Air Force goes European with new refueling planes

Hot Air ^ | March 01, 2008 | by Ed Morrissey

[nyconse]

Speaking of self destruct...only the GOP would do something like this in an election year. Don’t they watch the news? Haven’t they heard The Dems promise to review Nafta and other free trade agreements in order to win votes in the crucial state of Ohio?

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

More passengers, more cargo, more fuel to offload

Heck if that's the only thing the Air Force wanted then stick a bunch of fuel bladders in and a boom on a 747.

Am I to understand that not a one of the planes has flown, even as a modified model for testing?

[hermgem]

Boeing now will be able to go back and redesign this fence they were supposed to build on the southern border to keep illegals out of the country.
A huge flop by Boeing, lost time and millions down the drain.
The better plane won, as it should be, as this country’s security is at stake.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Yep

[nyconse]

My husband says this is the case. He is an engineer. He says there is no evidence that the design will really work.

[dr_who_2]

Sorry, that is total nonsense. I am sick of hearing about how profit is the only reason for any decision. There are other issues. Our government needs to stand up for its manufacturing base as all other countries do. It is an unpatriotic stance to award jobs to foreign companies.

No, "patriotism" in this context is total bull crap. Boeing didn't make the grade, and so they shouldn't get the contract. "Patriotism" doesn't refuel air planes. Competence and know-how does.

These are my tax dollars at work.

And mine as well. "Patriotism" doesn't entitle Boeing or anyone else to taxpayer money.

I don’t want my money going to Europe. Keep the money in the US.

Fortunately, I'm not such a fool. It's complete rubbish to say that "your money" (which is rapidly dropping in value to begin with) is going to Europe.

You know only two Repubs have ever won the presidency without Ohio...Do you think McCain can win Ohio now?

Well, if that's the case, let's just skip 8 months of campaigning and just concede Ohio to Obama. Good thinking! Ohio's vote depends on McCain and the Republican party in Ohio (haven't they had some problems with corruption, lately?), not Boeing. Linking the fate of the Republican party to that of a defense contractor is a dubious form of patriotism.

[hoagy62]

Have you ever tried to review lines of code to look for mistakes?

I dabbled breifly in programming a few years ago, and it was tough to find mistakes in a couple hundred lines of code.

Now, think of the millions of lines of code it’d take for operating one of those jets. Even if we did review it, something might be missed. The enemies of the United States are sneaky, and despite what we’d like to think, we aren’t invincible...and we can be fooled.

(I personally hated typing that, but that is the truth.)

[boomop1]

I flew Boeing refueling for years, great planes a big mistake here, there will still be a fight although they need their peepee whacked. Mrs. Daschle is very disappointed

[nyconse]

I have heard this free trade lingo for too long. Whenever jobs are awarded to foreign companies...the claim is American companies don’t make the grade. Baloney, the GOP accepted big money one way or the other and got one dinky plant and sold out their country. Patriotism does not mean making speeches and singing pro-American songs. A true patriot does not support screwing his country for money and does not defend the practice.

[nyconse]

We also have no control over who works on these planes. I don’t trust Europe -completely politically correct- to make sure no bad guy gain access to the code and/ or to the planes. If it’s not made here by an American company, we have no control over these matters.

[DuncanWaring]

You’re welcome.

[Mac1]

was gonna post this myself and stir up a hornet’s nest!

[DuncanWaring]

...will surely prevent John McCain from winning the presidency.

Ironic, considering that John McCain probably played a major part, back in the shadows, in making sure this decision went the way it did.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I did answer my own question after several dozen more searches. The Scarebus did fly tests. http://www.northropgrumman.com/kc45/

[nyconse]

You live by the sword...you die by the sword. He may also be forced to accept public financing because of one the provisions in McCain-Feingold. Now, there is poetic justice!

[RightWhale]

Earlier thread didn’t make this so clear. $40 billion going to Euros instead of USA. Seems like poor timing, as if there would be a good time for this kind of thing.

[FreeReign]

Well of course the Bush Administration Air Force gave the bid to foreigners! Why would one want jobs here in the States?

Northrop Grumman is a U.S. company. Tanker will generate jobs in 28 states.

You don't know what you are talking about.

[nyconse]

The plane in question is a derivative of the plane tested-not the same thing at all. Wow, I see European companies buying this plane and support their manufacturing-go figure.

[nyconse]

Look, the plane will be built in Europe mostly-one small plant in Alabama; this has been documented. What you say is untrue.

[Charles Martel]

The Northrop-EADS refueling tanker, the KC-45A, "will revolutionize our ability to employ tankers and will ensure the Air Force's future ability to provide our nation with truly global vigilance, reach, and power," Air Force Gen. Duncan J. McNabb said in a statement.

Air Force officials offered few details about why they choose the Northrop-EADS team over Boeing since they have yet to debrief the two companies.

I don't recall hearing of any problems with in-flight refueling which limited our "reach, vigilance or power", even during the height of the Cold War. This decision smacks of typical federal government procurement politics. You know... like spending 30% more for something because the vendor company is minority or woman-owned.