General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFirst couple of those new AF tankers landed yesterday in Wichita. Their not even operational.......
What a SCAM that program has been. BILLIONS of tax payer $$$,a decade or so in the making. People throw in jail years ago,Boeing has been fined $3B and to top it off the aircraft STILL has major problems.
"The Air Force accepted the first delivery of the tankers earlier this month despite problems with its remote-vision system, which Boeing has agreed to pay to fix. Boeing has racked up more than $3 billion in charges related to delays.
A first effort to replace the KC-135s came after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Pentagon leaders tried to push through a lease-to-own deal with Boeing for 100 tankers based on the 767. A deal was struck. But an investigation into the bidding process ended with several resignations and prison sentences for former Air Force and Boeing officials. Boeing paid $615 million in fines.
In a second attempt, Boeing lost the bid to the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company, the parent company of Airbus, and Northrup Grumman, a military contractor in Los Angeles. Boeing contested the decision, and the contract was eventually reopened. Boeing landed the tanker contract in 2011 and, less than a year later, announced it was leaving Wichita."
Meaning Boeing BITCHED until they got the contract from Airbus. And yeah,Wichita got SCREWED over big time by Boeing. After decades of zero prop tax and other perks they blow town for cheap labor. But...I'm sure Trump and his wall will never have ANY kind of problems and SCAMS like this one.
BSdetect
(8,998 posts)Adrahil
(13,340 posts).. but the award to Airbus stank to high heaven. And the Airbus design was OBVIOUSLY deficient in a number of areas.
Bengus81
(6,931 posts)If their going through a bidding process it has to be apples to apples. What I remember most was this feigned "patriotism" outrage that just couldn't let some damn foreigner built us a military aircraft. Next thing you know Boeing has the contract.
Whatever...there have been BILLIONS of taxpayer $$$$ spent and they can't even be put into service today,tomorrow or on Monday. Nope,they need to be "evaluated" by the AF and McConnell tanker operators for the next six months.
That would be like buying a new $70k truck and GM tells you not to take it on any road trips,just keep it a few miles from your home.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)They do not design an aircraft from the ground up. They prppse modifying an existing aircraft. Quite often that plane will not meet all the specs.