The Air Force Tanker Decision

Words of warning from D.C.: Expect "firestorm of criticism" That's a headline from The Seattle Times. The link takes you to the expected story of OUTRAGE from Boeing's bought-and-paid for on the Hill.

I've seen other headlines touting that the "FRENCH" won the contract.

Bullshit.

This was probably the most closely monitored and audited acquisition in modern times. The damn 767 that Boeing promoted is too small and the airframe is too old. In 20 years the USAF would have been paying Boeing a huge stipend to keep the production line open to supply parts. And, if it can't carry the load it just can't carry the load. There is no good "fix".

Boeing thought they could play the "Buy American" card and be in with a sure thing. That's after several of their corporate officers went to jail for bribery over the "leasing" scheme they tried to foist on the USAF.

During the inevitable hearing in Congress, the gentleman from Alabama should ask, "Why didn't you bid an aircraft based on the Boeing 777?" That's the end of the discussion. If Boeing had been serious, they would have bid a 777. Then, they would have been competitive.

One of my friends cracked wise to me that the USAF will have to teach maintenance people French to understand the documentation. Hell, they do depot level maintenance for A-320s AND have a large A-320 simulator facility for pilots in Miami. Nobody there has spoken French (or English) for quite a while.

The OUTRAGE should be directed at Boeing's management. They screwed up by trying to bribe their way into the business and they screwed up by bidding a shrinky dinky airplane. And no, they don't need a "bailout" from Federal taxes. Let the workers migrate from Boeing in Washington State to Airbus in Alabama. It's a much nicer climate anyway!