Chapter 883 – Armed Helicopter Test Flight
Armed helicopters are the standard equipment of the Army in the latter days, and Apache helicopter gunships are one of the most famous ones. The advantage of heavy helicopter gunships is that they can distribute more weight to armor, weapon loads, fuel or other equipment, which have been refined through thousands of wars.
Even America’s adversaries are very cognizant of the Apache’s status. Powerful armed helicopter fleet, a huge restraint on the armored forces, even the previous French-Vietnamese war, France also relied heavily on armed helicopters.
Only the performance of the early helicopter gunships, not yet satisfactory. The United Kingdom is also especially so, the United Kingdom is good at manufacturing defective weapons is not a day or two, a long time to manufacture helicopter gunships do not even have a tail rotor.
For a country like Britain, which has accumulated a lot of technology on the strength of the former, but lacks the ability to integrate, a shell happens to be very useful, before Allen Wilson provided sketches, then through his wife to let de Havilland bother, to see if it can be integrated into the required look.
In all fairness, Alan Wilson is not very confident, although he is barely a military fan, in the era of developed network has seen the Apache photos, but can only do the big pieces will not describe the wrong, the final product, but also to see de Havilland’s own ability to the end in the end, but no matter what, than even the tail rotor is not the product, how is not a loss.
In the field of armed helicopters, Britain can be called the weak link of imperialism, before the level of the main countries involved in the war, but also than China and Japan are a little stronger than the two countries, do not dare to say that the existence of Italy than strong.
But it so happens that the United Kingdom in fixed-wing aircraft and is a strong country, even stronger than the Soviet Union and Germany, on the contrary, is a lame leg.
Now there was hope that this lame leg would be straightened out, and with this hope Alan Wilson arrived at the headquarters of de Havilland to meet with the famous entrepreneur who was today the largest manufacturer of civil airliners in the world, but who did not know when Boeing would catch up with him.
It was not the first time that Alan Wilson and de Havilland had met long ago, and this time there was no beating around the bush, indicating that he, a district flunky, was taking the opportunity to return to London in place of his wife, Pamela Mountbatten, and to see the helicopter gunships on a test flight.
“There’s another reason, of course, to see the sea trials of the customized containers. If and when it demonstrates great economic value, the routes connecting the mainland to Malaya will all be replaced with the new containers. Singapore, as planned, will become the refining center of Asia.”
Containers have been around for many years, and there was an urgent need to develop an international standard for containers to facilitate their development, as the early containers had different structures and specifications, which affected their international circulation.
This standard was formulated in Paris twenty years ago, which is normal, Paris has developed numerous modern standards, which also reflects the important position of France in the world for a long time, and the French to develop metric units compared to the development of a container standard and what is it?
But now more than ninety percent of Europe’s containers, are wooden, this time Alan Wilson came back to order steel containers, used for sea and land transportation.
The idea of building a dockside freight yard station allowed trucks to drive up ramps to specially designed ships and unload trailers. The ships could carry the trailers to ports such as New York, and when the ships arrived, the trailers would be picked up on other truck heads. This allowed for intermodal transportation by land and sea.
This is not Allen Wilson first, the Americans almost at the same time also in this area of thinking, the difference is that the United States is pondering the sea-land intermodal transportation is a businessman, and Allen Wilson’s identity is an official.
As long as Allen Wilson noticed things in this regard, he must have implemented it faster than the Americans. Otherwise, wouldn’t this time be a trip back to Whitehall for nothing.
“France has demonstrated the superior side of helicopter gunship swarms against guerrillas. Malaya is not far from South Vietnam, and in Saigon at the time there were still our advisory missions observing to make sure of that. And we in Britain were lagging behind in this respect. Not as good as either the US, the USSR or France. And Britain also had to face the threat of the Soviet Union’s forces in Germany head on, with huge armored clusters that required a superior helicopter gunship.”
Alan Wilson than ranted about the importance of helicopter gunships to Britain, stating in passing that it was a common opinion between the couple, while de Havilland was incredulous, “Not as good as China?”
“Mr. de Havilland may not be aware that the Soviet Union has been fully supporting China since the Korean War.” Alan Wilson explained unhurriedly, “China’s helicopter gunships, are the Soviet Union’s.”
The Straight-Five was the first helicopter produced in China, and the beginning of helicopter research and application in the new China. The Straight-Five helicopter was copied by the Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Company from the drawings of the Soviet Union’s Mi-IV helicopter.
During this time in the 1950s, there was no gap between China’s weaponry and the world’s major military powers.
The Soviet Union, and even Imperial Russia, in the treatment of allies have no words, has always been dedicated, the Triple Entente during the First World War, in essence, France is not confident of going to war with Germany alone, out of the heavy money to buy Imperial Russia, Imperial Russia itself and Germany is not too much of a contradiction, but in order to the World War, the Imperial Russian Federation is a fight to the death.
