The influential Financial Times of London, in one of today's editorial articles, highlights the expertise of British Aerospace in the construction of aluminium based aircraft wings and that of the German and Spanish members of the Airbus consortium's ability to produce composit material structures. It goes on to mention the possibility of the UK governement to pledge the launch aid required for the A350 wings but the FT strongly advises it would be best for the UK government to provide British Aerospace research funds for work in composite materials and trust in its industry's ability to win business on merit, not subsidy.

Interesting comments but the incumbent British Governemnt has to win elections and it partly does so by generating jobs and employment opportunities. Thus, I suspect they will succumb to the demands from Airbus (and British Aerospace workers) and the subsidy will be forthcoming. One possibility that has been discussed in London is that the UK would pledge launch aid in principle, but not make any immediate payment.