Building a Conglomerate in Another World - Chapter 71 - New Enterprise?

By mid-1884, Matthew Hesh’s visit to Fitzwilliam Bank marked a new milestone in his journey. As he reviewed the account statements prepared by the bank’s managers, he felt a sense of awe at how far Hesh Motors had come. His personal net worth had surged past 25 million florins, making him one of the wealthiest men of the era. Yet, for Matthew, the fortune was not just a symbol of success but a means to push innovation further.

Amber accompanied him to the bank, her usual poise tempered with curiosity. “That’s quite a number, Matthew,” she said, glancing at the final balance.

Matthew leaned back in the leather chair, smiling faintly. “It’s not just about the money, Amber. It’s about what we can do with it. We’ve revolutionized land transportation, but there’s still more ground—or air—to cover.”

“Air?” Amber raised an eyebrow. “I don’t understand, what are you talking about?”

“Well, Amber, I am going to ask you a question, is it possible for us humans to conquer the skies?” Matthew said.

Amber tilted her head, considering his words. “You’re talking about powered flight, aren’t you? Like those experimental gliders and balloons we’ve read about in the papers?”

“Exactly,” Matthew said, nodding. “But I’m not just talking about experiments or novelties. I’m talking about practical, reliable machines that can transport goods and people across vast distances. Imagine the possibilities—faster deliveries, global trade networks, even connecting nations in ways we can’t fully comprehend yet.”

Amber’s skepticism faded as she saw the determination in Matthew’s expression.

“It’s ambitious,” she admitted. “But if anyone can make it happen, it’s you. After all, you are the genius of the century.”

Matthew smiled, his confidence bolstered by her faith. “Thank you, Amber. The era of land transportation is thriving, but the skies are still unclaimed. And with the resources we now have, we’re in a position to lead this new frontier.”

***

Matthew knew at a certain point, he would get to introduce aircraft in this world. And this was the best time for him to do that as his automobile enterprises are generating him enough profit to start another venture.

In his previous world, the Wright brothers made history in 1903 with the first powered flight. But the foundations of their success—understanding lift, thrust, and propulsion—were laid decades earlier by pioneers like George Cayley and Otto Lilienthal. If they could do it with limited resources, he can do it here with what I know.

Matthew stood in his workshop, surrounded by engineers from his growing company. A large blackboard dominated one wall, already covered in sketches of wings, engines, and propellers. On a table lay wooden models of early airplane concepts, which Matthew had carved himself as visual aids.

“Gentlemen,” Matthew began, addressing the group. “We are standing at the edge of a new era. In the same way Hesh Motors revolutionized transportation on the ground, we’re now going to conquer the skies. But before we begin building, we need to understand the principles of flight.”

He turned to the blackboard and began drawing a simple diagram of an airplane in motion.

“For an aircraft to fly, we need to address four key forces: lift, thrust, drag, and weight.” Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire

Matthew pointed to the upward arrow on his diagram. “Lift is what keeps the aircraft in the air. It’s generated by the shape of the wings, which we call airfoils. An airfoil has a curved top and a flat bottom. As air flows over the wing, it moves faster over the curved surface, creating lower pressure above the wing and higher pressure below. This pressure difference lifts the plane.”

He moved to the forward arrow. “Thrust is what moves the aircraft forward. It will come from our engine powering a propeller. The propeller blades act like spinning wings, generating thrust by pushing air backward.”

Matthew circled the backward arrow. “Drag is the resistance the plane experiences as it moves through the air. The goal is to reduce drag while maintaining the structural integrity of the aircraft.”

Finally, he pointed to the downward arrow. “Weight is the force of gravity pulling the plane down. To achieve flight, our lift must overcome the aircraft’s weight.”

Matthew walked over to the wooden models and pointed out the key parts of an airplane.

“This is the main body of the aircraft. It is called a fuselage. It houses the cockpit, passengers, and cargo. For our initial design, we’ll use a lightweight wooden frame reinforced with steel joints for strength.”

“The wings are the most critical part. Their airfoil shape generates lift. We’ll build them from a wooden frame covered with treated fabric, similar to gliders but reinforced for powered flight.

Matthew held up a small prototype of a propeller. “The engine will power the propeller, which generates thrust. We are going to use a different kind of engine. Unlike automobile engines, which use an inline or V-shaped arrangement for their cylinders, a radial engine places its cylinders in a circular pattern around a central crankshaft.”

One of the younger engineers raised a hand. “Why a radial engine, Mr. Hesh? What makes it better for aircraft?”

Matthew smiled, appreciating the curiosity. “Good question. Let me explain. A radial engine is ideal for aircraft because of its compact design, which reduces weight and distributes it evenly around the crankshaft. This balance minimizes vibrations, which is crucial for maintaining stability in flight.”

He pointed to his diagram. “Each cylinder fires in a sequence, creating consistent power. The design allows for excellent cooling, as the airflow from the moving aircraft naturally cools the exposed cylinders. This means we don’t have to rely on complex and heavy cooling systems like water-cooled engines. Now for the components.”

Matthew turned back to the room, holding up a piece of lightweight metal alloy. “Aircraft engines require materials that are both strong and light. For the crankshaft and rods, we’ll use steel alloys for durability. For the cylinders, aluminum will be our material of choice—it’s light, conducts heat well, and is easier to machine than steel.”

He tapped the table for emphasis. “The propeller will be carved from laminated wood for now. It’s lighter and easier to work with than metal, but it’s still strong enough to handle the forces of flight.”

Rober, who had been quietly taking notes, raised his voice. “How do you plan to test such an engine? We’ve never built anything like it before.”

“We’ll construct a stationary test stand first. The engine will be mounted and run for hours to identify any issues with heat, vibration, or power output. Once we’re confident in its performance, we’ll install it in a prototype aircraft.”

“What about fuel efficiency? Aircraft can’t carry large amounts of fuel without adding significant weight.”

“Good point,” Matthew said, nodding. “We’ll design the engine to operate at a consistent, moderate power level to optimize fuel consumption. The carburetor settings will also be fine-tuned for efficiency during cruising speeds, which will be the majority of the aircraft’s operation. Any other questions?”

No one raised their hands.

“Good, let’s get started.”