Free Republic

In another setback for Airbus and its four-engine A340, Cathay Pacific Airways of Hong Kong announced plans Thursday to buy a dozen of The Boeing Co.'s twin-engine 777s and take purchase rights on 20 more. Cathay Pacific, which has 95 Boeing and Airbus planes in its fleet, said the 777 eventually will become its primary long-haul aircraft. This is the second major airline order campaign won by Boeing and its 777 in two weeks. Emirates ordered 42 777s at the Dubai Air Show. Next up is Australia's flagship airline, Qantas, which is expected to announce its choice of Boeing or...

ST. LOUIS , February 24, 2005 – Boeing (NYSE:BA) officials and their Italian Air Force customers revealed the first KC-767A advanced aerial refueling tanker during ceremonies today at the Boeing site in Wichita, Kan. The Rollout event marks completion of essential structural modification to the world's most advanced aerial refueling aircraft. "The KC-767A program represents the fulfilment of one of the most important goals in the Italian Air Force transport and support fleet modernization process," said General Giovanni Sciandra, the three-star general commanding the Italian Air Force Logistics Command. "As a transportation platform, the KC-767A will increase the expeditionary capability...

A Boeing 727 cargo plane which caused panic among US intelligence agencies after mysteriously disappearing from Angola's main airport turned up last week in Guinea, the Guardian can reveal. The plane, which was feared to be in the hands of international terrorists, was spotted on June 28 in Conakry, Guinea's capital, by Bob Strother, a Canadian pilot. It had been resprayed and given the Guinean registration 3XGOM. But at least the last two letters of its former tail-number, N844AA, were still showing. The plane, which was recently converted into a fuel tanker, was said to be owned by a member...