Boeing gets $35 billion Air Force tanker order

[somone]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41766812/ns/business-consumer_news/

Boeing gets $35 billion Air Force tanker order
Welcome news in Washington state and Kansas, where bulk of work will be done
By DONNA CASSATA, LOLITA C. BALDOR

WASHINGTON — The Air Force has awarded a $35 billion contract to build the next generation of air refueling tankers to Boeing Co.

The announcement was made at the Pentagon late Thursday afternoon after the financial markets closed. It was certain to be welcome news in Washington state and Kansas, where much of the work on the tanker will be done.

The decision was a blow to the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., which also had bid for the contract. It was a major disappointment for Alabama, which had been counting on the work at a long-shuttered military base in Mobile.

The Air Force has tried for nearly a decade to replace its aging fleet of Eisenhower-era tankers, the equivalent of a flying gas station.

[bluestateguy]

1. That's a pretty big contract

But couldn't they move the jobs to battleground states?

:evilgrin:

On edit: although I'm glad Alabama was passed over. Better Kansas than Alabama.

[inademv]

2. Boeing is just going to sub-contract

like they do with most of their stuff and have all the parts built in other countries.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

3. the irony...

just drips and drips and drips on this one.

[Drahthaardogs]

6. Like when after 9-11

and Bush bailed out the airlines industries, and then Delta ordered a bunch of airbus planes, made in FRANCE?

You should be used to this stuff.

[Kennah]

7. Not necessarily

From talking with Boeing folks on the commuter train, their outsourcing efforts have actually slowed their operation and cost money, so they seem to be pulling back from outsourcing.

[pnwmom]

9. Not true. This contract will mean 50,000 new union jobs in this country.

http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/02/24/breaking-news-boeing-wins-35-billion-tanker-contract/

Boeing said the tanker win would mean a total of 50,000 good union jobs across the country. The Air Force delayed the awarding of the tanker contract until after the November elections.

The Air Force has tried for nearly a decade to replace its aging fleet of Eisenhower-era tankers, the equivalent of a flying gas station.

[customerserviceguy]

10. They'd be pretty stupid to do that

Since they want to sell commercial airliners all over the world, it makes a bit of sense to outsource to countries that they hope will buy the planes.

No need to worry about that here.

[leftstreet]

4. You'd have to make 50k a year, for 20,000 years, to get 1 billion dollars

wow

[KT2000]

5. I am so proud

my father was an engineer on the KC-135 that this order will replace. It is amazing that that plane, with modifications over time, has lasted so long.
For sentimental reasons I am glad Boeing has the opportunity to replace a stellar product they made. I just hope they return to the values they had when the original was built.

This one's for you Dad! :fistbump:

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. That was certainly not what most predicted would happen