and ancient treasures.

Whenever I mention that experience in social situations, it draws countless exclamations and praises. They can't imagine how, on such a perilous ocean, we created one incredible miracle after another with courage and wisdom. And I always proudly tell them that all of this wouldn't have been possible without your help and support. Now, more than a year later, my wife and I still can't forget those memories.

We are eager to explore the mysterious Eastern culture and hope to embark on a new adventure.

Please don't misunderstand that we came to China just for pleasure. This is also a form of propaganda. We believe that through our cameras and reports, more people in the United States will know what the war of aggression that took place in the East was like.

Connor Alexander Whitney

November 1937

After reading the letter, Fang Wen wondered what the Whitneys could bring him by coming to China.

As the letter stated, through their photography, writing, and connections, they could garner more support for China's resistance against Japan.

However, the Nationalist government did this many times, but the results were not very good.

Ultimately, this world is determined by strength and interests.

But the Whitneys also had to consider whether Taishan Airlines could continue to receive Wasp engines.

With the outbreak of World War II, better Pratt & Whitney Wasp engines will become extremely scarce. If this relationship is not maintained, it will be difficult to obtain aircraft engines with more than 1000 horsepower in the future.

Furthermore, since this couple is in China and their special status allows them to leave the country without inspection, I wonder if I could bring the pressurization chamber technology over through them.

With this in mind, Fang Wen contacted the United States by telegram.

Las Vegas, in the western United States.

After receiving the telegram, Zhao Jiu immediately dialed Neil Toledo's number.

"Come to Las Vegas and bring your stuff over."

He hesitated on the phone: "The lab is already investigating the missing data. I'm afraid if I leave now, it will be discovered."

“Tell me who the person investigating is,” Zhao Jiu asked.

“An independent investigator within the company,” Neil Toledo replied.

"Just wait at home, I'll send someone over to resolve this problem for you."

After the call ended, Zhao Jiu found Al Capone and explained the situation.

The two former Mafia members then left Las Vegas and headed to Boeing headquarters.

After arriving in the city where Boeing was located, they met with Neil Toledo.

The two questioned Neil Toledo slowly and deliberately.

How did you get those documents?

“I paid someone to clean the lab, then told him what I needed and asked him to pick up the data after get off work.”

"Why wasn't a copy made and the original returned?"

"It was too late. The next day, the people in the lab discovered that the item was missing."

"So, once the investigators discover that the cleaning staff took the items, you will also be exposed."

"Yes. But please don't hurt anyone. This is just the theft of trade secrets, and I can take the blame."

"Do you think we're here to cover for you? No, we're respectable people now, and we have plenty of ways to solve this. Tell me the name of the independent investigator."

The two former Mafia members got what they wanted to know, left Nirtoletus, found the independent investigator's house, and skillfully opened the back window and climbed inside.

That night, the independent investigator returned home and was about to make some dinner when he discovered that there seemed to be someone in the shadows of his living room.

He nervously stepped back, reaching for the weapon in his briefcase.

But then he discovered that someone was already standing behind him.

The two Sicilians, one in front and one behind, put a lot of pressure on him.

"What do you want to do?"

"Don't be nervous, we mean no harm, we're just here to discuss a business deal."

Feeling a strange sense of danger, the independent investigator chose to sit down.

The next day, nothing happened, and the independent investigators concluded their investigation.

He announced that the lost documents had been found because they had fallen on the ground and been swept into the trash can by the cleaning staff.

The data has been recovered, there are no safety concerns, it was just an accident.

On the same day, Neil Toledo took leave and went to Las Vegas.

Upon arriving in Las Vegas, Neil handed the suitcase to Zhao Jiu, finally settling his debt to Fang Wen.

Zhao Jiu then took out the document, found a skilled antique forger in Chinatown, and had the text in the document made into metal inscriptions, which he then pasted into an antique vase.

After taking care of all that, he went to the Whitneys' home in New York and handed the vase to the couple, who were preparing to travel to China, saying it was a gift for Fang Wen.

In this way, Boeing's pressurized cabin technology was secretly sent to Asia through two wealthy couples.

Fang Wen was excited as the technical data for the pressurization chamber was about to arrive.

This technology can be applied to both military and civilian applications.

On civilian aircraft, it can make passengers more comfortable.

On military aircraft, it can significantly improve the pilot's flying environment, allowing them to better cope with challenging flights.

Meanwhile, Pine Reed also received a call back from Pan Am.

He explained the situation to Fang Wen.

"General Manager Fang, the company has agreed to a purchase price of $90,000 per Xuanming long-haul seaplane. However, the company has specifically emphasized that the Xuanming long-haul seaplane must be a model exclusively for Pan Am. The exclusivity period is two years. Furthermore, during these two years, Taishan Airlines must deliver 100 aircraft to Pan Am, at least four per month."

Fang Wen was very satisfied with this, and the next step was to discuss the details of the transaction.

As per Fang Wen's requirements, half of the payment should be made in US dollar cash or US dollar bonds, and the other half should be paid in cash or in installments.

The materials provided include a wide variety of items, such as basic raw materials like copper ingots and aluminum alloys, as well as industrial processing equipment like lathes, planers, drilling machines, and milling machines, and propeller parts that Taishan Aircraft Manufacturing Plant cannot yet manufacture independently.

These materials were jointly procured by Pan American and Taishan International, and then transported to Yangon by Taishan International's cargo ships.

The aircraft was also delivered at the port of Yangon.

Each Xuanming-class long-haul seaplane produced is test-flown by Pan Am test pilots at Yangon seaplane airport. After passing the test, it is flown by Pan Am pilots to the Philippines, and then back to the Americas via the Asia-Pacific route.

After all the details of the contract were finalized, Payne Reed did not return home but continued to wait in Wuhan.

He told Fang Wen about a new development: the person representing Pan Am to sign the contract was Connor Alexander Whitney.

Fang Wen hadn't expected this; the Whitneys' visit to China was actually related to the signing of a contract for one hundred aircraft.

He immediately convened a headquarters meeting, and because of the large order for 100 aircraft worth $900 million, some adjustments needed to be made to the company's operations.

(End of this chapter)