Minorite Retort
I share MI's concerns about the great C-17 stitch-up that is going on by Boeing in a desperate attempt to keep the production line going.
It is incredible that the USAF is so determined to shut down and throw away the C-17 line – an insanely valuable national asset despite all that is wrong with that aircraft – while still finding money to spend on cra@p like ABL, NMD, JSF and so many other three-letter words...
It's not surprising therefore that Boeing is doing everything it can to keep the line alive, but its tactics – such as declaring two aircraft for Sweden – have not always shown a good grasp of reality outside the US market where customers don't have billions to take out and burn in the streets like the US DoD does.
It is a shame that the C-17 procurement in Canada become so blatantly politicised but that seems to be pretty much the way every procurement is conducted there these days...good luck with those S-92s.
At the same time one can't wave too much of a flag for the Il-76 because that aircraft is *not* in production - as evidenced by the slow collapse of the recent Chinese order for aircraft that can't be built because the factories have rusted over.
Beyond that, does anyone believe that NATO will ever get its act together and find the money to make this C-17 project a reality? Look at what's happening with AGS....nothing is happening, that's what - 10 years of nothing. All because someone somewhere has to put their hand in their pocket and fork out a huge amount of cash that they don't actually have.
Isn't that the template for what will happen to the C-17s?
VC