John Kirkland: greatest salesman of all time? (Chinese bid for Marine 1)

http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jdi/jdi110124_1_n.shtml

via

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2011/01/report-chinese-aircraft-propos.html

Briefing: China set to bid on major US aerospace programmes

State-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is preparing proposals, in partnership with existing partner US aviation services group US Aerospace (USAE), to bid for the US Navy’s VXX helicopter programme and the US Air Force T-X project to procure advanced jet trainers (AJT).

A lawyer who represents USAE in its dealings with AVIC, John C Kirkland – a partner at California law firm Luce Forward -–revealed to Jane’s on 21 January that in both proposals AVIC would supply what would be regarded as civilian aircraft platforms that would be upgraded in the US with military avionics and, in the case of the T-X, a fire control system. Such manufacturing programmes would be facilitated under a USAE-AVIC strategic partnership that was formed in September 2010.

How does he do it?

He takes a paper aviation firm with zero credibility and manages to get Antonov to sign up with them.

THEN, after USAE screws over Antonov by delivering their bid 4 minutes late, he manages to convince CHINA to work with him to bid on MARINE-ONE

The guy defines chutzpah