Chapter 285: Airplanes, Tanks, Penicillin
The spring of 1913 came very early, and as soon as there was a hint of spring, the climate immediately warmed. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biqugeγ infoThere are white clouds floating in the blue sky, and flocks of sparrows are scattered on the top of the willow trees, calling so loudly and passionately, you can feel the commotion and joy of life everywhere.
With a buzzing sound, the two planes circled in the air, flying, like light birds, trying to compete with each other.
Chen Wenqiang held the telescope and carefully looked at the two planes in the air, which were a monoplane and a biplane, designed and manufactured by Fokker and Feng Ru respectively.
After more than a year of investment in research and development, Fokker and Feng Ru have made great progress in the aircraft, the engine power has increased from 80 horsepower to 260 horsepower, the long rectangular section fuselage is welded into a skeleton with light steel pipes, covered with cloth, and the complicated tension line structure has been abandoned, and the wing is supported by rigid pillars, which greatly reduces the flight resistance.
Because the engine power of the current aircraft is still relatively small, and it is usually modified with the vehicle engine, it is relatively heavy, and the pulling force generated cannot ensure that the aircraft can obtain high speed. And to take off at low speeds, it is necessary to increase lift, and the easiest way to increase lift is naturally to increase the number of wings.
Judging by the current situation, it is clear that a biplane or triplane is more conducive to improving maneuverability and climb performance, making it exceptionally light and agile in air combat.
Chen Wenqiang does not understand aerodynamics, but he knows that it is a historical trend for monoplanes to replace polyplanes, although now due to the relationship between the materials and engines used to make aircraft, monoplanes do not show any advantages, and it is not inappropriate to carry out research and development in this area early and accumulate experience.
Feng Ru was beside him, very young, showing vigorous vitality in the two attributes of his body and movement. He also held the telescope to observe the flight of the plane, and muttered in a low voice: "You should fly it yourself, like Fokker did, to find out more problems." β
Fokker was a natural expert at flying, and after each flight, he always had a natural sense of being able to spot the problems of the plane itself and propose ways to improve it. "No one on my plane has ever found as many flaws as I have," he said. Therefore, Feng Ru naturally wanted to fly himself in order to make suggestions for improving the aircraft.
But Chen Wenqiang once sent him two assistants, that is, monitors, to strictly limit the number of flights he could fly. Although the parachute has entered the practical stage, it also faces a lot of problems and is constantly improving. At a time when safety has not been greatly improved, Chen Wenqiang has to try to ensure that the Chinese aircraft designer does not have accidents. Those who are not of my race will have different hearts. For Fokker, Chen Wenqiang will certainly be on guard.
"After you have a large number of qualified pilots, you still try to fly as little as possible until you design a better aircraft." Chen Wenqiang held up the binoculars, and there was no accommodating meaning in his tone, "I asked you to design the shooting coordinator, you have to take it out as soon as possible, and install the machine gun on the plane, so that the plane has air combat capability." β
"The aviation school has enrolled more than 200 people this year, the first batch of cadets have been able to graduate, and there are a few outstanding students who can serve as instructors, and I think I can shift my energy from the aviation school to other aspects." Feng Ru defended a little unconvinced: "As for the shooting coordinator, I already understand the principle, and it shouldn't be difficult to design it." β
"I understand your feelings, but you also need to know that for now, you are a precious asset of the country, and I must try to ensure your safety." Chen Wenqiang put down the telescope and said earnestly: "Our time is running out, the aircraft has to be finalized, produced, and continuously improved, and it is difficult to complete without you at present." Fokker, in the end, is a foreigner, without your patriotic heart and work style of forgetting to sleep and eat. At the end of the day, he's here for fame and profit. β
Feng Ru pursed her lips and said slowly, "Okay, I'll listen to the Secretary of State." In fact, before returning to China, I did not expect that the country would attach so much importance to aircraft and the cause of flying, especially Mr. Secretary of State, which made me very touched and encouraged. This flight is also about trying to find the problem of the aircraft faster and improve it as soon as possible. β
Chen Wenqiang smiled faintly, in this world, the only one who is so optimistic about the future of the aircraft and has invested great energy in research and development and manufacturing may be China at present.
Of course, in addition to the state's funding, the huge amount of money he funded also played a big role. Moreover, in Xi'an, there is not only an ordnance research institute, which has recruited a lot of high-tech personnel, but also a large number of skilled workers have been concentrated in the aircraft factory in Chengxiao, and a large number of advanced processing and manufacturing machinery have been purchased, which can manufacture aircraft in batches.
Similarly, a remote valley more than 50 miles from Xi'an, where a breakthrough has been made in tank development relying on a Sino-US joint venture tractor factory.
It was a light tank with a rotating turret that could withstand infantry weapons. Moreover, the rear of the power compartment and the driver in front of the hull are in line with most of the characteristics of later tanks. The disadvantage is that the hull is riveted, the armor is not thick enough, the firepower is not fierce enough, and the turret cannot rotate 360 degrees, so it can only hit the target within 120 degrees in front.
