Chapter 1129: Do as I say first
Champine''s words are definitely not alarmist.
Currently, the main mainline aircraft models currently being operated by major airlines are basically Boeing 737NG and Airbus A320ceo.
They are not two specific models, but two generations of a series of aircraft.
And they are all facing the problem of falling behind the times.
Although the Boeing 737NG is called the "next generation", it is essentially a limited improvement of the second-generation 737.
Moreover, it is not an active improvement.
It was in the early 1990s that it was hit by the A320 and had no choice but to undergo a wave of repairs.
According to Boeing''s plan, after 2010 at the latest, the Y1 model in the Yellowstone plan, which has the same technical level as the 787 (Y2) and is newly designed, will be put on the market.
The 737NG is essentially a temporary transitional model.
As for the A320ceo…
CEO is originally the abbreviation of Traditional Engine (CurrentEngineOption), and it has not been seriously replaced in 20 years.
Originally, if it were just two strong powers competing, it would really be possible to achieve a balance of power in this situation.
That is to say, everyone just makes do with it and sees who can''t stand it any longer first.
However, around 2000, Canada''s Bombardier Aerospace Company suddenly jumped out and said that it would develop a brand new C-series passenger aircraft to form an "ABC" competition with Boeing and Airbus.
Although it is nominally a regional aircraft, the first model of this C-series series is 120-130 seats, which covers the business scope of Airbus A319 to a considerable extent.
In fact, in the original timeline, due to limited investment and lack of determination, the research and development of this C series was intermittently, and it was not until 2008 that a relatively complete plan was developed.
But now, perhaps driven by the idea that "if China can do it, I can do it," Canadians are very ambitious and move quickly.
By early 2004, the C series had been put into a basic framework.
And because Bombardier has long been involved in various passenger aircraft research and development projects and is a Western company, its experience and external conditions are much stronger than those of China. The performance of its newly designed aircraft is far better than that of two old guys who are patching things together.
I actually got orders for dozens of them.
Some of them even come from airlines that used to only use Airbus.
Now, the Europeans can''t sit still.
You know, it was Boeing''s attitude of ignoring the development of Airbus that allowed the latter to become bigger, and now it is even looking to replace it.
How could they make the same mistake again?
Therefore, it is imperative to completely upgrade the A320.
Once an aircraft of this level is replaced, it is likely to last another twenty or thirty years.
For an aviation engine supplier to remain invisible in the most mainstream market for such a long time, it will definitely bring extremely high risks.
Therefore, Bodi''s expression immediately became serious:
"I will try my best to convince the leadership to allocate resources in this direction as soon as possible..."
From a technical point of view, it is indeed much easier to build a smaller engine after having built a larger engine.
But specifically at the business level, if you don’t have enough time or funds, it will be difficult to compete with friends who have more experience.
Suddenly, the roar of the aircraft engine came from far away, interrupting Bodi''s thoughts.
The A340 had completed all the test tasks planned for this flight and appeared in mid-air toward the end of the runway.
"Speak of it, Charles."
Bodi changed the subject:
"What''s the current progress of the first A380 prototype?"
"The body parts will be assembled soon. Our plan is to make it public to the world next month, roll off the factory before the end of the year, and make the first flight early next year..."
“…”
…
at the same time.
At the Dassault Toulouse factory, a little further from the airport.
After bidding farewell to the two of them just now, Didier Casore didn''t bother to take a break, and almost non-stop found the head of the production department, Shamussen Bain.
The latter was currently busy improving the production capacity of two new models of Rafale F2 and Falcon 8Z. It was not until Casore tapped him on the shoulder a few times that he noticed the other party''s arrival.
"director?"
The confusion on Bain''s face has not yet disappeared.
Casore was a little helpless:
"I informed the headquarters last week that I was going back to China...didn''t anyone notify you?"
Hearing this question, Bain was stunned for a moment, then raised his head and glanced at the calendar next to him: "Uh... I have been solving a process problem on the Rafale F2 production line these days, and I may have made a mistake in the date."
