Chapter 575: The Enclosed Cockpit
Taking advantage of his free time during the holiday, Charles visited the aircraft manufacturing plant.
He wasn’t there to see Uncle Eric. Charles had heard that ever since Eric quit drinking, he had become thoroughly controlled by his wife, spending all his time after work at home accompanying her and teaching their children, completely caught up in his new life. Charles decided not to intrude.
Instead, he went directly to the research and development department of the plant, where a group of aeronautical engineers from Britain had gathered.
The R&D department resembled a factory, or perhaps more accurately, a warehouse, filled with equipment, machinery, and workers. The workers were engrossed in their tasks, using various tools to tinker with mechanisms that Charles couldn’t comprehend.
Dismantling, cutting, welding—everyone was enthusiastically busy, so much so that they didn’t notice Charles standing nearby.
(Note: True welding began in 1881 with carbon arc welding. By 1915, electroslag welding had appeared, but most commonly used was manual arc welding, invented in Sweden in 1910.)
Later, Charles learned that he had misunderstood—they weren’t workers but actually the R&D department’s technical staff.
Standing among them, Charles asked, “Excuse me, sir, where is the R&D department?”
Without looking up from tightening a screw with a wrench, one of the “workers” replied, “This is it.”
Charles was taken aback, glancing around. He had imagined the R&D department to be filled with blueprints and desks, data flying everywhere, and perhaps some elegant secretaries serving tea. This was not what he had pictured.
“Well then,” Charles hesitated. “Where’s Dorn?”
The “worker” gestured towards an engine in the front, shouting, “Boss, someone’s here to see you!”
The engine was mounted on a workbench, and a man below it was busy hammering and tinkering. After hearing the shout, he waited a moment before sliding out on a board.
Covered in grease, the man sat up and wiped his hands with a cloth, casually asking, “Who is it?”
When he turned around and saw Charles in military uniform, he froze momentarily.
Then he burst into laughter. “You fools! It’s the ‘Corsican Lad.’ How did none of you notice?”
The other “workers” suddenly realized, stopping their work to look at Charles. Cheers erupted, accompanied by the clattering of wrenches hitting the floor.
As they crowded around, many already holding notebooks and pens, they began to exclaim:
“I’m your fan, General.”
“Can I have your autograph?”
“Me too!”
...
Charles obliged them all. For those without notebooks, he signed their clothing.
“Everything’s going smoothly, boss,” Dorn said, gesturing toward the engine. “We’ve exceeded 200 horsepower, and we believe there’s still room for improvement.”
(Note: Aircraft engines differ from tank engines; the former requires strict control of size and weight, whereas the latter is more lenient in these aspects. This is why tank engines could reach 250 horsepower while aircraft engines were still around 200 horsepower.)
“Excellent,” Charles praised.
In 1918, the Germans used their most advanced 200-horsepower aircraft engines to bomb Britain. This meant that Charles’s R&D department was at least two years ahead of the Germans.
“Boss,” Dorn joked after sipping some water, “you’re not here on your rare holiday just to make sure we don’t quit, are you?”
The researchers burst into laughter, chiming in:
“Don’t worry, boss. We read the newspapers every day. We know about all your victories.”
“Our contributions to those victories are what drive us.”
“Indeed, maintaining air superiority is critical. We’re amazing!”
...
Researchers, often bold and outspoken, didn’t bother with the usual humility. They said whatever came to mind.
Charles candidly acknowledged their achievements: “You’re absolutely right, gentlemen. Air superiority is one of the keys to my success. It’s indispensable. Your efforts can determine the outcome of a battle!”
He wasn’t exaggerating.
Recently, French fighter planes had reduced their sorties, but only because German aircraft couldn’t match the French “Camel” fighters, resorting to a more conservative strategy.
This gave the French forces better and more timely intelligence and allowed them to cripple German supply lines with impunity.
The researchers beamed with pride, clearly relishing Charles’s praise.
“But I’m not here because I’m worried you’ll leave,” Charles said, mimicking their tone of self-praise. “Because I’m the most brilliant boss, providing you with the best environment and development opportunities. Only a fool would leave. Don’t you agree?”
The researchers burst into laughter again. Their “boss” seemed to fit right in with their group.
Charles sobered slightly. “I’m here because I have an idea, and I’d like to hear your thoughts.”
“What is it?” Dorn pulled up a chair, sitting in front of Charles with great interest. “Is it about the engine?”
“No,” Charles shook his head. “We all know that for an aircraft to fly faster, apart from increasing engine power, another way is to reduce drag.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, slightly surprised that the “Corsican Lad” knew about drag coefficients.
Dorn interjected, “That’s why we added fairings to the machine guns on the ‘Camel’ fighters, General.”
This was the origin of the “Camel” nickname: the two machine guns on its nose had fairings that made them look like camel humps.
“I know,” Charles nodded. “So, I was thinking, if we can add fairings to machine guns, why not do the same for the cockpit?”
“The cockpit?”
“Adding a fairing?”
The researchers froze.
Moments later, they exclaimed:
“Yes, that’s brilliant! Open cockpits create significant drag, especially during climbs and dives.”
“Adding a fairing could solve that problem while greatly improving pilot comfort—they wouldn’t have to deal with wind and rain!”
“But how would pilots fight with a fairing over the cockpit?”
“We could use transparent glass for the fairing, Bruce!”
...
Dorn looked at Charles and slowly nodded. “That’s an excellent idea, boss. I wonder, could you stay out of battle and join us here as one of our own?”
The researchers laughed again, knowing it was impossible. If Charles were to stay, the French would probably dismantle the research institute the next day.
But Charles had indeed earned his place here. His suggestion alone surpassed many others.
“See?” Charles spread his hands, mockingly threatening, “Is there anyone else who still wants to leave?”
The researchers laughed once more:
“No, boss.”
“We’re happy to serve you.”
“I won’t leave—but can we get a raise?”
Charles’s face darkened, pretending not to hear.