Super Spender

Chapter 319: 313: Dumbstruck

But damn it, before he even had a chance to speak, these two idiots were already discussing far more formidable aircraft. Now, how is he supposed to top that? His plane is looking second-rate right from the get-go, it’s a terrible feeling. But what else can Dim Morris do other than wait?

Moreover, Finn Lewis hasn’t spoken yet, he doesn’t even know how to break the silence.

“…Mr. Lewis, if the number of passengers is less than 100, the Sky Crane A380 can fly over 20,000 kilometers on a single tank! You could fly around the Earth within the equatorial range without refueling! In other words, you can take off from any airport in Flame Nation, fill up on fuel, and fly to any corner of the world without landing.” As Michael Bolton reached this point in his sales pitch, he couldn’t help but give Gary a triumphant look.

Gary’s mouth twitched slightly. Damn it, this really was an advantage. Although the feature may not be used often, but for these wealthy people, it’s always good to have the option. The Wolfhawk 747 simply could not match the A380’s range of over 20,000 kilometers.

Even after being converted into a private jet, this can’t be achieved. However,

Gary wasn’t particularly worried because the A380 has its own disadvantages. It requires at least a 4E-class airport to land, and sometimes only certain modified 4E-class airports or more commonly a 4F-class one to accommodate it. How many 4F-class airports are there in the world?

“Mr. Dim Morris?” Once Michael Bolton finished talking, Finn Lewis looked at Dim and smiled. He had promised to give Dim a chance to pitch, being a fellow Flame Nationer.

“Ah, yes, Mr. Lewis. I’m here to promote our domestically-produced, medium-widebody airliner, the C919.” Dim Morris promptly responded.

“Oh? Flame Nation has started producing its own large airliners?” Finn Lewis’s eyes lit up in curiosity at this news. Sitting nearby, Bolton and Greer exchanged a glance, feeling a faint sense of unease. Although Flame Nation’s products were considered subpar domestically, in heavier industries, experts like Greer and Bolton weren’t so quick to judge.

In fact, Flame Nation’s industry already ranks at the top of the world. This isn’t a boast on behalf of Flame North Federation; one only needs to see their products spread across the globe to confirm this. Even their heavy industries are making waves, increasingly taking orders from North and Southern Federation.

The negative impression domestically is mainly due to Flame Nation’s rapid economic growth. It’s regulatory framework isn’t as stringent as that of Northern Europe Federation, and its crackdown on counterfeit goods isn’t strong enough. Due to the lack of strict laws, counterfeit goods are easily mistaken as genuine, leading to a negative impression.

Over time, this false notion has been perpetuated and been made worse by the local’s lack of confidence in their products, always assuming that foreign imports are superior. Bolton and Greer knew this very well, having lived in Flame Nation, they understood the people’s perceptions.

However, that doesn’t mean they would trivially believe that local research and products are inferior. Flame Nation’s items have similarities with those produced by the former Soviet Union high value for money, resilient, and affordable. They knew that the C919 already has over 300 tentative orders.

Although these are preliminary orders, every new product introduction process follows roughly the same path. It starts with test flights, then finalizing the design, and eventually getting the airworthiness certification from aviation authorities worldwide before secured orders are taken.

Seeing that Finn Lewis looked interested and is a Flame Nationer, there might be a chance that he supports this domestic product. However, it wouldn’t be appropriate to interrupt the conversation while Finn and Dim were still conversing.

“Yes, we are just about to finalize the design. Our first flight may not take place until 2015 due to compliance checks, but we have already started production.”

Given the context of the preceding conversations, Dim Morris chose not to share more detailed data. Finn’s interest is not so much in the aircraft itself but the fact that this would be the first large aircraft made in Flame Nation.

“And the price?” Finn asked curiously.

“Our pricing is quite competitive, around 50 million Federal coin.” Dim Morris provided a rough estimate because no definitive pricing has been established for the C919 yet. However, this price is comparable to the old versions of Sky Crane 320 or Wolfhawk 737, albeit cheaper than the latest models.

That price caused Bolton and Greer to raise their eyebrows. This price is rather low for an aircraft with over a hundred seat capacity using new technology. Their latest Sky Crane 320 costs well over a million Federal coin. However, they quickly laughed it off. After all these years, they had become used to seeing Flame Nation’s products offering high value for money, taking orders away from Federation companies on the global market.

The entry into the aircraft industry is just another milestone for Flame Nation.

Finn Lewis nodded acknowledging the information and then apologized, “Sorry, since the design isn’t finalized, I don’t think we can collaborate at this moment.”

“No problem, I’m here to make acquaintance with Mr. Lewis. We can still collaborate in the future.” Dim Morris said with a smile.

“Well gentlemen, as you see, I didn’t consult with Douglas, Gulfstream, Beechcraft, or other companies specializing in private aircraft. My preference is for a private aircraft that is comfortable and has an extended range.” Finn Lewis turned to Bolton and Greer as he spoke.

Upon hearing this, Bolton and Greer couldn’t help but be excited. They hadn’t expected Finn Lewis to be serious about buying a large aircraft! It’s noteworthy that a single private aircraft could cost over 300 million Federal coin. When did such a young tycoon appear in Flame Nation?

“However, gentlemen, don’t get too excited just yet. I have a requirement,” Finn Lewis added with a smile.

“Please go ahead, Mr. Lewis,” responded Bolton and Greer simultaneously..