[DungeonMaster]

Interesting. I watched the PBS show about the development of the Joint Strike Fighter on PBS years ago and it’s informative. From the bidding by Boeing and Northrop to British test pilots handling the fighters over the Cali desert.

I'm pretty sure I saw that too. Talk about a plane designed in a government committee. I'm surprised they didn't ask for warp drive and photon torpedoes. Then we have the humble A-10 which is an obvious step from the P51. No overdesign, just some obvious technological advances and the plane does it's designed mission better than anything.

[max americana]

In that show did you notice the spending attitude of these govt contractors? It was the ‘death spiral’ segment where the companies had a budget in mind and they overspent for the prototype.

BOEING: “Ok, we have a better plane than N Grumman”
GOVT OFFICE: “So it was within $50 million?”
BOEING “Wait what, there’s a budget? I thought the prize was unlimited taxpayer money? You mean we can’t bill you 100 million per plane once we win?”