Reborn in Hong Kong: The Tycoon Grows Up

Robert Wilson is nominally a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, but he also has the identity of a peripheral CIA officer. It can be said that during the Cold War, journalists from the United States and the Soviet Union basically received espionage training. The future Russian leader also made a guest appearance as a reporter during Reagan's visit to the Soviet Union.

When Robert Wilson returned to Washington, he saw not only CIA leaders waiting for him in the conference room. Representatives from Boeing, Lockheed, General Dynamics, Pratt \u0026 Whitney and other major companies were also seen discussing topics related to ground-effect aircraft in the conference room.

Although William Casey has amazing powers as the director of the CIA, he sometimes has to take into account the interests of large American companies. Especially since each of these military industry giants is a master with amazing energy, he really can't afford to offend them.

Now not only the major U.S. military industry giants are waiting for intelligence, but even the presidential envoy Wainwright has also come to the CIA. You don't need to think about it to understand that Reagan is also paying attention to this matter at this moment. After all, this is a brand new means of transportation. To be precise, it is a new type of weapon.

William Casey must speak first, after all, this is his territory. He smiled and said to Robert Wilson: "Robert, what did you gain from this visit to Xiangjiang? I heard that you are one of the few people who has personally experienced the Xiangjiang monster ground-effect aircraft."

Robert Wilson also knew that since so many people came here today, it seemed that the president had attached great importance to this matter. Isn't this an opportunity to prove yourself? So he straightened his clothes and said, "Your Excellency, Director, and all business representatives. This ride on the ground-effect aircraft gave me a very shocking feeling. The Xiangjiang Monster is basically controlled by computers during the operation, and the degree of automation is very high."

"Since we only flew for an hour, we did not fully experience its comprehensive performance. Although Heiyun Group announced that the maximum take-off weight of the ground-effect aircraft is 800 tons, I think it can do better, but it is not yet available. It’s still in the test flight stage, and Heiyun Group doesn’t dare to be too serious about it.”

After hearing what Robert Wilson said, many people knew that this aircraft already had strategic value. It seems that the United States also needs to carry out relevant research and development, otherwise it will be completely behind in the ground effect aircraft project.

Presidential envoy Wainwright said: "During the test flight of the Xiangjiang Monster ground-effect aircraft, we asked whether the radar deployed in Asia found the target."

The military representative said awkwardly: "Because no early warning aircraft was deployed during the test flight of the Xiangjiang Monster, and it is difficult for ground radar to detect low-altitude aircraft. Therefore, none of the radar stations deployed in Asia found the target. Not only us, but also the British Embassy The Xiangjiang troops only discovered the target when they saw the aircraft with their naked eyes, and the radar could not scan it at all."

These words made everyone present look solemn, because they knew that the Soviets had already developed ground-effect aircraft. If the performance is similar to that of the Xiangjiang Monster, it will be very troublesome for them to use ground-effect aircraft to attack the United States once a war breaks out.

William Casey: "You should have heard that our satellite once photographed Soviet aircraft activities in the Caspian Sea. Now it seems that we can conclude that it was a Soviet ground-effect aircraft. The United States is already in the lead in the ground-effect aircraft project. It is completely lagging behind. The ground-effect aircraft of the Black Cloud Group are transportation vehicles, while the Soviet aircraft are equipped with missiles. If the United States does not have corresponding counterattack weapons, it will be very passive when a war breaks out in the future."

At this time, a representative of Lockheed said: "Mr. Wilson, what was the altitude of the aircraft during the test flight, or at what altitude the aircraft flew most smoothly."

Robert Wilson: "Because the weather in Xiangjiang was very good during the test flight, my watch has an altimeter function. The aircraft is most stable when it flies at an altitude of about 8 meters, and I feel it is also the fastest when it can fly."

After hearing this, a Lockheed representative said: "The wingspan of the Xiangjiang Monster ground effect aircraft is 42 meters. We have calculated that the ground effect is strongest when the aircraft is about 15% of the wingspan above the ground. However, There are other factors involved, such as the length of the aircraft and wing area, but the general proportions will not differ much.

As Lockheed's old rival, Boeing will not let them get what they want. Looking at the situation, the U.S. military will definitely launch a ground-effect aircraft, so the most likely companies to develop and produce this product are Boeing and Lockheed. As for General Dynamics and Pratt \u0026 Whitney, they will provide engines to them. Now that Lockheed representatives have expressed their views, they cannot fall behind, otherwise the ground-effect aircraft will have nothing to do with Boeing.

The markets most affected by the emergence of ground-effect aircraft are large passenger aircraft and transport aircraft, and these two are precisely Boeing's traditional areas. It can be said that it is an invincible existence in this world. Now that a more efficient aircraft appears, everything becomes confusing.

