Chapter 244 Purchase of Warthog
After touring the entire Green Field Manor and briefly formulating a development plan strategy, Zhang Ailun left two Beggar Gang disciples to supervise and guard the ranch. He also said hello to Old Carl and asked him to take charge of taking care of the ranch. Then he prepared to set off back to the city.
Dominic sent a message to the chief. Zhang Allen clicked on it and took a look.
Dominic: A customer wants to sell two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofan engines. He needs to go to the suburban storage plant to inspect the goods. The other party seems to be in a hurry to sell them.
Zhang Ailun: Ok, I’ll be right back.
Putting away his phone, Zhang Ailun drove the Wrangler, took Sig and the Beggar Gang disciples with him, and returned to Los Angeles.
It took some time to get to the city. He let Sig and his men get off the car while he changed to a truck. He called the professional ground crew captain Chibatu and drove to the recycling station to pick up Dominic.
Dominic got in the car and sat in the co-pilot seat, explaining, "The guest seemed to be doing ground work at the aircraft graveyard. Because of an accident at home, he wanted to sell the two turbofan engines."
Qibatu also showed interest and said, "A-10 Warthog attack aircraft? This aircraft has a history of more than 15 years. It is an antique from the last century. It is still in service in the Air Force. It is also the only aircraft in service in the Air Force that is responsible for providing intensive support to ground forces, including attacking enemy tanks, armed vehicles, important ground targets and other tasks. There is currently no suitable replacement. Even the F16 and F cannot replace its position. It is most appropriate to describe it as a bombardment!"
"However, this attack aircraft is only suitable for small countries without air defense facilities. It is basically useless in modern warfare. Generally, after sending out stealth fighters to break through the front line and clear the air defense obstacles, the Warthog is sent out to accurately strike the enemy positions, ground forces and arsenals, using the 30mm cannon at the front to sweep indiscriminately!"
"The market price of an A10 Warthog attack aircraft is generally around $1100 million, which is the export price. Its internal manufacturing cost is only a few million dollars. If it is an older model attack aircraft with a long service life and has been repaired and modified for the second time, it can be bought through underground arms channels for two to three million dollars."
Someone with the connections can even buy a Black Hawk helicopter for $70 and then sell it for five million.
The Warthog attack aircraft still has great limitations. Facing a country with strong air defense firepower, it is a complete sitting duck. It is most appropriate to describe it as a bully of the weak and afraid of the strong.
After all, it is an antique from the last century.
But it is still strong and can crush the air forces of 99% of countries in the world!
"If you were given a bunch of warthog parts, could you put them together and make them complete?" Zhang Ailun asked.
"Of course it's possible if there is professional equipment. It's not like I haven't repaired this antique before. I know how the wiring works with my eyes closed. It's not a big problem for me." Qibatu answered without hesitation.
"Ok." Zhang Ailun nodded with satisfaction. According to the geographical location given by the customer, he drove to the location.
After dozens of minutes, we arrived at a factory building in the suburbs. From a distance, we saw an old man with a thin physique, gray hair and sunglasses waiting on the side of the road. There was also a Ford pickup truck parked next to him.
"Hey, hello! We are the staff of Alfred Scrap Recycling Station. Are you the one who wants to sell the turbofan engine?" Zhang Ailun parked the truck on the side of the road, and Dominic got out and said hello.
"Yes, it's me. You are finally here. I have been waiting here for dozens of minutes." said the old man.
"My name is Dominic, and this is our staff member Hamberg. Chibatu, what's your name?" Dominic asked.
"Just call me Marushin." The old man nodded slightly. "I have already told you the details. What I want to sell are two General Electric TF10-GE-34 turbofan engines for the A100 Warthog attack aircraft. I have asked someone to look at them before, but the price they offered was not ideal."
"How much are they willing to pay?" Zhang Ailun asked with a smile: "Hey, man, this is an engine for a military attack aircraft. Where did you get it? Were you a ground crew member working in an aircraft graveyard before?"
Marushin said helplessly: "It's just as you think. I did work in the aircraft graveyard. It was a golden rice bowl with good salary and benefits. But for some reasons, I messed up my life after retirement. My wife even wanted to divorce me."
"Many of the people I contacted before were involved in arms trade, and some even had connections with local military districts, but they were only willing to offer $5 for an engine. My God, this is an attack aircraft engine! Although it is a slightly worn engine taken from a retired aircraft, ordinary people can't afford it at all. When did it become so cheap?" Marushin was full of resentment.
Is it possible that it is so intact that most people will not buy it?
