We’re at Day 1 of the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance conference in Lynnwood (WA) and at the Defense Focus Day co-organized by the Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition, consultant Michel Merluzeau of G2 Solutions (Kirkland, WA) predicted EADS will likely win the KC-X competition.
Before the Francophiles go crazy, Merluzeau favors Boeing’s KC-767.
We wondered about this months ago and sure enough, there is yet another twist in the KC-X competition: Congressional dithering on the budget means there isn’t (as yet) funding for the tanker procurement that is needed this year. See this story from Defense News.
It’s the best-selling airliner in decades before launch, but the it became an embarrassment of riches for Boeing once the delays for the 787 kicked in. Customers face delays of more than three years for delivery and Boeing doesn’t have new sales slots available until the end of the decade.
We asked BCA CEO Jim Albaugh about production capability during our interview with him at the Farnborough Air Show. Theoretically Boeing can produce 17 787s a month: 10 at Everett and seven at Charleston, once the lines are all operating efficiently, Albaugh said, and depending on the supply chain.
During a meeting with employees Feb. 2, Albaugh revised the figure slightly and this kicks off our Odds and Ends column this week.
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