The Military-industrial Scientific Research System of the Academic Master Chapter 1058

Chapter 1058: Rolls-Royce tastes the sweetness

Later in the day.

Toulouse, France.

Compared to the “little things” discussed by Chang Haonan and Liu Yongquan such as business jets and early warning aircraft, what is about to happen here will have a more profound impact on the global aviation manufacturing industry—

Airbus A380 has completed the basic design and will soon begin production of the first prototype.

But before that, there is one important thing that needs to be determined.

So what type of aviation engine will be used for this prototype numbered MSN001, or all five prototypes MSN001-MSN005?

Trent 900 or GP7200?

Although, for large passenger aircraft using a wing-mounted engine layout, the engine model will not have a big impact on the aircraft design.

But when it comes to specific production, because there are still differences in details such as the engine nacelle, wing mounting lugs, and FADEC systems, the power plan of each aircraft must be decided before the order is confirmed.

To ensure continuity of production, the power of the five prototypes and the first batch of production machines will be the same.

In other words, for Airbus, this choice will not only affect the subsequent test flight progress of the entire A380 project, but also determine the order of aircraft delivery and the evaluation of the first users.

Hence, it must not be taken lightly.

Of course, such a major matter cannot be discussed by the three parties sitting together in a meeting.

In other words, letting the two competitors Rolls-Royce and Engine Alliance sit together is a very abstract idea in itself.

After all, neither the Trent 900 nor the GP7200 has started official testing yet.

Even if the two sides don't fight, it will definitely turn into a drawing contest in the end.

That would be meaningless.

Therefore, Party A can only send representatives to learn about the situation from the two suppliers before making a final decision.

Even so, it is still necessary to consider how credible the commitment given by Party B is.

After all, the A380 has already achieved the goal of first flight in 2005 and operation in 2007.

If the power aspect lags behind, even the gods will not be able to save it.

The terrible thing is, judging from the previous situation, the probability of this risk becoming a reality is getting higher and higher—

GP7200 is a new model that was launched in 2001.

Although the Engine Alliance has repeatedly promised that the first flight can be achieved before the end of 2004, the credibility is still doubtful.

Although the Trent 900 is two years earlier, and the overall design is derived from the mature Trent 800, it seems to be a safer choice.

However, in order to compete with the GP7200, which sells quietness, a series of new technologies have been adopted in the turbine structure quite radically.

Hope to win more orders with low fuel consumption.

However, contrary to expectations, the radical design brought higher technical risks.

Last year, there were also rumors that the combustion chamber design may be revised to reduce the temperature in front of the turbine.

Not only will the construction period be affected, but performance will inevitably be reduced.

This is quite critical for the evaluation of the first users.

For this reason, Charles Champion, chief operating officer of the A380 project, has been worried for a long time.

The two engine suppliers have made him a key breakthrough target.

For example today, he needs to receive a group of visitors from Rolls-Royce.

Nominally, he hopes to visit the assembly workshop in Toulouse, but in fact, Champine knows everything with his toes. This must be a routine public relations operation...

Of course, the other party is one of the core suppliers of Airbus after all. As the chief operating officer, he still has to go and receive him even if he bites the bullet.

However, when Champion, who was full of anger, saw the person coming, he couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.

He knows the person leading the team.

And I have been in contact with it many times in the past.

Tim Purdy.

Deputy director of the Trent 900 technical team.

However, Champion, who had stayed up for several nights, was still a little confused.

After seeing an old acquaintance, his first reaction was—

Why was he transferred to the public relations department?

Of course, Bodie's future and destiny have nothing to do with him.

However, a sudden change in a core position such as deputy project director is likely to mean huge problems for the entire project.

This is completely unacceptable for the A380.

So, after Bodi came forward and greeted Champine warmly, he heard the other party leaning into his ear and whispering in a furtive tone:

“Timmy, has something happened?”

“Why are you not in the Trent 900 R&D team?”

The second round of high-quality rounds directly stunned Bodi who was in high spirits.

He even forgot to take back the hand he was holding.

After being stunned for a while, he asked in confusion:

“When was I no longer part of the R&D team?”

“But they...”

Champien winked and gestured behind the other party.

A group of people dressed clearly like a public relations team.

Furthermore, technicians who are serious about aviation development will be sick from spending all day in the workshop, and they will not make such insignificant requests as "visiting the final assembly workshop".

Fortunately, Bodi had already guessed at this time that the other party probably just misunderstood his purpose.

So he immediately explained:

“I don't want to make too much noise. Most of them are from our R&D team. You know...it's a critical stage and needs to be kept secret.”

