I realize there is a lot of A vs. B smack on the board, and in general, I suppose I could be characterized as a Boeing supporter. My reason for this is that, with the exception of the A320 beating the NG into service, I think their products have been better. The 777 is, to my mind a much better product than either the 330 or 340. Likewise I would argue that the 757/767 are “better” products than the 300/310. (Yes I know the 300 was first with EIS by ten years).
However, Boeing really seems to be struggling lately. The tanker scandal was truly a pathetic testament. People went to jail. One wonders about the ethics of the entire corporation after a deal like that. Then, to add insult to injury, they lose the open competition.
Meanwhile, the 787 drags on and on. Those in charge could be forgiven for a delay of a few months, but the continually lengthening delays cast doubt upon their overall understanding of the technology and control of the program. There has been a disconnect between the executive office and the factory floor. When I see a program delayed this long, it tells me that management doesn’t have a clue.
The 748 seems to be languishing and there hasn’t been anything firm stated with regard to the 737 replacement….its all very fluid. Even the military side seems to struggling little bit, with Australia re-evaluating the SH buy, though Japan could decide to build upgraded F-15s.
How long do you see Boeing continuing to flounder and how do you see their revival playing out? What products at what time? Will they really ever be able to assemble a 787 in three days?
Of course Boeing will recover..without starting a A vs B thread, Boeing has those nice big juicy contracts from the Pentagon to survive on..it may have lost the tanker contract and the 787 is suffering from more delays than British Rail on a good day. But it still has all those upgrade contracts for the
B52 Bomber, more orders for McD/BoeingC17, Upgrades for the McD/Boeing F18 hornets..and the Space programme in single use Rockets….
Boeing is a bigger company than Commerical airliners. The Pro boeing lobby may not like this disclosed, but Boeing recieves more money for research than Airbus recieves in subsidies from European countries to build new airplanes.
For the record, HM government supplied cash for the development of the
A320 and the A330/340…That loan has been repayed, and now for each A320/330/340 sold, The government gets back a % of the sale for each A320/330/340 delivered. Which is more than Boeing can say for its “research”
Now before the Pro Boeing lobby gets warmed up and asking for proof….i was told this by a former member of the British Aerospace board of directors…and i dont think they would appreciate his/her name being mentioned!!!
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