The popularity of the M20 light transport aircraft made Messerschmidt begin to turn his attention to the development of a larger transport aircraft. The M20 light transport aircraft can only meet the needs of airlines for short-distance transportation, and more and more aircraft manufacturers are developing large transport aircraft, which makes Messerschmidt feel a kind of oppression, and Messerschmitt cannot become a hegemon in the aviation industry if it only relies on the M20 light transport aircraft.

Some reports in the newspapers constantly stimulated Messerschmitt's ambitions!

On July 1, 1931, American Post and navigator Harold Getty flew the "Vega" aircraft developed by Lockheed Corporation and flew around the earth in 8 days, 15 hours and 51 minutes! Cause a huge sensation in the world!

The Do-X seaplane, the world's largest seaplane, also completed its test flight, with a wingspan of 48 meters and a maximum take-off weight of 52 tons. It accomplished a feat as early as October 21, 1929, when a total of 159 Dornier employees and journalists, as well as 10 crew members, a total of 169 people, boarded the Do-X seaplane, which was still in the process of test flight, with a total take-off weight of 44.768 tons, and the plane successfully flew for 53 minutes after takeoff. And on June 10, 1931, it completed its last test flight, carrying a total of 15 tons of cargo and flying 3,500 kilometers. This large seaplane set a series of records with 12 engines with a power of 386 kilowatts each, and became a sensation in the aviation world.

There is also the Ju-52/1m all-metal single-engine medium transport aircraft developed by the German Junkers company, which also made its first successful flight in April 1931! The Ju52/1m was originally planned to use a 1,000 hp engine, but the German aviation industry could not provide it, so it had to use the 715 hp BMW VII engine, which was the largest horsepower in Germany at the time. Juncker also began research on the Ju52 triple at this time, and the results showed that adding two more engines to the Ju52/1m wing would greatly improve the overall performance of the aircraft. The dimensions of the JU52 cabin are 6.35×1.65×1.90 meters, and passengers can easily enter and exit the cabin through the door on the left side of the fuselage.

Messerschmidt decided that it was necessary to develop a large transport aircraft, but fortunately there was a torque converter propeller and exhaust gas turbocharger technology from Dragon Soul Aircraft Manufacturing, which would have a more obvious effect on the performance of the aircraft if applied to large transport aircraft.

To this end, Messerschmidt made a special flight to Sweden to discuss with Philip the development plan of a large transport aircraft.

Met Messerschmidt in person, Philip felt that something very important must have happened, and the two had not seen each other for almost a month.

In the new general manager's office, Philip and Messerschmidt began to discuss the development of a large aircraft.

Messerschmitt sat on the sofa and said with emotion: "Time flies so fast, it's been eight or nine months since the closing of the Stockholm International Defense Exhibition!" Unexpectedly, in such a short period of time, a new aircraft factory was built here. What is the current situation of the production of torque converter propellers? ”

Philip exclaimed: "The all-metal torque converter propeller has been a great success!" Now our production plan is scheduled for half a year, and so far we have received more than 1,000 sets of orders. We still have relatively few processing equipment, so we can produce more than a dozen sets per day. In addition, the exhaust gas turbocharger is about to be completed, and it can also be installed in the engine of the M20 transport aircraft, so that the M20 is more fuel-efficient and can fly higher and farther. ”

Messerschmidt sat up straight with excitement when he heard this, and the glint in his eyes flashed: "Not bad! That's really good news! I am now planning to develop a large transport aircraft, and with these two unique weapons, I will definitely be able to surpass the planes of other companies! However, the development of this kind of large transport aircraft, but also need aviation materials with better performance, and several aviation aluminum alloys you have developed can be used to manufacture this kind of large transport aircraft! ”

Philip smiled: "That's right! Now we and Bofors have started to jointly produce these aluminum alloys, and with these high-performance aluminum materials, large transport aircraft can become lighter and stronger. However, I would like to know if the main technical indicators of the large transport aircraft that Dr. Wiley wants to develop have been determined? ”

Messerschmitt nodded: "I was trying to ask for your opinion!" What size of transport do you think we should develop? ”

Philip lowered his head and pondered, if only from the definition of a large transport aircraft, the large transport aircraft of this era should refer to the transport aircraft with a take-off weight of more than 20 tons, but after a few decades, it can only be regarded as a small transport aircraft. Like the Junkers-52, the main transport aircraft of the German army in World War II, the maximum take-off weight is only about 11 tons, its maximum range is 1,500 kilometers, the maximum speed is 300 kilometers per hour, and it can carry 20 paratroopers. The C-47, the main transport aircraft of the United States in World War II, was an improved version of the DC-3 civil aircraft developed in the 30s, with a maximum take-off weight of only about 14 tons, a maximum range of 2,650 kilometers, a maximum speed of 370 kilometers per hour, and a capacity of 20 paratroopers. The C-46 is a transport aircraft produced in the Great War, slightly larger than the C-47, with a maximum range of 1,720 kilometers, a maximum speed of 350 kilometers per hour, and a capacity of 30 paratroopers. A transport aircraft of this class as C46 may barely be considered a large transport aircraft, and no matter how big it is, it will not have the manufacturing capacity.

Thinking of this, Philip smiled and said, "Dr. Wiley, I think the first thing to look at is how big the transport aircraft needs by the airlines of various countries at present, and how big the aircraft we are capable of developing. My personal opinion is that the development of a transport aircraft with a take-off weight of about 18 tons, the carrying capacity should be around 4 tons, the full fuel range should reach about 2,000 kilometers, and the maximum load range should be at least 800 kilometers. Such a large aircraft, which requires at least 4 715 hp BMWVII engines, followed by the installation of 6-blade torque conversion propellers and exhaust gas turbochargers, should make up for the lack of power. ”

After listening to Philip's idea, Messerschmitt sighed and said: "Originally, I planned to develop a 50-ton transport aircraft to compete with Dornier's Do-X seaplane, but after hearing you say this, I changed my mind." Indeed, a 50-ton transport aircraft can transport heavier cargo, but the requirements for the runway are relatively high, and the difficulty of development is not ordinary! And for such a large aircraft, the demand must be very small. The 18-ton transport aircraft you mentioned is very much in line with the current market needs, and I think it is completely feasible! ”

Philip nodded: "I still have an idea, that is, to abandon the current mainstream rear three-point landing gear and lower wing layout, and adopt a retractable front three-point landing gear, as well as an upper wing layout. In this way, it is more convenient for the loading and unloading of goods, as well as the loading and unloading of passengers. ”

Messerschmidt was so surprised that he couldn't keep his mouth shut: "Oh my God, Philip! How do you always have so many great ideas! I don't know if the solution you mentioned is feasible, but this innovative idea is worth trying! ”

Philip laughed and said, "Yes, we're going to go off the beaten path!" Always following someone else's ass is never going to be the best! ”