The Hot Pilots Read Free

said
     broodingly. “But that’s only because Campbell bribed an airlines executive to hand over the 909’s spec sheets and blueprints,”
     he added angrily. “If Campbell hadn’t had GAT’s design to use as a jumping-off point he never could have caught up so fast—”
    Gold shrugged. “As Tim likes to say, there’s only one rule: ‘Don’t get caught.’ The bottom line is that considering his jetliner’s
     advanced features, it’s no wonder the airlines are willing to wait to buy the AL-12 instead of our 909.”
    “So what’s the answer?” Don asked, sounding dejected.
    “The interim answer is to do some fast redesigning …”
    Don burst out laughing. “You’re kidding!”
    “Do I look like I’m kidding?” Gold replied. “I’ve salvaged some of our initial orders—and stolen back a few from A-L—by promising
     to lengthen the 909’s existing fuselage to accommodate extra passengers. Our plane will still have less capacity than the
     AL-12, but at least some of the airlines are willing to accept the compromise because we can deliver units sooner, which means
     they’ll have a jetliner fleet faster.”
    “You said ‘interim solution,”’ Don reminded. “What’s your long-term strategy?”
    “We must get started immediately on a redesign,” Gold said. “I want a bigger, wider 909; an intercontinental version. I told
     the airlines boys we would have a proposal—a detailed three-view drawing, performance specs, projected cost, and delivery
     schedule—by the end of the month. In return, they promised to hold off confirming their orders with A-L.”
    “You want a new airplane designed within two weeks,” Don muttered. “My department will have to work around the clock—”
    “I don’t care what it costs,” Gold declared.
    “That’s good,” Don said dryly. “Because it’s going to cost a lot.”
    Gold waved the matter aside. “This thing between Campbell and me is personal. Maybe someday I’ll tell you about it…”
    Don nodded, smiling wryly. “Well, I guess I have some work to do …”
    “And we’d better get Rogers and Simpson on the horn and give them the good news,” Gold said sarcastically.
    “They’re not going to be happy,” Don agreed. “They busted their balls delivering the 909’s engines on time. Now they’re going
     to have to come up with something even more powerful …”
    “Just tell them what we need and the date we need it on,” Gold interrupted. “And if they give you any lip, tell them that
     if they can’t handle the job we’ll go to Pratt & Whitney, or GE—”
    “Herman, calm down!” Don said. “You’re pissed off at Tim Campbell. No need to take it out on the whole world.”
    “You’re right,” Gold sighed.
    Don abruptly frowned. “Shit! I forgot that we’ve got those meetings in Washington next week. And Horton said they were urgent—”
    “It’s the CIA’s style to call everything urgent,” Gold grumbled.
    “We can’t stand them up—”
    “You just like fooling around with all that top-secret stuff,” Gold teased.
    “Herman—What are we going to do about those meetings?”
    Gold pondered it. “Okay, I’ll go alone to Washington while you stay here and ride herd on the 909–1.”
    “The
what?
”
    “The 909-International.” Gold laughed over his shoulder as he began to walk back toward the hangar entrance. “I wish I could
     build them as easily as I name them.”
    (Two)
    Don Harrison was dialing Linda’s number at the newspaper when he was interrupted by the electrician foreman. Harrison wanted
     to give Linda the good news about how he was going to be in town next week, but the foreman said a wiring problem had him
     stumped, and his crew idled, so Harrison hung up the telephone and went to take a look. Then one thing led to another, and
     by the time he did get a spare moment to call Linda, he’d thought it over and decided against it …
    Linda had lately been mildly complaining that he was too