“We haven’t been first very often, but very frequently we’ve been best.” They had lost (to be) C-130 in April,1951 and that triggered (to be KC-135/707), chasing Comet…..

Don’t forget in the original bomber competition the B-17 lost out to the cheaper, smaller B-18.

(Don’t worry the A350 will be successful if for no other reason it will do well from orders by the EADS/Airbus nations, operators looking for a good deal on financing and others who don’t want to buy American.)