The Rise Of Australasia-Chapter 1108 - 829: Life Choices

Chapter 1108: Chapter 829: Life Choices

Although the Royal Aircraft Manufacturing Factory took some risks in the design of the Sparrowhawk-6B dual-piloted fighter, Arthur still had great confidence in the abilities of Australasian aircraft designers.

Moreover, even if the missiles were not very reliable in actual combat, the excellent flight speed of the Sparrowhawk-6B could allow it to quickly shake off the enemy and ensure its safety.

Seeing that Arthur had no objections to the design of the fighter, Robert continued, “Your Majesty, as for our bomber design, abiding by your principle of prioritizing firepower, we have enhanced the firepower of the bomber to further increase its strategic deterrence capability.”

HF-6A Bomber (Sparrowhawk-6A Bomber)

Maximum speed: 645 km/h

Main weapon: 2 CA-2-27MM rapid-fire autocannons (armor-piercing shells/high-explosive fragments)

Secondary weapon: 300 kg bombs + 2 Pigeon-type missiles or 4 Pigeon-type missiles

(Other data same as the fighter)

There’s not much to say about the bomber; most of the data is the same as that of the fighter. However, the missiles carried by the bomber are the true Pigeon-type missiles, with an explosive power far exceeding that of smaller, aircraft-mounted missiles.

And the rapid-fire autocannons carried by the bomber also come with two types of shells, specifically designed to engage enemy aircraft with armor-piercing shells and to bombard ground targets with high-explosive fragment shells.

“Has the problem of poor night-time visibility encountered by the bombers been resolved?” Arthur asked with a nod.

Due to current technological limitations, bombers have very poor night-time visibility. Poor visibility also means that there’s a possibility of not finding the target during bombing, making it impossible to complete the bombing mission.

This difficulty has troubled the Royal Aircraft Manufacturing Factory for a long time and is one of the biggest flaws of fifth-generation military aircraft.

“Your Majesty, we currently have a very good solution that can help us effectively improve the issue of poor night-time visibility,” said Robert, the factory manager, with a smile.

“Oh? What is the solution?” Arthur asked with interest.

“When we convert this bomber into a dual-piloted bomber, the second pilot, with the aid of our radar and observation equipment, can better assist the first pilot in finding bombing targets.

At the same time, the second pilot can also detect enemy aircraft earlier, effectively improving our bomber’s survival rate,” said the factory manager, Robert.

“So, you mean to say the airfield also has designs for the dual-piloted bomber?” Arthur continued to inquire.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” replied the factory manager, Robert. “In addition to adding another seat, the dual-piloted bomber also includes brand-new observation equipment, ensuring our bomber’s combat capability at night.

Of course, to effectively enhance the bomber’s combat performance, we separated the driving and bombing functions, allowing the bomber to perform more operations in a short time.

On our dual-piloted bomber, the main pilot is mainly responsible for controlling the aircraft, while the copilot is mainly responsible for operating the various weapons of the bomber.”

Curious, Arthur immediately asked, “If you separate the driving and combat functions, doesn’t that mean that if anything happens to the copilot, our plane loses its combat capability?”

“Theoretically, that’s correct, Your Majesty,” factory manager Robert replied. “Therefore, the main pilot still retains control over the aircraft’s weapons. If anything happens to the copilot, we can ensure that our bomber still retains combat capability.

Of course, as a result, our dual-piloted bombers will be larger in size and slightly slower than single-seat bombers,” Robert, the factory manager, said, passing over the specific data for the dual-piloted bomber.”

HF-6B Bomber (Sparrowhawk-6B Bomber)

Length: 12.7 m

Wingspan: 12.8 m

Height: 3.6 m

Empty weight: 4550 kg

Maximum takeoff weight: 7045 kg

Crew: 2 people

Engine: Two Disel axial-flow jet engines

Thrust: 2×775 kg

Maximum flight speed: 620 km/h

Service ceiling: 8900 m

Range: 1125 km

Rate of climb: 955 m/min

Thrust-to-weight ratio: 0.28

Main weapon: 2 CA-2-27MM rapid-fire autocannons (armor-piercing shells/high-explosive fragments)

Secondary weapon: 300 kg bombs + 2 Pigeon-type missiles or 4 Pigeon-type missiles

Although the twin-seat bomber only adds one seat, its overall size is considerably larger than that of the single-seat bomber.

Despite a reduction in speed, the trade-off is enhanced combat capability at night, which is generally considered a profitable exchange.

After all, the situation on the battlefield is ever-changing, and air combat and bombing missions cannot always take place during daytime. For fighter aircraft and bombers, having considerable combat capabilities at night is very necessary.

“Do these fighter aircraft and bombers all have corresponding prototypes yet?” Arthur inquired with some anticipation.

