Chapter 3: Howard and His Aviation Institute

  Sun Xiang thought: Today is March 7, 1936. Germany has already begun to provoke the Treaty of Versailles. In 1937, the little devils will start wreaking havoc on Chinese soil. I am not yet capable of changing anything. Since I am in America, I should utilize my prior knowledge of history to further restrain Japan's military power in the Far East Pacific region. Let them not focus all their attention on the mainland. First and foremost, I need to resolve my identity issue.

  After the decision was made, a abandoned warehouse was found using radar. The J-10 stopped next to the warehouse, and he also noticed that a Ford car had followed him to a location not far from the warehouse.

  "Hey buddy! Was that weird-looking plane yours just now? Why didn't I see any propellers?"

  "Hey! Never mind, I was originally looking for a suitable flight route, but the plane ran out of fuel." Sun Xiang said.

  Ford: "Oh! Good heavens, I'm Howard Hughes. Is that your plane? It's an honor to meet you. I think, I think we can do some business!!" Hughes looked anxious, like a kid who had just spotted his favorite toy.

  "Oh. Howard, nice to meet you, I'm Steve Sun."

  A mechanical voice with a square head sounded in Sun Xiang's mind: "Howard Hughes"

  In the United States, Howard Hughes' name is as well-known as Washington and Abraham Lincoln. This is not only because he was one of the few wealthy individuals in the United States with a global reputation, but also because Americans regarded him as a hero. His life was full of adventure and excitement. He had assets worth $2.5 billion, but in his later years, he became reclusive and mysterious, rarely appearing in public. He loved flying planes, and one time, when he was flying his private plane over the coast of Malibu, he suddenly thought: wouldn't it be great to make a movie about air battles? He remembered that in 1918, during World War I, British Air Force Colonel Danning led seven Sopwith Camel fighter jets from an aircraft carrier and bombed the German airbase at Tondern. It was an excellent transoceanic bombing raid, with only one plane lost by the British, sinking two enemy ships and two flying boats. Hughes decided to bring this aerial battle to the big screen. At that time, there were no special effects for depicting air battles in movies, so he planned to use real planes to film a more thrilling and spectacular aerial warfare movie than actual combat, titled "Hell's Angels".

  To film this movie, he spent $2.1 million just on airplane rental fees, renting 87 planes, including French Spad fighters, British SE5s, Camel bombers, German Fokkers and 135 pilots; 2000 extras were also hired. The number of cameramen was almost half the total number of cameramen in Hollywood. The entire American film industry was shocked by this. This time, he again let Myles direct. During filming, he suddenly had a wild idea: to shoot down German Zeppelins attacking London and have real planes shot down in mid-air. He believed that this would be the only way to thrill audiences. His secretary, Dietrich, tried to stop this crazy move: "Really want to shoot it down? Even an old-fashioned Zeppelin costs at least $500,000!" Hughes didn't care: "Yes, buy one of those airships and let it explode and burn fiercely. Never mind, just do it."

  When filming the dive-bombing scene, he asked pilots to dive from 30 meters above the ground and crash into the ground in flames. None of the pilots were willing to do it, everyone knew that was going to be fatal. No one was willing to take the risk, Hughes said: "Then I'll show you how to fly!" He really got on the plane, and he didn't have time to jump out when the plane dived towards the ground, suddenly flipped over, and then crashed down. "Hughes is dead!" A scream came from the crowd.

  However, perhaps the gods of fate had a special liking for this bold young man. Just as the plane was about to burn, Hughes managed to crawl out of the cockpit with great difficulty. His injuries were not too serious, only a fractured cheekbone, which later left a scar.

  Sun Xiang smiled and said to Hughes: "It seems we really need to have a good talk." At the same time, he also admired the function of his opponent's brain.

  Hues said: "How much does your plane cost? Oh, you know he was going so fast I almost lost him. If you hadn't stopped, we wouldn't have seen each other."

  "NO NO NO, that one is NOT for sale! She's my treasure!!"

  Hues: "Can't you just reconsider? I'm very sincere! I love airplanes like I love myself, she's my sweetheart!"

  "That's my blood and sweat, I don't plan on selling her, you know I love planes just like you"

  Hues looked at J10 beside the warehouse with a helpless expression and said: "Oh, ah, must I really be separated from you?"

