The SH-1A, which deliberately ignored the armor problem, showed maneuver and firepower, which made Dowding very satisfied.

Although he saw the data of the armor, in his opinion, this was the original design, and he did not know that the thickness of the armor before was 4 times that of the current one, so there was no strong sense of drop.

Armor is weak, and it has considerable firepower and mobility as its advantage, depending on what kind of war situation it is put in.

"Mr. Commodore General, if you are interested, we also have a fighter, Hellcat, the D-11 in service, which is one of the best fighters in North America. ”

Seeing that Dowding was lost in thought, Johnson appropriately promoted Skunk's other products, and the D-11, which was valued by the U.S. military, was the focus.

"I got it. Dowding raised his head and looked at him, and said proudly: "But we have a good enough fighter, the Hurricane produced by Hawker, maybe you should know more information." ”

The Hurricane fighter jet, manufactured by the British company Hawker, is equipped with a liquid-cooled V-12 engine invented by Rolls-Royce, and other information is not very clear.

It is said that the military is very satisfied with this fighter and plans to make it gradually replace the existing main fighter and become the trump card in future battles.

Although the government's politicians are optimistic that the war will be confined to a manageable local area, the military still maintains a sense of crisis.

Not to mention Britain, even the American military across the Atlantic is also prepared.

Orders for DC-4 and DC-101 were also generated as a result.

"Let's take a look at this. Li Zitao looked at Johnson and motioned for him to take out the information he had already prepared.

P-38, Lightning, 20mm caliber cannon, 4 0,5-inch machine guns, 1415 kg of explosives suspended under the wing, flight speed ......

"It can't be. Dowding looked at him with a 'hell' look.

"Nothing is impossible, Your Excellency Commodore General, our prototype is almost finished, and if you can stay for half a month longer, I believe you will see its power." ”

Li Zitao said with a light smile on the corner of his mouth, he didn't expect the research and development of 'Lightning' to speed up so much, thanks to Tesla and Donald Douglas.

The two of them have worked together to make Lightning's progress by leaps and bounds, and with the shape set, the prototype is already in production.

Relying on the strong industrial productivity of the Skunk R&D Center, Li Zitao is confident that he will directly put the prototype into production after it is finalized, so he will invite Douding to stay for a few more days.

"Okay, I'll wait another 15 days and hope to have a satisfactory answer. Dowding said categorically.

If the information in his hands is true, this fighter will be ahead of its time, and the current and rebuilt fighters are completely incomparable to it.

"Your Excellency, it's time for you to think about how you can get Congress to approve the deal. "Rich is a good friend, Li Zitao's title to him was abbreviated from 'brigadier general' to 'general'. ’

Orders for DC-4 and CD-101 were not to be worried, Dowding came for them, as did the other expeditions.

The 1A and B models of the helicopter SH series, Dow Ding is also very interested, and if he can reach the order of "Lightning" again, it will be a surprise.

However, whether the National Assembly can pass it or not depends on the consultations between the two countries, after all, it involves national defense and the latest achievements, and it is difficult for any country to approve it.

"I'll communicate this with the country. Dooding said with a solemn face.

As long as he sees the data become a reality, he will close the deal, no matter what the cost.

thought that Daoding would only act after seeing the real thing, but Li Zitao far underestimated the importance and allure of 'lightning'.

The day after he was accommodated, the Federal Arms Commission sent a team of investigators to Skunk to ask for detailed data on the Lightning' and the progress of its manufacture.

"The prototype will be completed in about 10 days, and after testing, it will be officially put into production in about half a month, with a monthly production capacity of about 80 aircraft. Johnson handed over the sorted out materials to the other party.

In the oral report, he used a lot of uncertain statements, after all, it has not really been put into production, and now it is only based on the foundation and production capacity of Skunk, and no one knows whether there will be problems in the manufacturing process.

After taking all the information with them, the investigation team personally inspected the progress of the work, made some notes, and left.

After that, the matter will be left to the two countries to negotiate, and if the British really want it, there will always be a way.

Before World War II, the United States was still envious of the aristocratic life that yearned for Europe, and there were not too many things about the rich kneeling and licking the poor white empty nobles.

Washington's attitude towards Britain is also ambiguous, with ambivalence of caution and closeness and a desire for recognition, which has allowed the two countries to maintain a complex diplomatic relationship.

Three days later, the French delegation arrived, led by a major general, and a visit to Skunk was the second stop in the United States, after they had gone to Curtis.

Although Curtis is not currently engaged in the research and development of fighter aircraft, its scale and level of research and development should not be underestimated.

There are also Republic Aircraft Company, North American Aircraft Company are enemies to be wary of.

Compared with the skunk that came from behind, some people believe that the 'age' is the best guarantee of quality.

It's just that after the other party watched the performance of the S-4, S-101, SH1A, and SH1B one after another, this idea was greatly improved.

After learning the details of the Lightnings and the news that he would be able to see the prototype in another week, the major general also chose to stay in Santa Barbara for a short time.

The Spanish, Dutch, and Soviet delegations arrived a little late, but the timing was just right for him, because the Lightning-ready prototype was completed when they arrived.

"Guys, our pilots are ready, keep your eyes open... Don't blink. Simply arranging some seats next to the runway as an observation platform, Li Zitao pointed to a large plane on the runway and said.

The aircraft of this era were not very large, with twin engines and wings, and the 'Lightning' with a double tail brace structure looked a bit like a stupid big one.

However, these are not the point, the powerful firepower like a shower, the simple disassembly and assembly technology make it easier to repair, and the vulnerable surface support multi-overlap design makes it difficult to be knocked through the fuel tank when it is attacked by shells.

And its strong power and climbing height are all reasons for favoring.

The exterior of the prototype is not painted without any spray paint, and the steel nails look a bit rustic under the pretext of being bare.

The plane started and saw that there was no problem with the propeller rotating normally, and the fire extinguishers on both sides were dragged down.

The plane gradually begins to accelerate on the runway, and the first three landing gears allow it to take off and land in complex and rudimentary airports, which is also important.

Powerful firepower, capable of carrying explosives, and able to take off and land at rudimentary airfields.

Taken together, these conditions are specially developed for the battlefield at all, and Li Zitao did not refute this.

"In March, the federal government issued a call for a twin-engine interceptor, requiring a climb altitude of 4500-6500, a speed of subsonic, simple, safe, and extremely strong firepower, and this fighter was developed and manufactured for this purpose. ”

Li Zitao proudly pointed to the sky, and the P-38 was sweeping the 'battlefield' below with extreme force, and the sound of sawdust flying and exploding was set off.

By the time the planes ceasefire hovered overhead, the 'battlefield' on the ground had been cleared and leveled, and this was the advantage that the 'Lightning' had shown.