Chapter 175 Then buy a team!

As Carter said, what they do every day is patrolling in planes or blowing up enemy balloons, the latter of which is like releasing fireworks in the air for them: press the launch button and then wait for the bright fireball to bloom in the air.

As for patrolling, it was another kind of enjoyment. They had complete control of the air. When the enemy planes saw them from afar, they ran away like chickens hiding from an eagle.

Ciel said calmly, "One day, Lieutenant, one day you will have to face the enemy's machine guns."

Carter was surprised: "Do you know something? The Germans know the secret of the 'machine gun fire coordinator'?"

"No, Carter!" Charles shook his head. Instead of answering, he asked a question: "During this period, our military aircraft had an accident, right?"

"Of course!" Carter nodded. "There were a total of 17 major accidents during the mission, and 11 pilots were killed or injured. This is inevitable during flight..."

Before he finished speaking, Carter understood what Charles meant.

He stared at Charles for a moment, then turned his gaze to the machine gun fighters neatly parked in the hangar on the other side, and said with some worry: "You are right, Lieutenant! They often perform missions over the enemy, and they will inevitably make an emergency landing or crash due to malfunctions or other reasons. In other words, one day the Germans will know the secret of the 'machine gun firing coordinator'."

"Yes!" Charles looked at the machine gun fighters and said, "All the precautions we are taking now can only delay the arrival of that day, but cannot prevent it, unless we don't let them fly into the sky."

The precautions were good enough; they had been drawn up by Gallieni himself.

Guards were deployed around the airport and the aircraft were closely protected. Even the pilots were not allowed to touch them without orders, and violators would be killed without mercy.

This was because they were worried that some pilots might be bribed by the Germans or spies and might fly their planes to surrender to the enemy.

Therefore, all pilots flying machine gun fighters were strictly examined, including Carter.

If they fail the review, they will immediately become pilots of rocket fighters or reconnaissance planes. There is no risk of leakage for these two types of aircraft, so it doesn't matter who is flying them.

Finally, Charles asked, "Now, do you know what to prepare?"

Carter stepped forward and answered: "Understood, Lieutenant! I will organize the pilots to start air combat training!"

Charles nodded. This was what he wanted. Opportunities always come to those who are prepared.

One day, even if the Germans discovered the secret of the "machine gun firing coordinator" and successfully moved machine guns onto airplanes, they would still face a group of French pilots with sophisticated combat skills.

…

After leaving the club, Charles asked Laurent to drive to Eric's aircraft factory.

Charles usually doesn't go to the aircraft manufacturing factory during holidays. Everyone knows the reason. He just wants to spend as much time as possible during working hours.

not to mention……

This is not considered as Charles taking advantage of working time. Although the aircraft manufacturing factory belongs to Charles, Charles is also a staff officer of the city defense headquarters and the captain of the first flying squadron.

The aircraft manufacturing plant is the source of fighter planes for the First Flying Brigade. As a staff officer and team leader, he must of course pay close attention to it!

Therefore, this is definitely a public matter, for the development of the First Flying Squadron, for the safety of the French sky, and for victory in the war...

The car slowly stopped in front of the aircraft manufacturing plant, and Charles unexpectedly found Eric standing at the door, gesticulating and scolding several workers with a look of rage.

Seeing Charles coming in, Eric immediately put on a smile as if his face changed, turned around and waved a few times to drive away the workers, then quickly walked up to him.

"Hey, Lieutenant, nice to meet you!" Eric shook hands with Charles enthusiastically.

Charles looked Eric up and down, his eyes full of surprise: "Uncle Eric, you don't seem to be drinking?"

This was the first time Ciel stood before Eric without smelling alcohol.

Eric turned around and glared at the workers he had just scolded, saying bitterly, "Because of these bastards, I have to quit drinking!"

"Quit...quit?" Charles turned around quickly and winked at Laurent.

Laurent was about to take out the two bottles of brandy that Charles had prepared for Eric, which Lieutenant Colonel Charles-Fernand had bought at a low price from the officers' club.

Laurent was smart enough. When he saw that something was wrong, he quickly put the wine back and pretended to take out a rag to wipe the car.

Eric didn't notice anything unusual. He sighed and said helplessly, "I produce airplanes, Lieutenant. They are airplanes used to fight the enemy. If there is any mistake, it may fall from the sky. This is related to the life of the pilot. I must be responsible for this!"

Charles nodded heavily. He had never agreed with Eric's words so much as he did now.

Eric glanced at the workers in the factory and complained, "I thought I could trust them, but they always took advantage of me when I was drunk to fool me. One time, they even lost two vertical pillars!"

"Just because of this?" Charles still didn't believe it.

Eric is the kind of guy who would rather drink than gas. Would he give up drinking because an airplane was missing two vertical struts?

Eric's face turned red, and his tone was a little embarrassed: "Of course, there is also... Chelia's reason. I told you about Chelia, right? She came back with the child."

Charles said "Oh" and suddenly realized: "This is the main reason, Uncle Eric?"

Eric smiled without saying anything, which was considered as his agreement, and his face was filled with happiness.

Perhaps because he was shy, Eric changed the subject. As he led Charles to the factory, he suggested, "I'm thinking about a question, Lieutenant. Should we expand the scale of production? Producing 50 'Avro's' per month seems far from enough to meet the military's needs..."

Charles nodded slightly. Eric's words made sense. Although the military only ordered 100 aircraft in the first batch, everyone knew that these 100 aircraft were just to fill a small gap.

If all combat aircraft were replaced with Avro, there would be orders for 500 aircraft waiting in the wings. It stands to reason that now is the time to expand the scale.

But Charles didn't think so.

"Aircraft will soon be obsolete, Uncle Eric." Charles said calmly, "Avro may be suitable for reconnaissance, or for the current battlefield, but they will soon become obsolete and sales will plummet. I think we need dedicated fighter jets!"

"A dedicated fighter jet?" Eric looked at Charles in surprise: "You mean, develop it yourself?"

Charles nodded. He was very clear about one thing: without technology, there would be no competitiveness. The things purchased would always lag behind the competitors, just like Schneider could easily buy a "Holt 120" that was better than Charles' "Holt 75".

"But we..." Eric looked embarrassed: "We don't have a R&D team, Lieutenant. All my machines are purchased. We only know how to produce them!"

"Then buy a team!" Charles replied, his tone as relaxed and casual as if he was taking a walk.

(End of this chapter)