Such disregard for the British influence of the move, and ultimately by the remarkable British Secretary of the Navy Churchill cracked, the price is two battleships, so that the huge Imperial Russia in the center of a full-scale siege, and ultimately fall apart.
“The Soviet Union is simply crazy, how can anyone support a country so sincerely, they will regret it later.” De Havilland was just an entrepreneur, it was impossible to understand the extent of the Soviet Union’s support for China so deeply, but still gave his own assessment, which he thought was very pertinent.
“It’s insane, and will definitely regret it later.” Alan Wilson nodded seriously, expressing his approval of the pertinent evaluation.
From the perspective of the United States, the optimal solution should actually be to take advantage of the collapse of the Soviet Union and take out all the remaining forces in the process.
It wouldn’t be too late to turn around and deal with Russia after accomplishing that. And at that point in time, there was every chance of success.
But that is the United States point of view, in the British point of view is not so, Allen Wilson is a Briton is not an American, not obliged to open the mouth to suggest, he if the United States of America’s officials, certainly will be thinking of the outcome of the Cold War from a big victory into a total victory, but he is not, it can not be helped.
De Havilland took Allen Wilson to the tarmac, letting the people remove the covered thatch, and said as he walked, “The engine is provided by Rollo, and the technical support in this regard and the distribution of profits once the bid is won have not yet been negotiated.”
“Thank you for Rollo’s support, but then again, I helped negotiate the engine contract between them and the Soviet Union in the first place, otherwise wouldn’t that have become a classic case of being cheated?”
Alan Wilson patted his own chest to take credit, although the outcome hadn’t changed, wasn’t the contract countless times better than the previous conditions in Moscow?
Since the helicopter’s engine was being supplied by Rollo, Alan Wilson’s fears were reduced considerably.
Britain’s current industrial technology is not a problem, unlike the latter days when it is all about playing with finance. If there was no problem with the most difficult engine, then there was only the problem of materials left.
In fact, Britain in the material problem is not big, not as the United States invested heavily in research and development of new materials, not as the Soviet Union to dig up the rarest metal pile, but also not as bad.
If there is no problem with the engines and materials, the biggest problem is still the traditional British design problem. First-class technology to manufacture second-class equipment, ultimately leading to a series of tragic consequences.
Looking at the eloquent de Havilland, Alan Wilson said, if there is no old man, your Comet airliner along with yourself, is the existence of the aviation history as the background plate of Boeing, the reason why now in the industry has a respected position, all thanks to me to make up for your short board.
“The pilot and shooter is located in the front seat, and the pilot’s seat is located in the rear seat, both seats have the ability to operate the flight control and weapons firing control; the two seats are separated by a bulletproof glass to reduce the chance of injuring both occupants when hit by enemy weapons. The cockpit canopy glass is flat to minimize reflections, and the front section of the fuselage is constructed of plastisol-reinforced multi-beam stainless steel, while the rear section uses a honeycomb structure with plastisol skin.”
“I have to say that the external rocket launchers on both sides are a sight to behold. I’d like to meet the extremely imaginative designer, and the head machine guns are just right.” De Havilland marveled, introducing Alan Wilson.
“This one helicopter, I drew it.” Allen Wilson put his hands in his pockets and looked at de Havilland with a svelte image, and said with a smirk, “What Pamela gave you, is the sketch I drew. Of course I don’t have this drawing skill, it’s someone else’s substitute.”
“Alan, it’s amazing that you have such talent.” De Havilland flinched and couldn’t resist extending an invitation, “If you’re not a civil servant, you might consider starting your own business.”
“I’m still more willing to think of ways in benefiting society.” Alan Wilson refused in a salty manner, he was more interested in yardwork than starting a business, he could also use the world’s unsolved mysteries to spread conspiracy theories, and how happy he was to fool the rednecks.
At the same time as the two men’s conversation, the helicopter gunship’s engine had started and the propeller above it spun up. The landing gear flew off the ground, bringing with it a gust of wind that sent the two men some distance away, well balanced as witnessed.
It appeared that there was no problem with Rollo’s engines, after all, Rollo was responsible for building even the UK’s ship-engined nuclear submarine reactors, it was just a matter of knowing how far along they were now.
Alan Wilson’s excitement lasted for a little while, the first feeling was good since it was supposed to be good. At least he didn’t notice the twinge, and happily inquired of de Havilland, “Where are we on the development of the regional airliner, I wonder if I could have a look at it.”
“The test flights in that regard have not yet been completed, but it’s fine to take a look.” De Havilland did not refuse and greeted his assistant to prepare the car and take Allen Wilson to visit.