Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

Aircraft tugs, seemingly inconspicuous, are actually a reflection of a nation's comprehensive national strength. Only powerful countries can build them.

Airplanes can fly freely in the sky, but how do they move once they're on the ground?

If the engine is still running, it can taxi. At this point, the plane is like a tricycle, albeit a very expensive one. If the engine can't run, then it can only be towed by a vehicle.

In the past, ordinary cars were used, including in China. Slightly larger planes used 130s, small planes used 212s, and airliners like the Yun-10 used Steyrs, which were definitely capable of pulling them.

However, being able to pull and pulling well are two different concepts.

With the continuous development of aircraft technology, planes are becoming more and more precise, which requires the towing process to be as smooth as possible. These trucks can't do that. They lurch when starting, and then lurch again when shifting gears. Of course, a veteran driver with over a decade of experience might be able to ensure smoothness, but most people can't.

Therefore, with the development of technology, aircraft tugs have also become specialized.

First, the tug needs to have enough traction, so the best vehicles are all-wheel drive, with power to every wheel. Only such a tug can drag a behemoth like an airplane.

Second, aircraft tugs must have continuously variable transmissions, using hydraulic torque converters to change speed. This ensures a smooth towing process without jerking.

Finally, the tug must also have a sufficiently strong braking system, because it's not enough to just tow the plane; it must also be able to brake when needed.

Even the towing method is constantly changing. In the beginning, the tug only needed a simple bar to tow the plane, but this method wasn't precise enough. Later, they switched to a wheel-hugging method, which is safer and more flexible.

If you want to hug the wheels, it means the vehicle has to drive under the plane, so the lower the tug, the better. If the tug is too high, it won't be able to fit.

This is just on land. If you're on an aircraft carrier, the requirements for the tug are even higher, such as having first-class anti-skid capabilities to avoid falling into the sea.

Right now, China's aircraft tugs are too backward. Should we develop this technology as well? After all, in later generations, the East also has powerful aircraft tugs.

"President Qin, what are you looking at?" Old Liu stood next to Qin Yang and followed his gaze. It didn't seem like he was looking at the plane, but at that vehicle.

"President Qin, your Mercedes-Benz heavy trucks are too expensive, so we're using Steyrs for towing," Old Ma said, seemingly realizing something and feeling a little embarrassed.

"No, no, it's not appropriate to use trucks to tow airplanes," Qin Yang said. "We need specialized tugs. I was just thinking about whether we should develop this technology in China."

"Tow an airplane with a specialized vehicle?" Old Liu asked, somewhat surprised.

"Yes, we need specialized ones," Qin Yang said. "There aren't many of these things, but they're not cheap. Advanced aircraft tugs can even cost nearly as much as the planes themselves."

"That's too extravagant. In our military bases, we use 212s to tow planes, and they're pretty good," Old Liu said.

Qin Yang smiled and said, "That's in the past. In the future, the military will also need advanced aircraft tugs."

Old Liu was still a little skeptical, and Qin Yang didn't say too much.

Outside, the sound of firecrackers crackled, and the roll-out ceremony came to an end in the midst of the firecrackers.

"Everyone, it's about time. Let's go to our cafeteria for a meal," Old Ma said. "Today, while everyone's here, we'll hold a celebration banquet."

Qin Yang became interested. "Old Ma, I have the four liang of grain coupons, but I really don't have the half liang coupons. Do you have half liang coupons here?"

"Yes," Old Ma nodded. "That's right, we do have half liang grain coupons, and they're very common. For example, when you go out in the morning to buy a fried dough stick, a half liang coupon is just right."

Only Shanghai has half liang grain coupons in the whole country. Other places don't, because it's hard to imagine what you can buy with half a liang. But you can in Shanghai, and you can buy many things.

When you go out in the morning to buy fried dough sticks, you only buy one, poke it with chopsticks, and take it home to eat with rice porridge. There's a cross-talk comedian who went to Shanghai to eat and show off, 'Boss, bring me a jin of wontons!' So, twenty bowls of small wontons were served on the entire table, each bowl exactly half a liang.

Now that guests have come, we also need grain coupons, but we're embarrassed to ask for too much, so let's just do four and a half liang.

"Old Liu, do you have half a liang of grain coupons?" Qin Yang asked, looking at Old Liu.

Old Liu shook his head. "I don't need them. You put out five liang, and I'll put out four liang. Isn't that just right?"

"Why shouldn't I put out four liang?"

"Because you have a bigger stomach."

Of course, this was a joke. After entering the restaurant, Old Liu's secretary had already handed in the grain coupons for everyone.

Grain coupons must be collected, but money doesn't need to be collected. This is the rule for treating guests in this era. Qin Yang didn't find it particularly interesting, but just felt that the economy of this society still needs to continue to develop. When the economy develops and there are more materials in society, these coupons will naturally disappear.

Speaking of which, it seems that the cars he sells don't require coupons.

In fact, even buying a bicycle requires an industrial coupon. However, these are all for ordinary civilian goods. Real industrial products require approval slips. Qin Yang doesn't need to handle these things himself; his subordinates will naturally take care of them properly.

Coupons are a product of a special era.

"Speaking of these grain coupons, I'm reminded of something," Old Liu said. "When we develop in the future and society is rich in materials, these coupons should disappear."

"Yes, they will definitely disappear in the future, but it's still too difficult now," Old Ma said. "Although our country's grain harvests have been increasing year by year and production is constantly improving, it's still not rich enough. Moreover, I recently heard that farmers are encountering many difficulties in buying chemical fertilizers. It's still not easy to develop agriculture."

The East has always been short of fertilizer. However, in the past, the people in the production team didn't really believe in chemical fertilizers. If they were lazy, they would directly bury the fertilizer in the ground when fertilizing and then go back to report for duty.

When the household responsibility system was implemented, everyone became more motivated and knew that fertilization could increase production. However, the problem of chemical fertilizer shortages also arose, especially during the busy farming season, when it was difficult to buy chemical fertilizer. To the point where a local leader said, 'Whoever can solve the chemical fertilizer problem will be promoted to the top position!'

The country's development still has many, many problems waiting.