Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

Airbus is the pride of Europeans and an important symbol of Europe's rivalry with the United States in the aviation industry!

Europe's first joint aircraft project was the Concorde. Although its commercial operation wasn't profitable, it pioneered a new era. In September 1967, the British, French, and German governments signed a memorandum of understanding, deciding to continue their joint efforts and develop the Airbus A300.

The A300 was a hit, achieving great success and rapidly advancing Europe's aviation industry. They followed up with the development of new models.

The A300 was, after all, just a twin-engine, medium-range, wide-body airliner. Although spacious inside, it mainly flew feeder routes within Europe. Later, the A310 and A320 were developed, all medium-range airliners, with the latter even being a narrow-body aircraft.

For example, the A340, a large long-range airliner, had a maximum takeoff weight of 275 tons, with modified versions exceeding 300 tons, almost twice that of the original A300. Such a large airliner required more robust landing gear!

When they heard that the East had a 65,000-ton hydraulic press, they were immediately interested. They had originally planned to come, but various matters delayed them for a while. Now, after the executives of Mercedes-Benz saw the hydraulic press, they couldn't resist any longer and decided to come and see it for themselves.

The famous aircraft designer Thomas personally led a team of more than twenty people. After getting off the plane at the Capital International Airport, they were in high spirits and headed straight for Tianjin, just in time for the commissioning ceremony of the hydraulic press.

A large number of leaders from First Heavy Machinery came. Zhao Shengde stood in front of the large hydraulic press and said loudly to Qin Yang: "President Qin, on behalf of First Heavy Machinery, I formally hand over this 65,000-ton hydraulic press to the Capital Agricultural Tool Factory! We promise that the performance of this die-forging hydraulic press has reached the world's first-class level. All accessories have been debugged and are ready to start working at any time!"

"On behalf of the Capital Agricultural Tool Factory, I thank you for your hard work. This die-forging hydraulic press is not only the most advanced in our country but also the most advanced in the world. With this hydraulic press, our industrial production capacity will inevitably reach a new level!"

Everyone applauded.

When Thomas and the others came in, they saw this scene. Looking at the tall hydraulic press standing in the factory building, they felt complicated. Shouldn't Europe be the most developed in mechanical technology? Now, many mechanical manufacturing equipment in the East has surpassed Europe.

"Oh, our foreign friends are here?" After Qin Yang said this, he saw the foreigners appearing outside and greeted them very warmly: "Everyone, welcome to participate in our hydraulic press delivery ceremony. You're here, why did you bring gifts?"

Gifts? We didn't bring any gifts? Thomas looked suspiciously at the people around him and found that one of them was indeed holding a box. However, this box contained a model of an Airbus A300. Since they came to the East, they couldn't just negotiate; they also planned to promote Airbus to the East.

Due to some previous events, the East and McDonnell Douglas had some unpleasantness. When one side is dark, the other side is bright. It was a good opportunity to promote Airbus over here.

Now, Qin Yang actually regarded this box as a gift to him.

What to do?

Many people were watching around, and Thomas had no other choice. He could only take the box from his subordinate: "Yes, we brought a model of an Airbus aircraft and wanted to give it to your company as a gift."

Qin Yang took it and opened the box on the spot, taking a few glances: "Not bad, this model is very exquisite! By the way, can I give it away?"

Give it away?

You just received our gift and are giving it away to someone else? Isn't that a bit unkind? However, Thomas still squeezed out a gentlemanly smile: "Of course."

So, Qin Yang beckoned: "Old Ma, Old Ma, you are engaged in the development of domestic large aircraft. This Airbus company's large aircraft model is for you!"

This equipment was originally prepared for the Y-10. Pressing automobile beams was just a side task. Forging aircraft landing gear and beams was the focus. Therefore, Old Ma also participated in this grand ceremony.

He just didn't expect that a customer would come over.

Old Ma's face was smiling, and he solemnly took it: "Not bad, this model is not bad. Although it is only a medium-range airliner, it is still very good."

Although it is only a medium-range airliner?

The Airbus company personnel here were unhappy. We have the most advanced airliners in the world!

"Does your company have the ability to manufacture airliners?" someone asked.

The East does not have the ability to manufacture airliners and mainly relies on foreign purchases. In the past, it purchased British Tridents, and later it purchased Boeing and McDonnell Douglas airliners. They actually came to despise Airbus? What did President Qin mean when he said that you are engaged in the development of domestic large aircraft?

"Yes, we are currently manufacturing the Y-10, a four-engine large airliner. This airliner has completed all the test flight subjects and is undergoing commercial flight."

"Y-10? What kind of aircraft is this?" Thomas asked curiously.

"It is a long-range airliner like the Boeing 707. If everyone is interested, we can take you to see it after the ceremony here is over," Qin Yang said from the side.

A group of visitors were very curious and had countless questions:

"Impossible, how can Easterners have such a large aircraft?"

"Yes, isn't the East's aviation industry very poor?"

They only dared to discuss in a low voice and were embarrassed to say it in person. Fortunately, the ceremony ended soon, and a group of people followed Qin Yang back to the capital.

With the two batches of engines Qin Yang brought, the assembly work of the Y-10 went smoothly.

The first Y-10 was transformed into an airborne early warning aircraft, the second Y-10 was used for static testing, and the third Y-10 was an aerial refueling aircraft. However, the fuel tank only needs to be placed under the passenger cabin and will not take up the space above. In order to use one aircraft for multiple purposes, the top of this Y-10 is still arranged according to normal seats.

Except for the extravagant US military, which only retains the front 75 seats of the aerial refueling aircraft, almost all other countries' aerial refueling aircraft have not removed the seats.

This third aerial refueling aircraft has been completed and is waiting to complete various test flight subjects before conducting aerial refueling docking experiments with the J-11 fighter jet. It is currently parked at the flight test institute and immediately flew from the flight test institute to the Capital Airport after receiving the news.

Thomas and his party spent a day and returned to the starting point.