EURO LEADERS CLAIM LEAD OVER USA!

Drudge Report/AFP News ^ | 1/18/05 | AFP

[hgro]

The Europeans have the highest unemployment rate other than Mexico. The debt of each and every country in the Euro Union is astronomical compared to that of the United States.

It is predictable that in the next 20 years, another Hitler type character will rise to power there and start the whole debacle of the 30's and 40's all over again. The Euros are incapable of managing their own affairs and with their burgening Muslim populations getting more powerful, it is a scary scenerio.

[Jeff F]

Congratulations to the EU and, as much as it pains me, to the French who have help to build this and that beautiful bridge all within a month or so. All the griping aside, this is a major achievement. That being said, I will toss in a few of my own sour grapes....

My major criticism of the plane is that it is quite ugly. Most airplanes are very attractive and many are downright gorgeous (I even love the supposedly homely A-10 Warthog), however this one is borderline hideous. I imagine that realization may slowly eat at the Frenchman's soul as he tries in vain to argue how sublime this hog really is. There, now I feel better.

[doctor noe]

Subsidies are a hell of a drug

[hgro]

Congratulations to the EU and, as much as it pains me, to the French who have help to build this and that beautiful bridge all within a month or so

France, the home of dirty pictures and surrender monkeys, will continue to weaken Europe until it folds like wilted lettuce.

[Nowhere Man]

It wasn't that Boeing COULDN'T build a bigger plane. They simply decided not to.

Just like the SST, the Europeans had the Concorde and the Soviets the Tu-144 but the US decided not to build one. Sometimes bigger ain't better. We decided to pursue minor achievements like putting a man on the Moon. When the Europeans put a man on the Moon, give me a call, otherwise, leave a message at the end of the beep, I'll eventually get back at ya. B-P

[1066AD]

Bet that's not coach !

[Ed Thomas]

Agree completely on the Bridge- absolutely beautiful (although designed by a British architect of course ;) ) . One thing the French do well is built impressive stuff for 'la gloire', I wish British society would be more supportive of such things rather then just carping at them into oblivion.

The plane is pretty ugly- I'd contend that the wings however (which were built a few miles from where I live) are quite gorgeous :D

[Modernman]

Isn't gov subsidization of private business illegal in America?

The US subsidizes its industries with the best of them. Just look at agriculture (i.e. welfare queens in overalls).

[Nowhere Man]

Now all they have to do is find enough passengers to make operating it profitable.

My boss' brother in law works for USAir and he told me stories where USAit still flew planes with only a handful of passengers, sometimes only one passenger and there were times they flew completely empty. How cost effective is that and as many probably know here, USAir is in trouble, it's been "Wall-to-wall" here in Pittsburgh. Anyways, the A380 will have a tall order to fill with 550 passengers in the luxury version and 840 passengers in the regular version. If it is tough to be profitable with a 727, 737, Fokker F-100, BAC-111, DC-9, etc, how can you be profitable with an A380. Granted, USair ain't gonna be buying the A380 but the trend is towards smaller aircraft with many butts in the seats. Can any airline in question put 550 or 840 butts in those seats?

[Nowhere Man]

Now all they have to do is find enough passengers to make operating it profitable.

My boss' brother in law works for USAir and he told me stories where USAit still flew planes with only a handful of passengers, sometimes only one passenger and there were times they flew completely empty. How cost effective is that and as many probably know here, USAir is in trouble, it's been "Wall-to-wall" here in Pittsburgh. Anyways, the A380 will have a tall order to fill with 550 passengers in the luxury version and 840 passengers in the regular version. If it is tough to be profitable with a 727, 737, Fokker F-100, BAC-111, DC-9, etc, how can you be profitable with an A380. Granted, USair ain't gonna be buying the A380 but the trend is towards smaller aircraft with many butts in the seats. Can any airline in question put 550 or 840 butts in those seats?

[Jeff F]

Tip of the hat to your British bridge designing architect. It is the most beautiful bit of engineering in recent years. Some of the construction tricks were pretty nifty as well. I think a Spanish engineering team help Eiffel in this area.

[neutrality]

The debt of each and every country in the Euro Union is astronomical compared to that of the United States.

This is incorrect, at least in general. Some figures: United States - 62.4% of GDP

United Kingdom - 51% of GDP

France - 68.8% of GDP

Germany - 64.2% of GDP

Finland - 48.7% of GDP

Sweden - 51.8% of GDP

Spain - 62.7% of GDP

[yankeedame]

That´s exactly what I fear. What, if one of these crashs? 500+ deads. Big time for terrorists and insurance companies.

...and lawyers. Don't forget the lawyers!

[dljordan]

Yeah, the next model Boeing airliner will be named the "Great Wall".

[hobbes1]

For the countries which backed the 10.7-billion-euro (14-billion-dollar) development cost, the plane stood as a prominent symbol of European cooperation.

"Good old Europe has made this possible," German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told a packed hall in Airbus's headquarters in Toulouse, southwest France.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!! They managed to band together to fund a private industry on 3/4 of the $$$$$ we fit into budget pork in asingle FY.....rmfe.

[Miles the Slasher]

"Maybe as a military airlifter, it could see more of a future."

Yes...they will be able to evacuate more French troops per plane from some trouble spot.

[dfwgator]

And don't more Europeans use bullet trains to commute "in continent" anyway?

[July 4th]

As I said on another thread, this is an amazing plane. I think it looks nice, and it's huge. Assuming it tests well, it will likely be a success for long-haul hub travel. BUT, the way the thing was funded is criminal. The accomplishment is far less amazing when you look at the whole picture and history of the plane.

[neutrality]

Right now, Asian companies are their biggest customers. For example United Arab Emirates has ordered at least 43 of these. I imagine there will be a lot of demand for these in China onc e their economy grows some more.

[Alouette]

The biggest buyer of the new plane is the Emirates airline, which has ordered 43.

Won't be long before some jihadi hijacks and crashes one of these flying cattle cars.