Facing the almost twofold speed increase of the sixth generation military aircraft, Arthur was very eager to see the actual performance of more advanced and powerful planes.

“Not at the moment, Your Majesty,” the factory manager Robert replied with a somewhat embarrassed look, explaining, “Because these designs have just come off the drawing board, we haven’t begun the manufacture of the prototypes.”

“Then make the prototypes as soon as possible and conduct flight tests,” Arthur answered, a bit disheartened, “I hope to see the prototypes of the fighter aircraft and bombers by early next year.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Manager Robert quickly nodded respectfully and seriously.

Looking at the aircraft designs on paper, Arthur was quite expectant. However, for these aircraft to smoothly go through the stages of manufacturing prototypes, flight testing, functional improvements, and mass production, they would need at least one to two years.

This also means that to see the latest models of the sixth-generation military aircraft being extensively equipped in the troops, the earliest possible time would be 1936.

As war’s outbreak was uncertain, Arthur could only ask the Royal Aircraft Manufacturing Factory to expedite the testing phase of the sixth-generation military aircraft.

If the Australasian Air Force could be equipped with sixth-generation military aircraft on a large scale when the war broke out, at least the advantage in the skies could be completely controlled.

Seeing the achievements in military aircraft, Arthur had some expectations for the civilian field’s transport planes as well. Looking at the manager of the Royal Aircraft Manufacturing Factory before him, Arthur asked curiously, “Manager Robert, how is our research on transport planes going?

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“Your Majesty, the Royal Aircraft Manufacturing Factory has currently suspended the development of the Large Belly IV. The aircraft factory does not have much energy to devote to developing transport planes, so we have sold the transport plane business to Douglas Aircraft Company and Boeing Company, and their next generation of transport planes should have made progress,” Manager Robert answered.

Whether it’s the Royal Aircraft Manufacturing Factory, Douglas Aircraft Company, or Boeing Company, they are actually enterprises of the Royal Consortium.

The biggest difference between them is the shareholding ratio of the Royal Consortium. The Royal Aircraft Manufacturing Factory is 100% held by the Royal Consortium and is genuinely a royal enterprise.

Meanwhile, Douglas Aircraft Company and Boeing Company were acquired by the Royal Consortium, holding over 95% of their shares.

This is why the Royal Aircraft Manufacturing Factory could sell its transport plane business to Boeing Company and Douglas Aircraft Company.

After all, all three aircraft manufacturers belong to the same consortium; they’re all family.

“Boeing Company and Douglas Company?” Arthur nodded, already having some speculation in mind.

Both Boeing Company and Douglas Company had created quite impressive achievements in the field of aircraft.

However, the heyday of Douglas Company was around World War II, while Boeing Company’s prime time came after World War II.

If one had to compare fame, Boeing Company certainly had the upper hand. After all, Boeing Company survived into later generations, and their transport planes were the world’s bestsellers, with the most flights and passengers.

While the famous Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II eventually faded from memory due to various reasons.

Now that Douglas and Boeing Companies had been mentioned, Arthur decided to visit these two companies in person.

However, before going to these companies, it’s better to spend a happy Christmas with the family in 1934.

Having been in Australasia for over 30 years, besides transforming Arthur from a just-of-age youth into an outstanding and mature ruler, it also saw the gradual aging of Arthur’s mother, Princess Louise.

Princess Louise was born in 1860, and as of now, she was already 74 years old.

In an era where the average life expectancy was only 60, for Princess Louise to live to 74 and in good health was already considered quite healthy and long-lived.

Of course, a big part of the credit goes to the Royal Hospital that Arthur built in the palace.

Even after moving to the Palace of Nations, the Royal Hospital still existed and became even bigger. It could be said that the medical staff of the Royal Hospital were among the best in the world.

At the palace’s Royal Hospital, the most advanced surgeries of the world could be performed, and numerous medicines were available.

Under the protection of these medical personnel, the members of the Royal Family have remained relatively healthy.

But current technology is inevitably unable to compete with the aging of the human body. Even with Australasia’s most advanced medical technology in the palace, it cannot prevent Princess Louise’s body from gradually aging due to her advanced years.

Especially since 1930, Princess Louise’s health has worsened, and her energy and spirit have declined significantly.

Arthur understood that Princess Louise might not have much time left. This was also why Arthur, whenever he had time, would stay in the Royal Palace, trying to accompany Princess Louise as much as possible.

To Arthur, Princess Louise was definitely a qualified mother. Over 30 years of companionship had thoroughly settled her role as a mother for Arthur.

Facing life’s inevitable choices, Arthur still found it hard to let go. This reminded him of that kind old woman 34 years ago, Queen Victoria, who on her deathbed, bestowed the vast lands of New Zealand and New Guinea to Arthur.