Feng Xiaochen had already heard the confusion in Zhang Lubin's tone, so he said calmly: "General Manager Zhang, do you think there is still hope for p15?"

"If civil aviation..." Zhang Lubin said a few words and couldn't continue.

Feng Xiaochen did not take turns, but said bluntly: "In fact, you know very well in your heart. Even if civil aviation is willing to accept p15, p15 will not have a future. Civil aviation orders will only be two or three aircraft per year. Even if the national economic level is improved, the demand for aircraft will increase in the future. In the next ten years, civil aviation will not be able to purchase more than 50 aircraft. How far can you do with the order of 50 aircraft?"

"If there are 50 aircraft, we can survive." Zhang Lubin said. He is not as optimistic as Feng Xiaochen. According to his calculations, it is already very good for the civil aviation department to be able to purchase 20 aircraft in the next 10 years. With orders for 20 aircraft, it is enough for Pufei to maintain its existing production.

Feng Xiaochen asked mercilessly: "General Engineer Zhang, is the purpose of our P15 to survive? There are Boeing, McDonald in the United States, and Airbus in Europe. The annual output of these companies is hundreds of aircraft. We manufacture them at a scale of one or two aircraft per year. How much technology can we accumulate and what kind of competitive advantages can we form? This will last for ten or twenty years. Once we leave the protection of the country, can you compete with Boeing and Airbus in the international market?"

"This..." Zhang Lubin was speechless. Feng Xiaochen's questions were really unanswered.

"Xiao Feng, you can't say that..." Xue Mucang saw that Zhang Lubin was a little embarrassed and quickly spoke out to smooth things over.

"Xiao Xue, I think what Xiao Feng said makes sense." Meng Fanze said slowly from the side, "To be honest, it is not the first time I have heard Xiao Feng mention this concept. When I first discussed the mt25 mining excavator with him, he said similar things. We people like to calculate political accounts and think that being able to create a product is victory. Xiao Feng is different from us. He calculates economic accounts and international competition accounts. In his opinion, if there is no competitiveness in the international field, this product will fail."

"Yes, this is my opinion." Feng Xiaochen said, "If the products we have spent a lot of effort to create must be protected by the state to survive. As long as we lose protection, we will be beaten to pieces by foreign products. What value does such a product have to us?"

Xue Mucang retorted: "Xiao Feng, you can't say that. We are originally a developing country, and it is inevitable that we have a lower technology than foreign countries. If we are not as high as foreign countries, we shouldn't develop. Then why do we have to make major equipment ourselves?"

Feng Xiaochen said: "We are working on major equipment, and from the beginning, we are aiming at the advanced international level. In the early stage, we can protect our products, and even take some measures to obtain advanced technology from abroad to improve the technical content of our own products. But all these measures are for our products to enter the international market in the future, rather than protecting a product forever."

"Then how do you know that General Manager Zhang and his p15 cannot be gradually improved and finally reach the international advanced level?" Xue Mucang said with a complaint. Xue Mucang supported and opposed the truths mentioned by Feng Xiaochen, and he couldn't tell what was wrong, but it was a bit difficult to accept.

In fact, it was not just Xue Mucang alone. Many cadres in that era had similar confusions. For many years, everyone has been accustomed to self-reliance and always felt that only one could create something that was the most down-to-earth. But after opening the country, they found that the things they were proud of for so many years were simply unsightly compared to advanced foreign products. If they continue to follow this path, they will only be left farther and farther away by others, and there is no hope of catching up with others.

During this period, there are not a few people who are disappointed with China's future. Of course, more people are holding their breath in their hearts, hoping to finally achieve a leap by learning advanced foreign experience, plus ten or a hundred times sweat.

Feng Xiaochen understood the mentality of these people. What he was more optimistic than others was that he was a time traveler and he really saw the era of comprehensive revitalization of China's industry. It is precisely because of this that he had more patience than Meng Fanze, Xue Mucang and others. 30 years may be too long for a person's life, but compared with the rise of a country, it is just a flash of sight.