As he explained, he rolled up the drawings on the table and pushed them aside:
"I remember you said that there are new production tasks to be handed over to us?"
Seeing him looking like a workaholic, Casore didn''t have much to say. He just took a computer bag from the entourage behind him:
"Yes, it is also related to Falcon 8Z..."
As he spoke, he quickly took out his laptop and turned it on:
"The brand-new process cannot be solved by the assembly level of China, so we need temporary help."
Obviously, he completely believed the reasons that Liang Shaoxiu had spouted before.
However, Manager Bain on the opposite side frowned slightly and seemed a little unhappy:
"The new factory has put into production two new models at the same time, and the production line operation situation is already very tight... If the production plan is temporarily changed, I am afraid it will affect the entire production plan..."
Casore had just finished entering the power-on password, raised his head and explained:
"This matter has a high priority, and the number of components is very small, so the impact will not be great."
"But supervisor, any new process requires a lot of testing to determine the parameters before it is put into production. This has nothing to do with the output... Rather, a small output will be more wasteful."
There was a hint of confusion on Bain''s face.
In his opinion, although Casore has worked in the design department for many years, he should not ignore such low-level problems.
"Most of the parameters have been determined...we just need to debug the equipment according to the actual situation."
Having said this, Kasore turned the computer screen and pushed it in front of Bain.
The above is a complete assembly process description.
"The skin radius is 2723mm, the arc length is 300mm, and the total length is 630mm. Positioning surface 1 constrains the degrees of freedom in the X, Y and Z directions, and positioning surface 2 constrains the two degrees of freedom in the X and Y directions. It is divided into 25845 units in total. Type is shell element…”
"The specifications of the long truss are 42.3mm*30.0mm*630mm, and the positioning point 1 constrains the two degrees of freedom X and Z..."
In addition to the somewhat blunt text description, it also thoughtfully comes with assembly model diagrams and a summary table of operating parameters.
In short, even if you only look at the first two pages, it doesn''t look like a "new craft" at all.
Instead, it seems that it has been studied for a while and was just used for trial production...
Bain glanced at Kasore with some suspicion:
"With such a large-sized pre-connection process...the yield rate may not be guaranteed."
"Don''t worry, then look down."
The latter replied:
"Besides, if it wasn''t difficult, they wouldn''t come to you."
Production line management capabilities and worker technical levels have always been the two strengths that Bain is most proud of.
Now that he was suddenly put on a high hat, it was a little inconvenient for him to refute, so he had to lower his head and return his gaze to the computer screen.
"The pre-connection sequence between units: 11-12-13-14-15-21-22... The pre-connection path distance is 10567mm, the pre-connection points of unit 1 are set to 13, 6, and 20, and the pre-connection forces are 39N, 44N and 43N, three-dimensional coordinate value (90, 23, 160); unit 2..."
“…”
Bain''s expression gradually became serious.
As an experienced engineer who has worked on the production line for more than 30 years, he quickly realized that this assembly process was not like the past, which only provided broad-based guidance and required production personnel to adjust specific operating methods according to the actual situation. The number, location and order of connection points are determined from the beginning.
But the problem is that even different individuals of the same model will have deviations and deformations during the production and assembly process.
So in the past, this was determined based on experience by skilled workers.
This is also the fundamental reason why the aircraft production process has not been fully automated for a long time.
The current model seems to reduce the burden on the production line, but it is equivalent to piling all risks into the final assembly process.
"Supervisor, are you sure..."
Bain just started, but Kasore didn''t let him continue.
The latter actually has no idea, but right now there is really no better way:
"Do as I say first. As for the final situation... we will wait until the product is off the production line!"
Although the two parties have the same administrative level, when it comes to business relationships, Casore, as the deputy model manager, has the authority to guide the production side of the work.
Therefore, when he finally made his decision, Bain did not continue to bargain:
"Then I''ll convene a meeting with the production line engineers right away."
"But it''s best for you to explain the specific situation to everyone..."
(End of chapter)