Jig Peter wrote: Nice also to see that NGC/EADS are "confident" ... Go, people, go !!!
Well folks here is a NGC press release from today, says it all:
FARNBOROUGH, England - July 14, 2008 - Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Tanker team announced today that all four initial tanker System Design and Development (SDD) airframes are scheduled for final assembly and initial flight testing by the end of 2009. The first two SDD airframes have been built and flown, and are awaiting modification to the tanker configuration.
"As we've always said, Northrop Grumman is ready now; and having all four SDD airframes ready next year shows our commitment to the U.S. Air Force, the Department of Defense and our Airmen who are currently forced to fly 50-year-old tankers," said Paul Meyer, Northrop Grumman vice president and general manager of Air Mobility Systems. "While our competitor still has not built the tanker or boom system they offered -- our configuration is built, tested and flying now -- and has been selected by four other allied nations. Clearly our tanker is superior, offering better fuel efficiency, greater fuel offload and much lower risk. It's won all five competitions against the 767."
Flying aircraft vs. Paper Aircraft!
Lee Norberg
Oakdale, NY
