Anybody know why Boeing ddin’t use the 777 platform?
Because they were not satisfied with trying to bilk the American taxpayer with their first try at this contract, they wanted to stick the taxpayer with the total cost of the maintenance facility on a dead line of aircraft. They probably would have won if they had used the 777 but the fact that they could not have delivered it in time due to backlogs kind of forced their hand.
The 767 line is stalled, the tanker bid was Boeings hope to save it.
The 777 line is going full speed to meet commercail sales, it dosn't need extra business.
EADS has the same problem with the A330, but they were willing to build a new line at Alabama.