[oneolcop]

Read the article. Called a friend who has intimate knowledge of the details of the RFP/bidding process. He told me that the Air Force changed the specifications in the middle of the process to include specifications for a smaller, more economical airframe. This change caught Boeing by surprise and threw the advantage to EADS. He says Boeing can easily meet the revised specifications. That's why they are protesting the award of the contract.

Personally, I think the AF is punishing Boeing for their bad faith lease deal.

For the record, I own Boeing stock and bonds.

[Always Independent]

Why would they change the spec to include a smaller airframe? The NG offering is much larger than boeings. What advantage? The competitors wer informed about all changes during the proposal process.

Now suppose for a minute that congress overturns the award and forces the AF to buy the losers airframe. You don’t think that the europeans aren’t going to be a little miffed at that? They may just turn around and say if our aircraft aren’t good enough for you then your aircraft aren’t good for us. So no more exports of E-2, C-130, F-35, F-18, C-17, F-16, AH-64, UH-60. Thats just military airframes. Maybe they might start caneling 787, 777 and 737 orders. How will your boing stock like that?