Chapter 21 flight fever

On July 20, 1933, a small plane painted with the words "Save the Nation by Aviation" landed in Guangzhou. On the 24th, the plane arrived at Nanjing Ming Palace Airport and was warmly welcomed by people from all walks of life in Nanjing.The young pilot in flight suit was in high spirits and received the triumphant cheers. This brave young man was Sun Tonggang who flew over Europe and Asia in a single plane. Sun Tonggang, from Tianjin.His elder brother, Sun Tongxuan, was a general under Shandong Provincial Chairman Han Fuju. In 1928, 20-year-old Sun Tonggang went to Germany to participate in aviation seminars, studied in Germany for 5 years, and obtained an advanced flight certificate. In 1933, he ended his study abroad life and chose a unique way to return home, that is, he bought a 90-horsepower German-made simple wooden plane with 20,000 silver dollars saved from studying abroad, and named it "Aviation Salvation". , ready to drive a single plane back home. On June 25, he took off from Germany by plane, passed Czechoslovakia, Austria, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, India and other 15 countries in Europe and Asia, and finally arrived in Nanjing.

His total flight range reached 14,450 kilometers, sailed for 28 days, and accumulated flying time of 135 hours.The average speed is 107 kilometers per hour.It broke the world record of a single plane flying from the United States to France created by the American flying hero Lindbergh.Sun Tonggang's voyage is 2.5 times that of Lin Bai, and his average speed is 1.8 times that of Lin Bai. Sun Tonggang's plane was extremely crude, and had to be powered and started by hand, and estimated the weather based on his own flying experience. He was troubled by storms several times on the way, but he handled it calmly.He became the hero of the world's first solo flight over Europe and Asia.

During the national aviation craze from 1933 to 1934, Sun Tonggang appeared at the right time. He became an excellent symbol of the advent of the aviation era. Every time he flew to a city, he was warmly welcomed by the local people. Several people from all over the country followed his example. A solo air warrior. In the First World War, the role of the aircraft in the war was not great, but it left a deep impression on people.People instinctively realized that aircraft must be the weapon that will determine the final outcome in future wars. In the early 1930s, aviation fever spread in Europe and America, and soon infected the Chinese.Chinese people have been fond of airplanes very early, starting in the early years of the Republic of China, and had a history of more than 20 years in the early 1930s.According to statistics, in the past 20 years, China has purchased no fewer than 700 or 800 aircraft from abroad, with a value of 60 to 70 million yuan, not including the purchase of related parts and engine oil.

After the "September 18th" Incident, Japanese aggression has always stimulated the nerves of the Chinese people.The people of the country feel the backwardness of the Chinese army and navy, and they are full of fantasies and enthusiasm for building a powerful air force, especially young people who are full of airplanes. "Saving the country by aviation" suddenly became a fashionable word.People from all walks of life raised money to buy planes for the young Chinese Air Force.Open the newspapers and magazines at that time, and there are reports about the dedication of the aircraft everywhere.There are groups and individuals who donate the aircraft. For example, Wu Yunchu, the owner of Tianchu Company, bought a plane named "Tianchu" at his own expense and dedicated it to the Air Force.Aircraft donation has gradually evolved into a relatively fixed procedure: fundraisers choose a huge square to hold a naming ceremony for their donated aircraft, and then ask the Aviation Administration to send personnel to receive it, and specially invite celebrities to hold a bottle throwing ceremony, and then the pilot will drive Aircraft volley performance, circled the field 3 times, and flew towards Hangzhou Jianqiao Airport, where there is an air force base of the Nanjing government.The whole process is beautiful and lively.In 1933 alone, more than 20 aircraft were offered in China, with an amount of more than 20 million.Chiang Kai-shek's wife, Song Meiling, took special care of the Air Force. As the Secretary-General of the Aviation Committee, she was actually the controller of the Air Force.But what was disappointing was that in August 1934, a fire broke out at the Hangzhou Aircraft Factory and several planes were destroyed. Chiang Kai-shek was furious. Arrest Tang Wenyi, director of Nanchang Aviation Department, and others related to this incident.

The strange thing is that few people have thought that such a quick air force is tantamount to building tall buildings on the beach.The aircrafts of the Chinese Air Force are purchased from various countries in the world, among which the most are produced in Italy and the United States, but the real foundation of the Air Force - the aviation industry is extremely weak. At that time, most of China's aviation factories could only repair aircraft, and very few could imitate aircraft.There are mainly the following aircraft manufacturers. Naval Aircraft Manufacturing Department: Founded in 1918, it was originally located in Fuzhou Mawei Shipping Bureau, and moved to Shanghai in 1931, where it manufactured seaplanes such as "Jiangfeng" and "Jiangque".It has only one factory building, a warehouse, a paint shop, and two hangar factories. The conditions are simple and the production mainly depends on the exquisite craftsmanship of the workers.

Guangdong Dashatou Aviation Repair Factory: produces the most aircraft, and manufactures Yangcheng 51 to 57 aircraft.Among them, No. 53 is a fighter jet equipped with a hispano-v8180 motor, which is the best aircraft produced in China. Shanghai Hongqiao Aviation Factory: Founded at the end of 1927, the equipment came from Germany. In 1929, the "Success No. 1" trainer aircraft was manufactured. It was all domestically produced except for the engine. During the "January 28th" Songhu Anti-Japanese War, the Japanese Air Force blew it up. As long as there are ready-made aircraft, it does not care about the production of aircraft.This shows the Chinese people's eagerness for quick success and instant benefit, as well as the urgency of foreign aggression.