[Squawk 8888]

The French have some of the best engineers in the world but because they regulate and subsidize industry so heavily, they end up completing a lot of projects that would not survive a rational cost/benefit analysis. The Concorde is a classic example- a magnificent aircraft that had no hope of paying for itself. As for the A380, the jury is still out IMO.

[ari-freedom]

The French have some of the best engineers in the world but because they regulate and subsidize industry so heavily, they end up completing a lot of projects that would not survive a rational cost/benefit analysis
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hmm you make it sound as if we don’t. Boeing gets a lot of $ from the govt

[businessprofessor]

The A380 was always a jobs program. Airbus has received huge subsidies for the A380 program. Airbus is an extension of the French and German governments. A commercial company could never have justified the investment. With an honest accounting, the payback period may be 30 years. The payback period and cost of capital are secondary issues. No commercial company could have raised and justified the capital for both the A380 and A350.

[Rummenigge]

The concorde paid off on only two routes - NY / London and NY/Paris.

On 9/11 most of it’s customers literaly died and then so did the concept.

(It had no reach for anything other and couldn’t be used over land because of the noise a plane makes if supersonic)

[antiRepublicrat]

The Concorde is a classic example- a magnificent aircraft that had no hope of paying for itself.

Knowingly blowing money for national pride and bragging rights isn't a bad thing, like with the Concorde or us going to the Moon. Accidentally blowing money because you screwed things up, like with the A380, is not quite so good.