USAF to Buy French Tankers

[allardjd 1,853]

http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/T ... tanker.asp

Northrop Grumman have won the contract for the KC-30 tanker beating out Boeing's 767 based version. The winner is based on the A330. The initial contract if valued at $40 billion, with the expectation of more to follow.

I'm reasonably sure this would not have happened under the former French president.

[mutley 4,498]

Hi John,

I saw that on our news this morning, it means the assurance of thousands of jobs in the UK

Cheers

[MartinW 0]

So how does this work? Presumably most of the work is done by Airbus and then the boys at

Northrop Grumman do the finishing touches. Sounds like its Airbus that has won the contract.

Or does Northrop Grumman do more than I imagine?

[allardjd 1,853]

I don't know, but it seems to be a pretty big pie with a slice for many. I'm generally a Boeing fan, but the 767 was not the right choice - too small, too old. They were attempting to wring some more cash out of an AC that is nearing "...the end of it's commercial life."

Whoever was responsible at Boeing for that bid/proposal needs a glass belly-button so he can see where he's going with his head stuck in his nether regions.

John

[ddavid 149]

I reckon there's life in the old 135/707 yet - the RAF are using the Sentry and so is NATO ,(O.K. different engines.....) - long live (the original) dash-80, eh?

Cheers - Dai.

[allardjd 1,853]

Dai,

You're exactly right about the 707/KC-135. When that one makes it's last flight it is going to have a service record that will reside right up there with the B-52, DC-3 and a few others.

I saw a list the other day (can't recall where) of aircraft that have had a 50+ year military career with the original purchaser. The English Electric Canberra and the TU-95 Bear were on the list. I don't think the KC-135 is quite there yet, but will very likely make it.

John

[ddavid 149]

If my arithmetic is right, John, that 50 years is up. In their Boeing History website, here;

http://www.boeing.com/history/boeing/kc135.html

Boeing state that:

The KC-135 replaced the propeller-powered KC-97 tankers, which could no longer keep up with the jet fighters and bombers. In 1956, when the first KC-135 -- nicknamed "The City of Renton" -- rolled out of the plant, it shared the Renton tarmac with the last KC-97, providing a vivid picture of The Boeing Company's complete conversion to jet power.

Funny how Nicholas has used an old 707 for his ATWC - great minds think alike.....

Cheers - Dai.

[MartinW 0]

Don't forget the Nimrod boys. Considering it was based on the worlds forst passenger jet airliner thats some kind of a record.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker-Siddeley_Nimrod

Comet was 1949.

Maiden flight for the Nimrod was 1967.

Maiden flight for the 707 was 1957.

The KC 135 was 1956.

[allardjd 1,853]

Those are all cases where the military and the public got their money's worth. For every gem like those there was another type that came and went in a very short time. Every once in a while one comes along that just gets it right.

John

[MartinW 0]

I suppose if it fills its role effectively then there's no need for a replacement. The A10 springs to mind, does exactly what it's designed to do and takes a hell of a lot of punishment and still keeps flying.

In the gulf was a huge hole was blown in the tail of an A10, they patched it up with duck tape and sent it back up.

[allardjd 1,853]

US Lawmakers Blast Boeing Defense Contract Snub

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080301224212.az5r6vht&show_article=1

The latest salvo...

"Boeing, the second leading US defense contractor after Lockheed Martin, had been considered the heavy favorite for the contract and according to its website is the largest employer in Kansas. "

Both the legislators mentioned in the article represent Kansas. Just a coincidence I'm sure.

I would have preferred a wholly US owned contractor to have won this too, but not by forcing on the USAF what amounts to the wrong aircraft.