[airborne]

No mention in the article on cost. Won't be assessed till 2007, which means, if it follows SOP, it won't be ready till 2020.

[Gunrunner2]

Yup. . .procurement is costly in terms of time and money.

It ain't easy bidding on an existing platform, let alone a new one.

Had the great fortune to attend for a week a class presented at Boeing's Leadership Center. Live in a 5-star dorm on campus and work from 0700-2000. Lots of hours but worth it.

http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/aboutus/leadershipcenter/

Wow. Experts from industry, academia, government and military all dropped by. . .to include ol Stonecipher himself.

Learned a lot about the business of Boeing.