A Boeing representative said: "This is just a simple formula. Any college student who has studied aerodynamics can calculate it. What I am most concerned about is the LCD screen and computer control system inside. It can be seen that Heiyun Group has great achievements in these two aspects. The technological advantages are already very obvious. If we cannot catch up, we will definitely be very passive by then."

"Also, have you noticed that there are no exhaust holes next to the external engine? Looking at this arrangement reminds me of the aerodynamic layout of the British Harrier fighter jet. If the Xiangjiang Monster can take off and land vertically, then its combat effectiveness will increase by more than one level. . But looking at the layout of the engine, it is not impossible. This is what we should be concerned about. "

After listening to what the Boeing representative said, everyone carefully looked at the pictures brought back by Robert Wilson. They were all professionals, and they really saw some clues.

Presidential envoy Wainwright suddenly said at this time: "Can General Dynamics and Pratt \u0026 Whitney build a three-rotor turbojet engine similar to Black Cloud, and can it achieve vertical take-off and landing effects."

The competition between General Dynamics and Pratt \u0026 Whitney is also very fierce, even worse than that of Boeing and Lockheed. Now that we see that the presidential envoy has named him, it proves that Wainwright was authorized by Reagan. This is not a time for peace and quiet, and they don't have much confidence in their hearts at this time.

A representative of General Dynamics said: "We have the ability to develop and produce engines, but the technology patent for the three-rotor engine is in the hands of Heiyun. If the U.S. military uses it alone, there will be no big problem. However, once it is exported to our allies, it will face patents. dispute."

"And now we need IBM's cooperation in computer software and hardware. This can only be achieved if IBM discloses technical parameters and source code to us."

A representative from Pratt \u0026 Whitney also said: "Although I don't want to admit it, this is the fact. At present, no company has obtained the patent authorization for the three-rotor engine. If a traditional engine is used, the product performance may be greatly reduced."

"In addition, the Xiangjiang Monster ground-effect aircraft uses a large amount of titanium alloy, which can only be imported from the Soviet Union. This is also a very troublesome matter. Looking at the appearance and color of the entire Xiangjiang Monster, Heiyun Group must have added rare earths to the metal formula. Elements, which need to be imported from China.”

Wainwright is a bit overwhelmed now. Not only does he have to obtain technology authorization, but he also needs IBM to disclose the source code; he also needs to import titanium alloys from the Soviet Union; and finally he needs to purchase rare earth minerals from China. These things are difficult to handle, but His Excellency the President has made it clear that we must develop Americans' own ground-effect aircraft, and we must complete it even if it is difficult.

Wainwright: "I don't think Bao Zixuan has the guts to refuse the engine patent authorization. The worst I can do is give him more money. The CIA is responsible for importing minerals from the Soviet Union and China. No matter what method is used, it must meet the requirements for producing ground-effect aircraft." the raw materials needed.”

"But Heiyun probably didn't get IBM's data parameters and source code. Why do you need it?"

The people at General Dynamics are also speechless. Can they send someone who knows science and engineering next time? This person is simply a technical idiot, but after all, he represents the president, and he is not easily offended.

Representative of General Dynamics: "Your Excellency, Special Envoy, Heiyun Computer Company of Heiyun Group is one of the largest software and hardware suppliers in the world. For their ground-effect aircraft, you only need to take the system over and use it. After all, it is a company with the same interests, and The developers are probably a team."

"But the computer hardware and software we need come from IBM. If they don't cooperate, we can only accommodate them. Nowadays, products are very suitable for the combination of software and hardware. If one party does not cooperate, the project may fail. And as a computer Many of the company's data parameters and source code are fundamental to the company's survival, and we have no affiliation with IBM; this is more troublesome."

Villette: "I will coordinate these things. IBM must make necessary sacrifices for the national interest. Now you need to come up with a bidding plan. Your Excellency the President will see your plan within half a month. If you don't want the Soviets to If a ground-effect aircraft was discovered after it flew over our heads, then everyone must let the United States also possess this weapon."

It’s still the old rules, Boeing and Pratt \u0026 Whitney versus Lockheed and General Dynamics. This may be the basic operation of every aircraft tender in the United States. As for the remaining small companies, they can only have some soup in the back.

Bao Zixuan didn't know that one of his actions had already caused the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, to increase their investment in the research and development of ground-effect aircraft. Now it seems that the Soviets have taken the lead, but I believe that it will not be difficult to do anything with the technical reserves of the Americans.

Both superpowers are increasing investment in ground-effect aircraft, and other countries cannot fall behind. It can be said that the fate of a product that was not successful in the previous life has undergone earth-shaking changes in this life, and Bao Zixuan's influence is gradually increasing.