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Old 22nd Mar 2018, 18:42
  #53 (permalink)  
KenV
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
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Originally Posted by ORAC
Really? And there was me thinking they were grown-ups capable of making rational commercial decisions on their own.
Grown-ups everywhere make lousy business decisions all the time. Edison went with DC while Tesla/Westinghouse went with with AC. We all know how that went. Ford tried to keep the Model T going long after it was no longer viable, and later came out with the Edsel. Yet they're going gangbusters. GM went bankrupt. As did Chrysler. Microsoft failed to go after the mobile market and have not a prayer of catching up. Aerospatiale/BAC decided to develop and build a supersonic airliner in the age of jumbo jets. Airbus decided to develop and build a giant four-engine airliner in the age of twin-jets. Airbus decided to develop and build a military transport with the worlds largest single disk turbo prop and its dragging down the ENTIRE enterprise. Do I even need to mention the Nimrod MRA4? The list of failed aircraft projects is nearly endless.

But here's the thing. The KC-46 has not failed and almost certainly will not fail, although, yes, it will be late. Maybe a year or more late. But was the risk of late deliveries and development cost over runs worth it? Almost certainly yes. You guys are thinking short term. Boeing is thinking long term. Does anyone seriously doubt that Boeing will be unable to generate some profit from this venture, low bid and all? REALLY??!!

And finally, comparing KC-46 to the proposed B-52 re-engine project is classic butwhataboutery run amok. You may as well compare Edison's choice of DC powerplants with Apple's choice of smartphone feature sets.
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