Elliott Richardson found that he actually agreed with Chen Geng's words: Yes, if you only carry out this kind of low-threat patrol mission, using the most advanced fighter jets of the US military, such as the F-16, F-14 or F-18, it will be a huge waste, not to mention the hourly flight cost when patrolling with such advanced military jet fighters, how much is the depreciation cost of the fuselage alone? An aircraft with little advanced equipment but strong enough to carry out this kind of mission turned out to be the most suitable.

"This ...... There is some truth to that," Elliot Richardson nodded, "but how are you going to improve it?"

Chen Geng immediately said: "First of all, the first one is to install the US military's active radio and other communication equipment, as well as friend or foe identification equipment. ”

"That's as it should be. Elliot Richardson nodded immediately.

"As for the second point," Chen Geng continued: "Look at the need, if you think there is a need, replace the Wright R-3350 star-shaped piston engine on the A-1, after all, it is difficult to find the Wright R-3350 maintenance spare parts on a large scale, and it is very expensive."

If possible, I would like to switch to the PW100 series, preferably the PW125 or PW126 series, which have a turboprop engine with a maximum take-off power similar to the Wright R-3350, but much lighter, and most importantly, so that we can use the US military's jet fuel.

As for the engine, you don't need to buy a new one, you know, my company has a business of aircraft dismantling and recycling and refurbishment of used aviation parts, and we can buy a used PW125 or PW126 engine from the market and replace it with a ...... The planes are all old ones, and there is no need for new engines. ”

Elliott Richardson couldn't help but nod his head as he listened.

If you don't change the engine for the A-1, of course, you can save a lot of money in the early stage, but just like Chen Geng said, on the one hand, the Wright R-3350 engine has been out of production for so many years, and the production line has been dismantled for almost half a century.

On the other hand, even if the convenience of logistics supply is considered, turboprop engines should be replaced to ensure that they can communicate with the US military's logistics and reduce the pressure on logistics supply.

As for the engine, just like Chen Geng said, the aircraft itself is some old aircraft that have been mothballed for more than 20 years, is it necessary to buy a new engine? Buy a batch of second-hand engines directly from the market, cheap, save money, and most importantly, it is still in stock!

As for the question of whether suitable pilots can be recruited, neither Elliott Richardson nor Chen Geng is worried, there are too many people in the United States who want to serve as soldiers and eat food, and even if the United States cannot find it, the various republics of the disintegrated Soviet Union also have this kind of talent, and the price is cheap.

As for the question of whether these former Soviet pilots can fly the A-1, that's a joke, a group of pilots who can fly today's most advanced jet supersonic fighter can't fly a slow propeller plane with a maximum speed of no more than 600 kilometers per hour?!

Elliot Richardson thought for a while and said, "I'll help you ask, it shouldn't be a big problem, if we want a large quantity, maybe the price can be lower, but this is a replacement engine, who are you going to let do it? Can we afford it in terms of cost?"

Chen Geng smiled when he heard this: "Elliott, have you forgotten that the A-1 attack aircraft is a product of the Douglas Company?"

Elliott Richardson patted his head: he was really dizzy! At the beginning, Douglas has become a part of the current McDonnell Douglas Group, and with the relationship between Fernandez Chen and McDonald Jr., at least there is no need to worry about being severely cheated by McDonnell Douglas.

Chen Geng continued: " In the later modification of the A-1 attack aircraft, Douglas had a modification of the turboprop engine, but on the one hand, jet aircraft were booming at that time, on the other hand, the price of turboprop engines was still very expensive, so the Navy did not adopt this modification plan, but the relevant test and technical data were retained, for McDonnell Douglas, if there was no us, those materials were a pile of waste paper, and now with us, their data can still be sold for some money. ”

"I remember, there is indeed such a thing," Elliott Richardson nodded, "Then you can ask McDonald Jr. if they are willing to help us with this, and if he does, I will find a way to get a batch of A-1s for our company." ”

........................

"Mike, I remember you once told me that you had sealed a batch of materials, including the information on the conversion of the U.S. Navy A-1 carrier-based attack aircraft to turboprop engines, right?" Bidding farewell to Elliot Richardson, Chen Geng asked McDonald Jr. on the phone.

"That's right, that's the case, but why are you asking this?" asked Chen Geng's question, little MacDonald was very strange.

"I have a job here, ready to work for a batch of ...... Well, about 12 A-1 attack planes are equipped with Pu Hui Canada's PW125 or PW126 series turboprop engines," Chen Geng said: "I want to use your information, if I can, it's best for your people to help me do this modification, how about it? Would you like to help me with this?"

"That's it, it's easy to say," McDonald Jr. agreed, but he was curious: "What are you doing with such a batch of old rags?"

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PS: Sorry brothers, please wait a few minutes.

Elliott Richardson patted his head: he was really dizzy! At the beginning, Douglas has become a part of the current McDonnell Douglas Group, and with the relationship between Fernandez Chen and McDonald Jr., at least there is no need to worry about being severely cheated by McDonnell Douglas.

Chen Geng continued: " In the later modification of the A-1 attack aircraft, Douglas had a modification of the turboprop engine, but on the one hand, jet aircraft were booming at that time, on the other hand, the price of turboprop engines was still very expensive, so the Navy did not adopt this modification plan, but the relevant test and technical data were retained, for McDonnell Douglas, if there was no us, those materials were a pile of waste paper, and now with us, their data can still be sold for some money. ”

"I remember, there is indeed such a thing," Elliott Richardson nodded, "Then you can ask McDonald Jr. if they are willing to help us with this, and if he does, I will find a way to get a batch of A-1s for our company." ”