Champine, who realized that he had made a big mistake, was a little embarrassed and had no choice but to pat his bright forehead:

“Okay… I haven't had much rest these past two days, so I'm a little confused…”

Then he changed the topic very smoothly:

“You just said that the 'majority' is your people, that means...”

“And of course the commercial and legal teams.”

Speaking of this, Bodi couldn't help but straighten his back:

"Actually, this is the main reason why I came to visit today." "Huh?"

At this time, Champine's remaining sleepiness was finally thrown out of the sky, and he suddenly became energetic:

“Is it related to the progress of Trent 900?”

Since Luo Luo has brought a full team of people here, it means that they believe that there is a high probability of achieving a breakthrough at the contract level.

Regardless of whether it is really possible or not, since the other party has such confidence, there must have been some major progress.

Bodi showed a confident smile:

“That's right, we'll talk about it in detail later.”

Champine made a prompt decision:

“The conference room on the top floor is still vacant, absolutely reliable...”

However, before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Bodi raising his hand:

“No need.”

“Just follow the normal procedures for receiving a public relations team and take us around the workshop.”

Obviously, the explanation about low-key just now is not just lip service...

The group of people soon arrived at the ready assembly workshop.

Because the production of the first prototype has just begun and is far from the final assembly stage, the workstations reserved for the A380 here are still somewhat empty.

Only some background boards and promotional materials such as banners are left.

It should be used for the celebration ceremony until the official final assembly.

“Mr. Champine…”

However, Bodi's voice stopped abruptly as soon as he started speaking.

He noticed one of the boards out of the corner of his eye.

There are about a dozen national flags painted on it.

Of course, this is not surprising for a multi-national project like the A380.

The meaning is also easy to understand.

It is the country that participated in the core tasks in the development and production process of this model.

But the problem is.

There was a dazzling red color on it...

There was a thunder in Bodi's head, which almost made him lose his balance and fall to the ground.

“Mr. Purdy?”

Champine, who had not heard the following for a long time, turned around with some doubts and saw Bodi staring in a certain direction with his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking.

“Why is there a Chinese national flag?”

Bodi asked with some difficulty.

For a moment, he even thought that the fact that Trent 900 was looking for China as a second-tier supplier had been leaked.

Champine didn't know the twists and turns here, so he just felt a little confused. He frowned and explained:

"Since 1998, Airbus's extreme environment simulation laboratory has been set up in Chengdu, China. They have participated in the anti-icing and lightning protection design of the A380... Of course, this part of the work does not account for much. The Chinese flag is placed here mainly to take care of the market over there...What's wrong?”

“No…nothing.”

Bodi shook his head and breathed a long sigh of relief:

“Back to business.”

"We at Rolls-Royce have officially confirmed that the first prototype of the Trent 900 will be delivered for test flight before March 2004. We hope that you can cooperate with our production schedule and prepare the air test platform in advance. "

In fact, Airbus has an A340-300 with the left wing inboard engine removed, which is specially used for testing new aviation engines and does not require so-called "preparation in advance."

The reason why Bodi said this is to target competitors.

After all, there is only one test platform, which is used for the Trent 900. Then the GP7200 will either have to wait, or it will have to ask Boeing for help.

It's always one step at a time, one step at a time.

At that time, it will be impossible for Airbus to show favoritism even if it wants to.

Second coming...

It is also for the program effect.

You know, in the past two years, in order to ensure the first flight schedule, Airbus has revealed its devilish nature.

Both Rolls-Royce and the Engine Alliance have suffered a lot because of the progress.

I feel very proud today.

Furthermore, in order to avoid the suspicion of being too pretentious, Bodi added a special sentence at the end:

“Actually, the production of parts for this test machine has started at the end of last year and is now about to enter the final assembly stage. However, in order to keep it confidential, the progress has not been disclosed.”

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Champine's whole body shook.

“2004…March?”

The latter's eyes widened slightly.

Old companies like Rolls-Royce are very good at boasting about PPT, but it is still impossible to fool around with prototypes.

Hence, entering the final assembly, this is a clear time point.

It is completely different from the previous empty talk.

However, to be on the safe side, Champine still asked:

“Why is the progress suddenly so fast?”

“Because we...uh...have obtained a new technology, we don't need to modify the plan anymore and can directly put it into production according to the earliest design.”

Poody's back straightened up even more.

Although he once thought that it would be a bit embarrassing for the majestic Rolls-Royce to find China to OEM its core products.

I was also worried about whether there would be quality hazards in the parts produced by Huaxia.

I have also struggled with whether choosing a supplier outside the West will affect the reputation of users...

But this moment.

It doesn't matter anymore.

It smells so good!

(End of this chapter)

Chapter end

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