Eight Questions: James Fallows

choi

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Andrew Galbraith, Eight Questions: James Fallows, ‘China Airborne.’ China Real Time, June 11, 2012.
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealti ... ows-china-airborne/

My comment:
(a) For "instrument-rated pilot," see
(i) instrument rating in the United States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ins ... n_the_United_States
(ii) instrumenting rating
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instrument_rating
(requires additional training and instruction beyond what is required for a Private Pilot certificate or Commercial Pilot certificate; training in flight solely by reference to instruments)

However, the rating does not mean the pilot knows how to BUILD an engine or avionics--and why China has failed so far.

(b) There is no need to read the interview--except the introduction (at the outset) and Q&A No 7 of this interview.

Question 7 is: "One of the more surprising facts raised in your book is the relative dearth of investment in jet engine technology in China, while money pours into other areas. How much would more effective government-led investment address the shortcomings of the Chinese aerospace model?

(c) Answer 7 in part includes: "the Army was a crucial first customer for the Wright Brothers."

Wright brothers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_brothers
("Replying to the Wrights' letters, the US military expressed virtually no interest in their claims. * * * In France Wilbur [Wight] met Frank P Lahm, a lieutenant in the US Army Aeronautical Division. Writing to his superiors, Lahm smoothed the way for Wilbur to give an in-person presentation to the US Board of Ordnance and Fortification in Washington, D.C. when he returned to the US This time, the Board was favorably impressed, in contrast to its previous indifference")

* Why Army? There was no airplane at the time. Further, US Air Force did not come into being until 1947.