But this is already quite advanced, quite powerful weapon, and the world's first tank of real combat significance.
The birth of any new weapon may become a rising star in the arena of warfare and bring about a series of strategic and tactical innovations. The General Staff Headquarters has secretly dispatched a staff group to conduct research and discussion on new tactics in Xi'an in light of the characteristics of tanks. In this way, China is not only ahead of other countries in the research and manufacture of tanks, but also in terms of tactics and theory.
Along with the tank, there are also armored vehicles. Back in 1855, the Englishman Cohen installed a machine gun and armor on the chassis of a steam tractor, made a wheeled armored car, and received a patent. By 1900, Britain had put armored vehicles into the Anglo-Boer War that was raging in South Africa.
But in some ways, now Chinese-made ones are more practical and targeted, able to work better with tanks.
In many cases, invention and creation are not the constraints of technical conditions, but the limitations of ideological innovation. In other words, it is: it's not that it can't be done, but that it's unthinkable.
Chen Wenqiang just made up for the shortcomings of China's science and technology in this regard, he couldn't do it, but he could think that this was a shortcut that could save countless money, save countless time, and save countless manpower.
"War is the father of all things", this is the famous saying of Heraclitus, a Greek who lived in the fifth century BC.
Without discussing whether it is correct or not, one does see that war has in fact played a huge role in the development of weapons and military technology.
When airplanes appeared in the sky as a combat weapon, it was not expected that such a thing would completely change the shape of warfare. Because shooting with a pistol, rifle or machine gun on an airplane is an extremely difficult thing to do.
However, Chen Wenqiang confidently foresaw that China would become the pioneer of air warfare and the pioneer of large-scale aerial bombing.
The finalization and production of fighters, bombers, reconnaissance planes, and three types of aircraft were finally determined, which will leave a heavy mark in China's military history.
Although the current bomber has a speed of less than 150 kilometers per hour, a bomb load of only 200 kilograms, and a short range, and is a biplane, it is the world's first dedicated bomber, and it will also use electric bomb droppers, bombing sights, and other instruments. Not only that, but the research on multiple bombers was also put on the agenda, and Chen Wenqiang took out a huge amount of money for this. But he took it with pleasure and with pleasure.
"The rigidity of the aircraft also needs to be strengthened so that it does not disintegrate when making some dive-like maneuvers during flight." At the dinner, Chen Wenqiang still had some concerns about the plane, which seemed to be relatively thin at present.
Fokker tasted the food and wine, looked at the gold medal that had just hung on his chest, and said happily: "The wing can be reinforced, but this will increase the weight of the aircraft, and it will inevitably sacrifice some maneuverability and range." β
Chen Wenqiang pondered for a moment, he had to make a decision quickly, the time was getting tighter and tighter, and he couldn't afford everything.
"Let's make the plane sturdy first." Chen Wenqiang weighed it again and again, and finally made a decision, "With the improvement of engine performance, I think it should be able to gradually make up for some shortcomings." β
As a modern person, Chen Wenqiang's concept is different from that of people at this time. He attaches great importance to human life, and must not let the trained pilots sit in the coffin in the air just because the plane has to meet certain indicators.
In addition, his decision is also more objective and practical. China attaches great importance to the development of special aircraft engines, and even Germany has invested in research and development, and other countries will also take notice. Therefore, it is believed that the mobility of the temporary sacrifice will be compensated for in the near future.
Moreover, when the aircraft is strong, it can make some air maneuvers, such as diving, which is very useful, not only to increase the accuracy of bombing, but also to pose a great threat to the enemy on land with the machine guns installed on the aircraft. The range is short, that's not a problem. At present, China is adopting coastal defense, and the aircraft still has the ability to make a circle at the doorstep.
Technological advances have resulted from theoretical innovations, and aerodynamics, as an emerging course, has begun to be taught at Peking University. Thanks to good relations with Germany, the Chinese government successfully hired three professors from the prestigious Institute of Aerodynamics at the University of GΓΆttingen and funded them to establish a research institute at Peking University to continue their research in China.
Of course, this is not the only foreign personnel hired by the Chinese government, as experts from the United States and Germany are working at the Engine Research Institute and the Submarine Research Institute.
Chen Wenqiang hopes that these experts will do their best to treat China as their homeland, but this is only hope after all.
Like Faulk, he was a man who knew the world. Although he doesn't drink or smoke, what he does is noticeable. Although Chen Wenqiang had tactfully expressed his willingness to him, he had always refused to become a Chinese national, believing that he was "born with the stubbornness of the Dutch"!
That's the problem, Chen Wenqiang is not sure whether Fokker will leak some new achievements, so that he has to take some precautions to ensure that these military and technical successes will achieve the greatest benefit for the country at the right time.
Fortunately, Fokker is now entrusting many things to others as an aircraft builder. This is a reality for all aircraft builders. When they start their business, they are able to take on a variety of jobs, but when it comes to their business, they need technical assistance. Chen Wenqiang hopes that this technical group will completely replace Fokker's role in the near future.