"After all, it is an antique from the last century. It only has two engines. It is not worth much to the buyer except for collection. Even if it is a retired Warthog in good condition, the market price is as low as three to five million US dollars!"
Zhang Allen spoke the truth. He half-jokingly said, "Unless you can provide other Warthog parts so that the buyer can assemble them themselves, what can you do with only two engines? Modifying them for private jets is too much performance, but it's a pity to just leave them in a warehouse for collection."
"Take us to see those two big treasures first. If the price is right, I will consider buying it."
What Zhang Ailun said also made Malushin fall into confusion and contemplation.
"Ok." Marushin took out the warehouse key, turned around and opened the warehouse door, walked into the warehouse with a few people, lifted a curtain, revealing the two turbofan engines inside.
One on the left and one on the right, they are installed on the A10 Warthog attack aircraft, like wings spread out on the waist and abdomen.
Although many people think that the Warthog is ugly and relies on the 30mm machine gun protruding from the front of its mouth to fire, in fact, it is indeed a bit ugly.
But the ugly appearance cannot hide its superior performance.
"As you can see, this is not the original Warthog engine, it is an improved B-type engine. The TF34-GE-100 engine has a maximum take-off thrust of 4112 kg, which can provide the Warthog with an effective combat radius of 500 kilometers. However, the upgraded TF34-GE-100B engine can increase the maximum load of the A-10 by nearly 2000 kg, increase the aircraft ceiling by 1500 meters, and ensure normal take-off and landing in harsh environments." Marushin introduced the engine's parameters and indicators in detail.
Zhang Ailun didn't quite understand this, so he asked Qibatu next to him to go over and check.
"The A-10 attack aircraft is meters long, meters high, weighs 11321 kilograms, has a maximum speed of 833 kilometers per hour, and a maximum range of 3900 kilometers. It is characterized by powerful firepower, excellent maneuverability at low speed, and high survivability and reliability. The cockpit is protected by 540 kilograms of titanium alloy armor plates, has a dual redundant flight control system, and the two engines are far apart, so it can continue to fly even if one is damaged. A 30mm GAU-8 cannon is installed on the nose, and there are 11 racks under the aircraft, which can carry 7258 kilograms of various types of weapons."
"The first US-Iraq war in 1991 was the first time that the A-10 participated in actual combat. During the A-10's participation in Operation Desert Storm, the 144 A-10 attack aircraft carried out a total of 8775 sorties, destroying more than 900 Iraqi tanks, 2000 other combat vehicles, 1200 artillery positions and nearly 1/4 of the Iraqi army's arsenal!"
This also makes the A-10 the most efficient fighter in the battle.
The A-10s also accomplished some of the radar destruction missions. In addition, the Warthogs shot down two Iraqi helicopters, both using 30mm cannons.
The results are indeed outstanding.
But the chief leader still said the same thing.
"If there are only two old engines from the last century, I can only give the retail price of the engines. After all, they have no value other than collection. How about $8 for one?"
Marushin immediately put on a mask of pain and said, "Dude, can't you give me a higher price?" "This price is already very reasonable. The reason I raised it by $2 is because I have an Air Force captain who used to work in the Air Force ground crew. He is more familiar with the performance of this antique."
Zhang Ailun called Chibatu over and introduced him to Marushin: "This is the Air Force captain I mentioned. He was also an instructor in the military academy. He can modify anything. If it is sold to someone else, its price will definitely not exceed 8 US dollars."
Malushin fell into deep thought.
Seeing that he was interested, Zhang Allen said, "If you can provide me with other Warthog parts, or even a matching fire control system, I can give you a price higher than the market price. One engine is $1. For other parts, depending on the model, after delivery, I can give you a maximum price of $10 million! Payable in one lump sum."
"What? No, I'm retired and no longer in this business. I mean, it's illegal and I won't do it."
Although he said that, it was obvious that the old man already had some ideas, and his eyes were rolling around.
Although he has retired, his channels and connections are still there. It is not a big problem to find someone to sell some Warthog parts from the aircraft graveyard. It's not like he has never done it before.
If I don't sell parts, I can only make about $10,000 or $20,000 a month at best. What can I do with that? When can I buy a car or a house?
They even sold the airplane blueprints several times.
After all, if the blueprints are not sold, the buyer will be handed a bunch of parts and unable to assemble them properly.
They even include after-sales assembly services, in the name of travel and vacation, with a one-time price of $20 per person, including air pick-up, food and accommodation.
Five or six people go at a time, eat and play on the buyer's territory, experience the exotic customs, and it can be assembled for you in ten days or half a month. If you are diligent, it can be assembled in a few days, and the main thing is paid vacation.
