Chinese Lives

Original article from:
http://www.tianya.cn/New/PublicForum/Content.asp?
strItem=news&idArticle=89056

“Days ago, I met a lecturerer of China Aviation University on a diner meeting, and exchanged opinions on whether China should carry on the making big aircraft project. Friends at table were elites in the shares and investment professions. 9 people voted 9:0 against developing civil aircraft, and voted 4:5 for developing military aircraft.

After dinner, I googled aircraft production cost, better confirmed my original idea.

The information showed that the publicised budget was ranged between 50 and 60 billion Yuan. BUt would this be enough considering we were starting from scratch and at least estimated 20 year development process.

World widely speaking, demand increase were mainly in China, India, Mid-east and other few Asian countries. Boeing and Airbus aircraft focused to grab more aircraft order in China’s market . Estimate figures showed in 2023, China need 2200 aircraft; and before that time, most aircrafts must be made by either Boeing and Airbus. If our aircraft could make its debut after 20 year development process, there would be other matters such as safety, maintainance cost, customer loyalty and political factor to think about. Our own craft may be more expensive.

In fact, aircraft market were under the hands of Europe and US corporations. They were simply in the business much longer than us, and had done a good job. From patriotism, we expected to cathch up. But, if our aircraft turned less competitive, it did not make sense.

On the other hand, we achieved an balanced agreement on developing military aircraft, because when there was a war, our military equipment decided our intergrity as a country. Ironically, our tech advancement for 20 years time did not include making our own perfect aircraft engine. Our worry was if the Europe and US did not sell us engines, could our military aircraft fight enemy?”

This post has quite a lot replies within weeks.It shows that majority post replies support our aircraft project.

Their reasons are as follow:

1. Big aircraft project is necessary strategically in present world situation. For instance, it can make strengthen military defence and speed up performance in case of invasion.
2. Making big civil aircraft has economical benefits. For instance, it can increase domestic job opportunities and creat export revenues.

3. Government’s decision to develop big civil aircraft, actually aim to bring up the overall performance standards of relevant industry.

4. The 9 people are typical selfish and short-sighted, who care only present benefit. Our big aircraft project in back 70s failed out of this selfishness, and we should not let it happen again.

Only very few voices say no, because:

1. China has other places that urgently need government funding, such as retirement pension and medical insurance. This project will delay those problem to be processed.

2. Making big aircraft may be beyond our compacity for the moment, so that many doubts.

3. The political concerns about defence, are totally cold-war ideology, and not propriate for present day.