  Xun Xiang smiled like a little fox on one side: "Oh, no, no, no! I just won't sell you this one."

  Hues' face lit up with renewed hope: "Too good, I'll order one, she's perfect."

  Sun Xiang: "Can I have a talk with you about your company? To be honest, I have a premonition that war is going to break out and your aircraft research institute will play a huge role."

  Hughes eyed Sun Xiang warily: "How did you know I had a research institute? Oh, you're an Asian, are you a spy? The design drawings of my H1 were stolen by the Japanese, you won't get anything from me!"

  "Hey, partner! My plane is far better than your H1 or those little Japanese planes. No need to come and harm you. Besides, I'm Chinese and we have a deep blood feud with Japan!!"

  "Hughes obviously thought of this too: "Oh friend, you know I'm really fed up with the Japanese now, they're like flies that won't let you eat your meal in peace. My aircraft factory is just nearby, come take a look." Upon hearing Hughes say this, Sun Xiang smiled, it seemed that an initial alliance had been formed between them. The J10 temporarily stopped at this abandoned warehouse."

  The two of them got into the Ford car. After entering the carriage, Hughes proudly introduced this year's new Ford model to himself, and Sun Xiang wanted to laugh out loud. The development of cars over a hundred years, I all know, how can this look like an antique thing that really can't arouse my interest. Soon the car entered Washington City, seeing the city a hundred years ago, Sun Xiang felt a sense of nostalgia. Now the roads are not as crowded as they will be in the future, and the sky is bluer than it will be after the economic crisis. The city looks more cohesive after the crisis, really want to see Roosevelt, the president who helped America get through the crisis. The car drove out of the city and continued to move backwards.

  Hues had too much to say to Sun Xiang when he met someone who owned a crazy plane, and the chatter began.

  "Hughes excitedly told Sun Xiang: 'Look, this is just my small research institute in Washington. Oh ~ Los Angeles is where my real secret research institute is.'"

  Sun Xiang saw the white building and the huge warehouse behind it, the apron and runway, and his heart was filled with excitement. Later on, this place would produce the most advanced aircraft in the world. Looking at Hughes introducing the aircraft parts to him without any hidden meaning, Sun Xiang's heart felt a warmth. This guy is a true airplane enthusiast! Then I'll help you make some airplanes that don't exist in this world yet.

  Hues and Sun Xiang entered a workshop-like place, Hues picked up a model and said to Sun Xiang: "Look, this is the product developed by my research institute, isn't it beautiful?" Sun Xiang took over the airplane model from his hand and examined it carefully: The appearance of the airplane model was indeed similar to the data provided by Hues, which was very similar to the Japanese Zero fighter. It was also an agile type, with a front-mounted propeller, and the speed was about the same. It seemed that he didn't cheat me, the Japanese stole the plane's drawings and modified them to form the Zero fighter. Hmm! From the side, his research institute seems to be very powerful.

  After making up his mind, Sun Xiang said to Hughes: "I want to own 50% of your aircraft research company..."

  "Hughes' face was furious: "This can't be, buddy!!!! You have to know this is a lifetime dream!!!!!"

  "Alright, alright! Don't get worked up, buddy! The price is... more advanced aircraft blueprints, I'll use them to invest! Of course, that's not all, I want to join the military, I'm an excellent pilot, and I'll apply my skills to fight against fascism. So, I won't be involved in the company's operations, I know your biggest business is in oil, so you can consider my proposal carefully. New aircraft can make you more competitive, and also fulfill your dreams, right?" The cunning fox opened his mouth to tempt him. Hughes was visibly moved, and once he became obsessed with airplanes, he was doomed to fall into the clutches of Sun's cunning plan.

  After Sun Xiang took off with J-10 and brought Hughes into the sky for a lap...

  "With a crazed look on his face, Hughes said: 'Okay Steve, I give up. You win. My airline company is 50% yours.'"

  Sun Xiang: "Alright, then we can start researching the company's future development direction."..."Firstly, put this plane in your secret hangar and seal it off. Absolutely no one is allowed to approach it. Secondly......"

  According to the old employees of the aircraft company at that time, Howard and Steve, the two CEOs, discussed for an entire afternoon and signed a contract on the same day. Later, our aircraft research institute continuously produced better planes than other companies, and the owner of the aircraft company became the two of them.