Boeing fails to get KC-767 contract

[Chris Trott]

Leif, out of curiosity, how do you come about the 75% number? According to Boeing itself, only 15% of the 767 is built overseas and those are all fairly small parts (fuse panels, aerodynamic fairings and landing gear doors mainly).

The Wings are built in Wichita, the aft fuselage and engine pylons are built just down the road from me at Vought, the landing gear, brakes, and tires are made by BF Goodrich here in the States, and the engines are either from P&W (built in the US), GE (built in the US) or RR (built in the UK). Then again, the tires, brakes, and engines are "common source" parts, so both Boeing and Airbus use them.

My question on the aircraft is more relating to being able to perform the offload at the required rate (due to the way the A330's fuel system is designed) more than anything, but to me it's stupid that Boeing has ended up spending all this money only to get rejected 3 times for what are really stupid reasons (first time due to the Government feeling cheated since they were out-negotiated, second time due to misconduct by an executive unrelated to the contract bid negotiating a deal with one of the persons involved in the contract bid on the government's side - although it's not like it's not been done before... -, and now as "punishment" for those previous "transgressions"). It just smacks of the F-22 "the other guys have too many contracts" BS that was put forth by Congress and the USAF back then.

[cjw50310]

I believe the comment about the 75% percent content coming from overseas was attributed to the 787, not the 767.

The response from our dear representatives smacks of double standards. I find it interesting that it's perfectly ok for us to peddle our wares, expecting other countries to buy our products; but when we decide - based on what appears to be a better product - to buy something from a consortium based in another country it's the end of the world as we know it. No one seems to have raised this as an issue when the replacement for Marine One (the president's helo) was announced.

Boeing doesn't appear to be too worried about the employment situation, since they appear to be adding staff to cope with the orders/expected orders for the 787. People seem to also overlook who will be providing the engines for the new birds - last I checked both GE and P&W were American companies.

I for one am glad that Congress has nothing better to worry about than where the Air Force decides to buy a few planes. :@

I'll step quickly and quietly away from the soapbox now.

Yet another,
Chris