Chapter 175 Then buy a team!

As Carter said, what they do every day is to patrol or blow up enemy balloons. The latter is like releasing fireworks in the air for them: press the launch button and wait for the bright fireball to bloom in the air.

As for patrolling, it is another kind of enjoyment. They have complete control of the air. The enemy's planes see them from a distance and run away like chickens hiding from eagles.

Charles said calmly: "One day, Lieutenant, one day you will face the enemy's machine gun fighters."

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

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

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

Before he finished speaking, Carter understood what Charles meant.

He stared at Charles for a while, then turned his eyes to the machine gun fighters neatly parked in the hangar on the other side, and said with a worried tone: "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 also 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 have been done well enough, and they were personally drafted by Gallieni.

Guards were deployed around the airport, and the aircraft were also strictly protected. Even the pilots could not touch them without orders, and those who violated the order would be killed without mercy.

This is because they are worried that some pilots may be bribed by the Germans or spies, and they may surrender to the enemy by flying the plane.

Therefore, all pilots who fly machine gun fighters have been strictly examined, including Carter.

If you fail the review, you will immediately become a pilot of a rocket fighter or reconnaissance aircraft. These two models do not have the risk of leaking secrets, 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 pilots to conduct air combat training!"

Charles nodded. This is 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 the machine guns onto the plane, they would face a group of French pilots with skilled combat skills.

...

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

Charles usually doesn't go to the aircraft factory during holidays. Those who understand know the reason. Any time he can spend at work is a good time.

What's more...

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

The aircraft factory is the source of fighter planes for the First Flying Squadron. As a staff officer and captain, he must pay close attention to it!

So, this is definitely official business, for the development of the First Flying Squadron, for the safety of the French sky, and for the victory of the war...

The car slowly stopped in front of the aircraft factory. Charles unexpectedly found Eric gesticulating and scolding several workers at the door, looking furious.

Seeing Charles coming in, Eric immediately smiled as if he had changed his face, turned around and waved a few times to drive away the workers, and then hurried up to greet 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 that Charles stood in front of Eric and didn't smell alcohol.

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

"Quit...quit?" Charles turned back and winked at Laurent.

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

Laurent was quite smart. Seeing that the situation was not right, 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, and airplanes that fight the enemy. As long as there is a little mistake, it may fall from the sky. This is related to the life of the pilot. I must be responsible for it!"

Charles nodded heavily. He has never agreed with Eric's words as much as he does now.

Eric glanced at the workers in the factory and complained, "I thought I could trust them, but they always fooled me when I was drunk. One time, they even lost two vertical struts!"

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

Eric is the kind of person who would rather drink than gasoline. Would he quit drinking because a plane lost 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 her child."

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

Eric smiled and said nothing, which was considered as tacit agreement, with a face full of happiness.

Perhaps because he was shy, Eric changed the subject. He led Charles to the factory and suggested: "I'm thinking about a question, Lieutenant, should we expand the production scale? Producing 50 "Avro" every month seems far from enough for 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 filling a small gap.

If all combat aircraft were replaced with "Avro", there would be 500 orders waiting behind them. 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 fall behind and sales will plummet. I think we need dedicated fighters more!"

"Dedicated fighters?" Eric looked at Charles in surprise: "Do you mean, self-developed?"

Charles nodded. He knew one thing very well: without technology, there is no competitiveness. Things purchased will always lag behind the opponent, just like Schneider can easily buy a "Holt 120" that surpasses Charles's "Holt 75".

"But we..." Eric looked embarrassed: "We don't have a research and development team, Lieutenant, all my machines are bought, we only know how to produce!"

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