[Edward Watson]

You know, all passenger aircraft manufacturers have produced products that have had serious flaws and many have even crashed. Boeing certainly has had its share of screw-ups.

Despite hating the French government and the arrogance of most of its citizens, I happen to LOVE Airbus aircraft. To be honest, I feel more comfortable in them than in Boeings. The interiors of all that I've ridden in were much nicer.

Sure, Airbus pays bribes to get sales - common business practice in Europe (and is expected in Asia) - but this doesn't detract from the fact the quality and regulation-obsessed Europeans have produced a mighty-fine aircraft.

I for one happen to believe Boeing has gotten sloppy when its American rivals went the way of the dodo. Competition is good for all of us. It is in everyone's best interest to have two major rivals competing to make the better product.

[LenS]

Competition is good. But you don't get competition when bribery is the name of the game. Europe sells a lot of military hardware. But most of it isn't very good compared to US technology. Why? Our weapons keep on getting tested on the battlefield. European weapons are simply for show -- they don't need to work as long as they can bribe enough foreign leaders.

Airbus in the long run is just another Concorde project -- the politicians are paying the bills (with the taxpayer's money) so they can't help but to interfere.

[Arkie2]

Boeing's problems began when it purchased McDonnel Douglas for their military sales division. Boeing wanted to expand their military sales arm, in particular they hoped to win the strike fighter competition. They lost sight of their core business, commercial aircraft, and it nearly cost them their existence.

Fortunatlely, they seem to have gotten past stealing corporate secrets, bribing pentagon officials, relocating headquarters for show and any number of other things they've done recently which took them off their game.