New KC-46A delay means more charges probable

Subscription Required Introduction May 30, 2016, © Leeham Co.: It’s the classic maneuver to bury bad news: Boeing Boeing KC-46A. Source: National Defense Magazine via Google images. announced on Friday, the start of the three-day Memorial Day weekend… Read More

KC-46A refueling boom, drogue testing

Oct. 13. 2015: The US Air Force and Boeing released photos of the KC-46A aerial refueling tanker with the boom and the drogue deployed. Photos by John D. Parker. Click on images to enlarge.

Boeing KC-46A first flight

Sept. 30, 2015: Boeing Friday launched the first flight of the USAF KC-46A aerial refueling tanker. The event was seven months late and all the program margin has been eaten up by the delays, but this was a… Read More

Bjorn’s Corner: USAF Tanker program

By Bjorn Fehrm 25 September 2015, ©. Leeham Co: When Scott Hamilton asked me to give my view on his article “Pontifications: Duelling refuelling tankers” I accepted. I was not involved in the project and was only following… Read More

Airbus ‘confident’ engine makers can ramp up production

Subscription Required Introduction Sept. 17, 2015, © Leeham Co., Mobile (AL): Tom Enders, the chairman and CEO of Airbus Group, is “confident” engine makers can accommodate single-aisle airplane production ramp-ups being considered by Airbus and Boeing. CFM makes… Read More

Airbus Mobile FAL a victory for CEO Enders

Sept. 14, 2015, © Leeham Co., Mobile (AL): The opening of the Airbus Mobile (AL) A320 Final Assembly Line (FAL) is viewed by some close associates as a personal victory for Tom Enders, the chief executive officer of… Read More

Fancher takes on KC-46A; FAA investigating Allegiant Air

July 30, 2015: Scott Fancher, regarded as the person to come in and take over troubled programs at Boeing, has been named to take over the KC-46A program. Fancher originally came to Boeing Commercial Airplanes from the Boeing… Read More

Pontifications: Boeing takes another charge on tanker program; What’s next?

July 20, 2015, © Leeham Co.: Boeing on Friday took another charges against its USAF aerial refueling tanker program, the KC-46A, this time $536m after taxes ($855m before taxes). This brings the charges to date to more than $800m… Read More

Pontifications: Remaking the Armed Services

April 20, 2015, c. Leeham Co. A news item last week caught my eye about the Defense Department, defense spending and recapitalizing the US Armed Forces. I don’t normally follow defense items at Leeham News and Comment. LNC is… Read More

Odds and Ends: Turkish tests A380; Boeing’s cash out; A400M milestone before Airbus Group results

18 Feb 2015: Turkish Airlines is contemplating testing A380 operations according to Blomberg by wet leasing two A380 from Malaysian Airlines. Turkish did the same when they tested the Boeing 777 before ordering it, then by wet leasing 777 from Jet… Read More