Originally Posted by
Scuffers
That's simply not what happened.
AB won the contract, Boeing cried, got the process thrown out, then the specifications changed, etc etc.
Actually, there were spec changes, in mid bidding cycle.
Those changes favored the 330-based frame, which our Air Force didn't want in the first place.
Once those changes came to light - which was the basis of Boeing's complaint - the ensuing investigation, which is rather well documented, resulted in Airbus choosing to not compete - again - with a product that didn't really fit the original bid.
Read up on it before you come complaining back to me.
I'll add a snarky remark right here. Most of our troops don't want anything except Boeing in that role.
The reason is simple. Far before the formation of Airbus Industrie, KC-97s and KC-135s were refueling our fighters and everyone else's.
A final technical concern, the 330's fly by wire system, came to light. The 767 can do some things which the 330 simply can't or won't.
Anyway, cheers, have fun fighting about this, and as usual on this site, running the US down.