French aircraft-carrier: a floating embarrassment

[Royzee617]

The giant aircraft-carrier Clemenceau, once a proud symbol of France's naval might, is ending its life embroiled in a dispute with Indian shipbreakers over the amount of toxic asbestos left in its hull.
http://www.aerospacemedia.com/AFP/pr...4.5qcm58vp.xml

Berlin sources confirm German interest in unmanned jet fighter
http://news.monstersandcritics.com/i... _jet_fighter

[Royzee617]

Following the commencement of operations in its Air Surveillance role with the Italian Air Force on December 16 2005, the Eurofighter Typhoon new generation combat aircraft has been tasked with providing airspace air defence coverage above Turin during the Winter Olympic Games over the next two weeks.
http://www.europapress.es/europa2003...20060214113852

[Royzee617]

The Boeing Co. said it may produce Air Force tankers at its Long Beach, Calif., plant, enabling the No. 2 U.S. defense company to keep the factory open past 2008 when the last C-17 cargo plane is scheduled to roll off the assembly line there.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/busine...gtanker15.html

[Twitch]

The Long Beach newspaper yesterday had no such rosy outlook for the C-17 and its effect on things. It will be a loss of $8.45 billion and 25,000 jobs nationwide.

And the Germans are just a bit tardy getting in on UCAVS as it seems as though just about everybody else already has.

PS Love your cat!

[FLYBOYJ]

This has been a major issue for Boeing ever since they "swallowed up" McDonnell Douglas many years ago. Having briefly worked at that facility as a consultant I know there are many still bitter over the decision to stop building the MD-11 and the B717, let alone being part of that old dynasty and watching the company swallowed up by the "enemy." Boeing has some challenges there - to reconstruct another assembly line is no easy task, especially doing it the "Peoples Republic of California" which as become hostile to heavy manufacturing primarily due to past environmental situations. Boeing could also let the C-17 run its course, close the facility when done and take the win falls of selling off the remainder of the facility, but then again they may be facing environmental skeletons left behind from the McDonnell Douglas days - I witnessed how ugly this situation could become when Lockheed closed down its Burbank facility. We found chemicals, parts, even an old wing jig with part of an assembly buried through out the facility!!!

I have heard on at least 3 other occasions where Boeing was considering moving one of its production lines to Long Beach. At one time there was talk about bringing the very profitable 737 line to Long Beach and even opening "a second front" when airliners were really selling but both situation drifted into rumor heaven, possibly these stories started in an attempt to bait incentives from the City of Long Beach and the State of California.

As this news is emerging from Seattle I take more stock in its seriousness, but I think it may be the first waring flag Boeing is giving to California that the final demise of the long Beach facility may be around the corner if something isn't offered in return by the Federal and State government. I know Long Beach may stand to loose a Major employer but also gain a win fall in property values if Boeing put the wrecking ball to the place in 2008, providing it doesn't take 20 years to clean up the place!

Let's see - Hughes, Lockheed, McDonnell Douglas, NA Rockwell have all disappeared in the past 25 years, it reinforces my decision to leave aircraft manufacturing and California, but I feel sorry for those still at Long Beach who were holdovers from the "good ole days."

[syscom3]

You forgot General Dynamics.

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by syscom3

You forgot General Dynamics.

Yep! You're right!

I worked for Rohr Industries for a while - now Goodrich, they just about drifted away too!!!

[Royzee617]

Nobel Gets Prize GBP 40M Contract for Bunker-Busting Bazookas

Only the British could look at a bunker-buster bazooka and call it an "Anti-Structures Munition." Anyway, following a rigorous competition which included full test firings of the weapon and soldier trials, a GBP 40 million ($69.7 million at current exchange) contract to deliver these weapons has just been awarded to Dynamit Nobel Defence. Yes, that Nobel, who makes the Panzerfaust family of weapons. This contract includes combat weapons, training systems, and contractor logistic support for the first five years.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...okas/index.php

[Royzee617]

Thanks for the comment about my moggie who is called Dave, he isn't as tough as he looks! Our biggest ever cat he is a really scaredy puss.

[Royzee617]

Interesting stuff about Boeing vs MD et al.

I like the C17 and thought it would go on and on...

MW also in the news is that old warhorse, the 737.... my first ever jet flight was in a 737... ugly brute which I was to fly in many times in the US.

Boeing and Southwest Airlines celebrated the 5,000th 737 to come off the production line as thousands of Boeing employees and special guests attended an historic delivery ceremony at the company's Renton, Wash., manufacturing facility. Guinness World Records has acknowledged the 737 as the most-produced large commercial jet airplane in aviation history.
http://www.luchtzak.be/article11113.html

Xiamen Airlines is set to fly its first Boeing 737-800 commercial jetliner.... maybe set up a new plant in china for C17 etc - ho ho!

[Twitch]

All things come to pass. That is the ebb and flow of the aircraft industry. For decades the Long Beach area was influenced by Douglas and it's later incarnations. They'd hire 20,000 lay off 9,000 in 10 months then bring back 6,000 4 months later. Always up and down.....

[FLYBOYJ]

I managed 10.5 years at Lockheed, then got layed off from Rohr and later BAE, becuase I was also involved with aircraft maintenance as well as manufacturing, I never had a hard time finding another job.

Te day I got layed off from Lockheed (July 1990) 6,000 people were let go that week!!!

[Glider]

I wouldn't give up on the C17 yet. A number of European airforces have a need for such a plane and there is nothing like it in Europe.

[FLYBOYJ]

Yep - the -17 is a great aircraft and it may keep Long Beach alive, especially if foreign nations continue to buy it.

[Royzee617]

We can't afford em, we rent them instead!