Originally Posted by
peter we
Maybe Boeing should have explained that in their press releases.
They did. For example, here's a cut and paste from the article cited above:
The KC-46A tankers will be built using a low-risk approach to manufacturing by a trained and experienced U.S. work force at existing Boeing facilities.
Do you understand what "
low risk approach to manufacturing means?" What "
existing Boeing facilities" means? It does
not mean "risk free development." Read the paragraph in post #569 regarding civil certification and using the existing
production certificate to manufacture the aircraft. BTW, this sentence was addressing the Airbus proposal, which proposed an entirely new production facility using new people totally unfamiliar with the aircraft to build Airbus' KC-30. And oh yes, it would have required certifying that production facility and its processes. Not an easy or quick thing to do. Or cheap.