"I believe that China will one day have its own large aircraft, and it can compete with Boeing and Airbus. However, this is not what it can be done now, nor in the next ten or twenty years. The reason is very simple. Our country has no money and we do not have enough industrial foundation." Feng Xiaochen looked at Zhang Lubin and said seriously.

Feng Xiaochen's words were not said out of thin air. In real history, the EU almost devoted its entire European power to develop Airbus. Airbus was in a state of loss for the first decade, relying on EU subsidies to survive, almost dragging down the entire EU. The wealthy EU is still like this. With China's strength back then, how much money can it have to smash into a bottomless pit like a large aircraft?

Zhang Lubin sat there without moving, but Feng Xiaochen could clearly feel that the power that supported his will suddenly disappeared. His body collapsed, and if he had not leaned against the chair, he might even slide to the ground. His eyes also lost their spirit, as if he had suddenly become much older.

"Director Feng is right. In fact... we should have accepted this result from the beginning." Zhang Lubin murmured.

"What result should I accept?" Xue Mucang asked.

Zhang Lubin raised his head, smiled reluctantly, and said, "I thought of what Director Feng said just now 10 years ago. Large aircraft are the pinnacle of industrial technology, and it requires a strong industrial foundation and a large amount of funds to support it. The United States has Boeing, McDonald, and Europe has Airbus, because their industrial level has reached this level. At the same time, their economic level is very high and the civil aviation industry is well developed, and can provide sufficient demand. In this case, the research and development of large passenger aircraft is guaranteed.

Our country started from poverty and wasted, and started to engage in large-scale industry to today, but it has only been 30 years. With such a short period of accumulation, it is completely overestimating one's own ability to compete with others for large passenger planes.

You don’t know that in the process of manufacturing the first two p15s, we even had to look for a qualified bolt everywhere. It was said that it was a national strength, but it was still difficult to get out of reach. As Director Feng said, the large aircraft produced in this way had no international competitiveness at all. The Civil Aviation Administration refused to accept our aircraft, but instead was responsible to the country and the people. We were really not qualified to complain."

"Xiao Zhang, you can't say that." Meng Fanze couldn't listen anymore. He said: "The successful test flight of the P15 large aircraft is of great significance to our country's aviation industry. I have read relevant work briefings and some technologies formed during the development of the P15 are of great value for the entire aviation industry, especially the development of military aircraft."

Zhang Lubin smiled self-deprecatingly and said, "We spent 600 million to 700 million in the country. If we didn't take out any of the things, wouldn't it be a waste? But if we ask ourselves, it's not worth the loss. If this money is directly spent on more promising projects, the results can be achieved much greater than it is now."

Outsiders cannot see through these things in the industrial circle, but insiders are actually very clear. As an aviation expert, Zhang Lubin didn’t know what kind of problems there is in P15, and how could he not understand what kind of investment it needs to create a truly competitive large aircraft and what kind of supporting system it is needed.

Due to insufficient financial support, many of the components of p15 were asked to assist in the production by administrative orders. These companies did not have the quality control system needed by the aviation industry, but just pieced together an accessory according to the requirements of the drawings to hand over the matter. During the test flight of the No. 02 of p15, Zhang Lubin himself almost became a firefighting captain and constantly dealt with these problems.

If the p15 continues to be built, this pattern will not change. A prototype can be made like this, and the test flight process also allows various problems. When it is really time to submit finished products to civil aviation, can it still be mixed like this? Civil aviation aircraft will carry hundreds of passengers into the sky, and quality problems cannot be guaranteed. Does Zhang Lubin dare to let such an aircraft go out of the factory?

"Forget it, fortunately, I, Zhang Lubin, have been working in aviation for almost 30 years, but my knowledge is not as good as... Director Feng is a young man. Director Feng, thank you for your unpleasant advice. I figured it out. P15 should be disbanded, and we should let go." Zhang Lubin said in a tragic tone.

"Then... it's a pity, right?" Xue Mucang said. After all, this is also a big project. It took more than ten years and hundreds of millions of dollars to finally give up like this. It is indeed a pity.

Zhang Lubin said sternly: "A hero cuts off his arm. If he should let go, he has to let go. We cannot waste national funds for personal honor and disgrace."
Chapter completed!