After the banquet, Chen Wenqiang drove back to another hidden place on the outskirts of Xi'an, which was heavily guarded and was a test base for the industrial production of penicillin.
Six years have passed since the discovery of Penicillium, the isolation of the strains, the purification, crystallization, and now the industrial production, and still no final success has been achieved.
Originally, the production of penicillin was carried out in two-quart glass bottles, using solid culture technology, the yield was extremely low, only two units per milliliter, after a series of technical improvements such as sterilization and transformation of fermentation process, the yield and quality of penicillin increased rapidly, but the potency ratio was still not ideal.
Although limited by conditions, the desire to produce penicillin in large quantities has not yet been realized, but due to a good research foundation, with the continuous financial support of Chen Wenqiang and Wang Hongtu, the equipment is constantly expanding, and a batch of the latest fermentation equipment imported from the United States, which is for the production of citric acid, has been repeatedly transformed by Chen Wenqiang and others, and the potency of fermentation alone has increased from 100 units/ml to more than 1000 units/ml.
The penicillin industry can be called a high-tech industry even in the forties of history. The rapid development of the penicillin industry in the United States, Britain and other countries depends on its leading scientific and technological level and modern industrial base.
In China, where the industrial base is very weak, and Chen Wenqiang has advanced this achievement by more than 20 years, the production of penicillin will inevitably encounter many difficulties. Therefore, in Chen Wenqiang's view, it is close to the limit to reach the current level, and it is not easy.
It is precisely because of the complexity of the production process and the small amount of output that penicillin is even more precious. At present, this method of penicillin production, which is not the most advanced in history, is missing the last step, which is the process of crystallization that must be made for industrial production.
This will be a milestone, because penicillin is a basic production industry starting from raw materials, its production integrates multiple disciplines and technologies, its construction and management is meticulous and difficult, and it must rely on modern science and technology and management methods to operate.
In these years, through Chen Wenqiang's continuous guidance and training, through thousands of experiments, and through strong financial support, a group of young talents have been cultivated, which is not only the birth of a new drug, but a leap forward in China's pharmaceutical industry.
The weather in Beijing in mid-July was hot enough, and at three or four o'clock in the afternoon, it was the most unbearable time of the day, and the air was hot and stuffy, as if a match could be lit.
The electric fan was spinning, but the wind was also tingling. After reading the document, Song Jiaoren handed it to Wu Luzhen with a smile and said, "Take a look, Wen Qiang finally has the intention of coming back." β
Wu Luzhen rolled her eyes and said with a wry smile: "Meaning, it's just the meaning of coming back, isn't there even a quasi-date?"
"Then it depends on the speed of the construction of the pharmaceutical factory." Song Jiaoren said: "As described in Wen Qiang's document, it can be called a miracle medicine without being too much. Wang Hongtu has already raised money for real estate and real estate, and with the huge amount of money raised by wealthy businessmen such as Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the largest pharmaceutical factory in Asia and even among the top few in the world will soon be built in Xi'an. β
Wu Luzhen nodded and said, "Wen Qiang also let us buy shares, president, how much are you going to buy?" β
Song Jiaoren shook his head and said with a smile: "From the invention to the development and then to the production of this medicine, Wen Qiang is busy alone. I remember for seven or eight years, and the money and energy he invested was enormous. Now, I'm sorry to let us sit back and enjoy it. Besides, I have a lot of salary and various allowances, so I don't want to be criticized anymore. β
"Then I won't get involved." Wu Luzhen agreed: "Shareholding is just a name, there is nothing that Wen Qiang has made that does not make money, this is no different from giving money, it is indeed easy to provoke criticism." β
"Actually, Wen Qiang originally intended to dedicate this magic medicine to the country." Song Jiaoren was very emotional.
Wu Luzhen waved his hand and said, "His contribution to the country is already big enough. Although I haven't done the math, from the founding of the Ba'ath Party to the present, his investment is definitely a shocking amount. Even if this is not the case, we cannot continue to demand and deprive individuals of the wealth they deserve in the name of national justice. β
"This is the principle, the principle that a democratic country should have." Song Jiaoren said: "Do not do to others what you do not want to be done to yourself." The countries that have come out of the feudal era are most afraid of the deep-rooted feudal traditional consciousness. The shore of the land is not the king's land, and the shore of the land is not the king's minister. This is the most likely way to create a sense of insecurity among the people and affect their intellectual performance. β
Wu Luzhen nodded in agreement and said: "I haven't made any contributions, but it is indeed wrong to ask others to abandon their families and careers and ask others to have selfless and noble morality." β
Song Jiaoren took out a document and handed it to Wu Luzhen. According to Chen Wenqiang's opinion, three elite divisions should be transferred from the Beijing Military Region, the Northeast Military Region, and the Northwest Military Region to Xi'an for special training. These three divisions will also become the first armored units formed in China.
According to the General Staff's assumption, the armored forces will be a flexible and flexible armored brigade -- an armored brigade -- with a standard number of 75 tanks and 30 armored vehicles, plus other vehicles, for a total of about 100 to 120 vehicles. (To be continued.) )