The total value of a Warthog made into parts and sold in bulk is only about two million US dollars, which is far less than the price of a complete Warthog in service. After all, the retail price is always lower than the market price.
How much can a pile of steel be worth? The materials can be bought everywhere, but you have to assemble them together to make them useful. The essence of technology is to boil water.
"That's a pity. I can only buy these two engines for $16," sighed Zhang Ailun.
"Dominic, send the money."
"Okay." Dominic immediately prepared to pay the other party the balance for the engine.
"Wait! I can provide you with some parts!" Malushin finally couldn't resist the temptation of a million dollars.
After hesitating for a moment, he nodded and agreed. "It includes the fuselage, wings, tail, cabin, electronic parts, 30mm cannon, and special driving equipment... a total of 150 million US dollars! If you think it's okay, then I will find a way to help you get it. After all, the transaction here is quite complicated, and I also need to find someone to prepare the goods."
The so-called stocking is actually to dismantle usable parts from retired aircraft in the aircraft graveyard, label them as abandoned and unusable, and ostensibly destroy them and sell them at the price of scrap metal, but in fact they are sold to companies or arms dealers in various channels at discounted prices.
The money from the scrap metal was turned in, since those things were indeed sold, and the money from the fighter jet parts was divided equally among themselves.
You asked for the price of scrap iron, and I gave it to you. What does the money for second-hand parts have to do with me?
"Deal!" Zhang Ailun smiled and immediately shook hands with the other party to conclude the deal. He paid a deposit of $20 and took away the two turbofan engines. The subsequent transaction will still be carried out in this place, and he will pay $20 for each batch of parts delivered.
After agreeing on the time and place, Marushin used the crane in the warehouse to transport the two engines to the truck. The truck was a little weighed down by the several tons of stuff.
"What are you going to do with the Warthog?" Marushin asked with some confusion as he packed the two turbofan engines and loaded them onto the truck. "You'd better not use them recklessly on your own soil."
"Of course we have a place where we can use it. Don't worry, you won't be involved. In fact, my friend is in the arms business. If the price of this A-10 attack aircraft is right, I will most likely sell it to someone in need." Zhang Ailun smiled.
Malushin was also very satisfied with this answer.
After receiving the arrival reminder, I closed the warehouse door and got on the pickup truck. "I'll send you a message if the goods arrive. Bye."
"Goodbye. It's a pleasure to work with you." After watching the other party leave, Zhang Ailun also got into the car with his men and drove the two turbofan engines to the suburban airport.
After all, assembly business requires a larger space, and the only suitable location at present is the suburban hangar, which can accommodate an entire Warthog attack aircraft.
After entering the hangar password, Zhang Ailun drove the two turbofan engines to the hangar for storage. He also told Qibatu, "If you need any repair equipment, you can tell me and I will buy it online. If you are short of manpower, you can go to the Old Picker Auto Repair Shop to find someone to help. I also know some people who are proficient in modification in the modification shop in the suburbs."
"Nothing else is needed. I can find a few people to assemble the equipment. I can't wait to assemble it."
Qibatu was rubbing his hands together, his eyes showing no unnecessary emotions, only the desire to start working on the engine, he couldn't wait to get started!
Seeing how energetic he was, Zhang Ailun felt relieved, knowing that this matter would not be a problem for him at all. After sorting out the inventory in the warehouse, he simply drove his men back to the city.
As the sky gradually darkened, Zhang Ailun returned to the city, changed back into his Wrangler, and received a banquet invitation from Tommy and Rip.
Tommy: Hey! Burger King! Mr. King! Our tour and record sales plan is done! You will never believe how much money we made this time! Come to Rip Villa in West Hollywood, there are champagne and fine wine, beautiful girls with fair skin, and your bonus dividends are waiting for you!
Zhang Ailun: Ok, I'll be right there. You guys don't mind if I bring two more people with me, right?
Tommy: What are you talking about! This is your home! We prepared a celebration party just for you! You can bring as many people as you want!
Zhang Ailan nodded with satisfaction, took out his cell phone and sent a message to Jennifer asking her to come to the party.
There was no suitable candidate at the last gathering, so the leader planned to bring people there himself.
Jennifer: Honey! Thank you for thinking of me when you attend the party! Do you want me to bring some sisters to help out?
Zhang Ailun: Which sister are you referring to? Irene? This is a relatively clean private party, and we don't have to spend so much money.
Jennifer: Then I'll just take Erin with me. I'm off work, come pick me up!
Zhang Ailun: OK.
(End of this chapter)
