Stitch From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 26700 posts, RR: 83 Reply 1, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 3753 times:
Well France just agreed to A350XWB RLA, so I expect they're still going to back an A400M buy, regardless of how late it is. So this would indeed be an interim buy to tide them over.
As it is, it looks like received wisdom here that allowing needed platforms to head for the chopping block will prolong their life appears to be holding true, as Congress just reversed the decision to cut the C-17 by giving it $2.2B.....
(Source: US Senator Christopher (Kit) Bond; issued June 2, 2009)
Quote: "WASHINGTON, DC --- U.S. Senator Kit Bond today cheered the news that a tentative agreement on the final troops funding bill includes $2.2 billion to keep the C-17 airlift line in production. Since President Obama announced his decision to close our nation%u2019s only large airlift line, Bond has taken the lead in reversing this dangerous gamble with our national security."
RayChuang From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 7694 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 3563 times:
That's why the idea of a European fleet of C-17's powered by the Rolls-Royce RB.211-535E engine may not sound so far-fetched anymore. The C-17's mission profile so overlaps the A400M's that European air forces might just end up with 100-120 planes. Remember when the RAF canceled the Nimrod AEW. 3 and replaced it with a CFM56-powered variant of the E-3 Sentry?
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 3533 times:
Quoting RayChuang (Reply 3): That's why the idea of a European fleet of C-17's powered by the Rolls-Royce RB.211-535E engine may not sound so far-fetched anymore. The C-17's mission profile so overlaps the A400M's that European air forces might just end up with 100-120 planes. Remember when the RAF canceled the Nimrod AEW. 3 and replaced it with a CFM56-powered variant of the E-3 Sentry?
At this point it would not be to much of a suprise to see the C-17 ordered by another European country. Although it would more than likely be powered by Pratt motors. Adding the RB211 would just make the plane more expensive due to development, production and flight test costs.
A342 From Germany, joined Jul 2005, 4655 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (3 years 11 months 3 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 3491 times:
Quoting LMP737 (Reply 4): Although it would more than likely be powered by Pratt motors. Adding the RB211 would just make the plane more expensive due to development, production and flight test costs.
RayChuang From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 7694 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 3320 times:
I think the problem with the Nimrod AEW. 3 was that the radar and computer technology at the time was just not sufficient to make it work. If they had built the AEW. 3 today using today's better radar sensor designs and modern computer technology, it probably would have worked correctly.
I still think that in the end, if EADS can't figure out how to make the A400M work, there could be a potential HUGE order for the C-17 for European air forces because 1) the plane is readily available for new production and 2) it may end up costing far less on a per plane basis to buy a new C-17 than to buy a new A400M.
Par13del From Bahamas, joined Dec 2005, 5901 posts, RR: 8 Reply 8, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 3302 times:
Quoting RayChuang (Reply 7): if EADS can't figure out how to make the A400M work
The transport plane will be built, a matter of pride, whether it is modified and the numbers lowered, additional delays etc., I do not see a cancellation being considered, that would cede the medium / heavy lift market.
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10456 posts, RR: 20 Reply 9, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 3174 times:
Quoting DEVILFISH (Reply 2): Bond has taken the lead in reversing this dangerous gamble with our national security.
Yes, I'm now sleeping better at night because Boeing will get another $2.2B and we'll have 213 C-17s instead of "only" 205.
Quoting Par13del (Reply 8): The transport plane will be built, a matter of pride, whether it is modified and the numbers lowered, additional delays etc., I do not see a cancellation being considered, that would cede the medium / heavy lift market.
If the EU has politicians like Bond, they'll be making them years after the EU air forces stop asking for them.
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