Leeham News and Analysis
There's more to real news than a news release.
Leeham News and Analysis
- Bjorn’s Corner: Air Transport’s route to 2050. Part 20. May 2, 2025
- Supplier Howmet exceeds expectations despite tariffs May 1, 2025
- Airbus 1Q2025 results: So far, so good, but US tariffs make future results unpredictable May 1, 2025
- Does an Airbus A220-500 need a new wing and engines? May 1, 2025
- Teamsters, Boeing have a new contract April 29, 2025
X-Day: The winner of the tanker contest announcement at 5:10pm EST
Update, 0930 PST: DOD has confirmed, the award will be announced at 5:10 PM EST and broadcast on The Pentagon Channel. Original Post: The Pentagon Channel will provide coverage, if the past is followed today. The time is… Read More
Tanker decision expected Thursday, Feb. 24, 5pm EST
It now appears the USAF will announce the tanker contract Thursday, Feb. 24, at 5pm EST. Expectations are that EADS will be awarded the contract, but there have been so many twists and turns that we’re not predicting… Read More
Recapping the KC-X contest
With the expectation that the USAF is going to announce its tanker award this week, we’re going to forego our Odds and Ends kick-off and deal with the tanker. We’re going to try and synopsize many of the… Read More
Countdown to KC-X award
As Washington (DC) buzzes with the prospect that the Department of Defense will, at long last, announce its award for the KC-X contract before the end of this month, EADS held a press briefing February 16 to lay… Read More
Top DOD buyer signals globalization is reality; tanker contract might come Feb. 25
Two top Defense Department officials today (Feb. 16) told a conference sponsored by Aviation Week magazine that the contract award for the KC-X could be made by the end of the month. The buzz in Washington is that… Read More
Australian magazine profile on KC-30A delays
Update, Feb. 15: at the request of the magazine, we have delinked the article. Here is a synopsis; the magazine reports: The delay is now 27 months, with deliveries hoped for in March; Writing comprehensive technical manuals for… Read More
Odds and Ends: Leahy staying, not going; tanker and other things
We posted an item Friday that normally would have waited until this edition of Odds and Ends, but the news that John Leahy might leave Airbus next year couldn’t wait. Aviation Week broke the story. But we spoke… Read More
First 747-8I rolled out
Boeing rolled out the first 747-8I Sunday (Feb. 13) in pomp and ceremonies that were foregone with the rollout a few years ago of the freighter version. Here is some of the news coverage: Seattle Times Seattle PI… Read More
Slow down on “797” launch
The news agencies are buzzing with stories that Boeing CEO gave the go-ahead for a new replacement for the 737. This isn’t what we said and what he did say is not new. Do a Google News search… Read More
PNAA: Split buy is only solution for tanker buy
Day 2 of the PNAA conference: Richard Aboulafia, consultant of The Teal Group, said that a split buy is the only way the USAF will be able to procure the KC-X tanker. Aboulafia said the decision no longer… Read More