U.S. Airforce to fly European tankers

[Army Wife'79]

Awarding Govt Contracts has gotten so involved they announced recently they are giving it it's own command and will be headed by a 2 star general. It's no secret that in the past the contracts were written with certain contractors in mind and nobody else could possibly win the bids. They are trying to get away from that and make it more fair.

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by Army Wife'79

It's no secret that in the past the contracts were written with certain contractors in mind and nobody else could possibly win the bids.

Not only in the military. I've done it myself on a much smaller scale.

Which doesn't make it right.

[Tom Earp]

From what I read in the media, NG/Airbus, had a better plane in many ways and cheaper.

Do I like it as Boeing has a big plant in Kansas, no. One of our Senators was livid and is I think he is the armed forces committee chairman.

Boeing did not lose the jobs they planned to add as there were not there to beging with (3,800).

The world is a Global economy today, we have to admit it. American Flag Carriers are buying Airbus products and I wonder why?

If our product is better, we should win the prize of the contract. If not, well then what?

[PiKA2001]

Congress IS calling on Gates and Air Force leadership to explain to them why they chose NG over Boeing for the new KC-X refuelers, so they seem to be as concerned as well over Boeing losing out. Boeing pretty much had this no-bid contract in the bag until people started crying foul over the billion dollar DoD no-bid contracts. From what the Air Force tells me,(I unfortunatly have a direct line) they wanted something that had more versatility for the new tanker and what Boeing offered as a update to the KC-135 wasn't as good as NG's design.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

Congress IS calling on Gates and Air Force leadership to explain to them why they chose NG over Boeing for the new KC-X refuelers, so they seem to be as concerned as well over Boeing losing out. Boeing pretty much had this no-bid contract in the bag until people started crying foul over the billion dollar DoD no-bid contracts. From what the Air Force tells me,(I unfortunately have a direct line) they wanted something that had more versatility for the new tanker and what Boeing offered as a update to the KC-135 wasn't as good as NG's design.

While part of me says "buy USA", another part says get the best product you can, that does the mission the best, at the best price.
From what I have seen and read, that would seem to be NG rather than Boeing.

As for the prior Boeing deal, remember that not only did people go to jail, one person died; they committed suicide.

The words from Congress bring back an action by Trent Lott a few years ago; he had a ship built for the Navy just to get jobs for his area. The Navy did not ask for the ship nor did the bill provide for a crew.

[KDAngel]

OK, so I have some bias here (even though I don't understand it enough to have it) as my lobbying firm represents EADS... I've heard it described to me this way from my co-workers and my friends who lobby for various airlines -- it was picking between Merit or American. And merit won out. No one expected it to, but airbus had a better product here. They outscored Boeing in every area...

[PeppyGPhiB]

Well, I also have information from insiders that tell me Boeing initially presented the 777 to the Air Force for this project, but that the Air Force shot it down (no pun intended) and instead specifically requested the 767 in part due to the 767's superior fuel savings. The 767 uses 24% less fuel than the Airbus plane selected. Kindof ironic for a fuel tanker. If the Air Force requested the 767, I don't see how they can really criticize Boeing's "choice" to use that plane over another.

Also, the Air Force made last minute changes to the list of "must haves" that were, according to reports, much more favorable to Airbus.

And another also, according to a few articles I've read, and a statement by Hillary Clinton, our government is actually suing EADS in the WTO right now for illegal subsidies. So we're suing them, but we just awarded them this contract.

Anyway, with a few days passed now, and with some details coming out about the selection, I've managed to chill out a little Some people at Boeing actually think this is a good thing because it will allow the company to focus on fulfilling all of its 787 orders, which it has more than 800 of.