I seem to remember when they were building the 747 Boeing wanted to use titanium in the undercarriage but there were serious issues about how to machine it. They set up, and got permission for, a very long dinner in Paris with people from Tupelov, who had been machining the stuff for years. In return for "guidance" on titanium Boeing gave "guidance" on the tricks of hanging engines off the front of the wing. Apparently both sides were satisfied bu tthe Russians walked off with the table cloth which was covered with sketches .......