Boeing Backed To The Max

A group of professionals, albeit a smaller group of people says, "the 737 Max program produced a flawed product". Boeing took risks to push through its single-aisle offering in a more rapid manner, ignoring the usual new airframe vetting process because the assumption it was built on the prior and successful 737 NG lessons learned would not come into play. However, there were a few new tricks built into the new Max which did not have an appropriate vetting process because of its own imposition of short time constraints for getting the Max into the market. The just good enough strain of thought took over the program. The second questions were not asked regarding it MCAS process or possibly other systems not exposed because a 737 Max has not fallen out of the sky yet from those other under-examined processes. The "What-ifs" on the 737 Max outnumber the "It-does". Flying the Max like an NG isn't a critical improvement.  It became a critical issue for those passengers who went down with the respective Lion Air and Ethiopian crashes on a 737 Max 8 when the MCAS system failed and overwhelmed unsuspecting pilots.

Boeing's dismissiveness for pilot training for something as small as an MCAS upgrade is a shocking response for protecting stockholders more than the passenger. The current condition for Boeing and its Max product has become an "all hands on deck" moment, as it now realizes this is a failed element in Boeing's own fiber. "We're just good enough and on the cheap" kills corporate aspirations. What comes out of all this is a face-saving new single-aisle model restoring confidence with its passenger and airline base. Of course, the course correction will be completed by 2030. That will be a clean sheet design rivaling the 787 or 777X progress Boeing will offer the 797 in this lineage changing operation with Embraer 100-130 passenger capacity, 737 140-200 seat capacity and a transitional 797 dual aisle 220-270 seat capacity. Boeing has lost its market punch over its sloppiness. It can only immediately get back in the game if its chief competitor has a meltdown both in the air and on the ground.

The biggest takeaway from this Max debacle is a safer airplane development process for the passenger and not the stockholder profit portfolio. Boeing forgot who it was building its aircraft for, the passenger or the stockholder. The top of the Boeing heap should have new faces once those golden parachutes are fitted for outgoing heads of the company. Once mentioned before, this is a necessary step for the healing process. There are no do-overs for those in charge when corporate philosophy produces a problematic Max for the sake of company profitability when pushing out a remake on the cheap. Yes, it costs billions to produce and make the Max 8, but it would have cost more if it went with a clean sheet effort for a new single-aisle. Now Boeing finds itself losing billions on the stock value it could have had even as the value climbs and then it will need to spend more billions with a clean sheet to right its ship in thus current aviation storm. 

Expect a new Boeing attitude out of these corporate mishaps. Moving too slowly after letting the 757 productions ceased was a big mistake. But pushing out a flawed-designed Max is a bigger mistake.

Leaving Turkey and Breaking Up Is So Hard To Do by Neil Sedaka

Neil Sedaka: Breaking Up Is So Hard To Do

The fly in the US military strategic footprint is the Turkey example. It is buying S-400 Russian missiles that can do much harm to the US F-35 program for which Turkey has become a key contributor to the program. "Think Tanks" have already a long time ago queried the question of what ifs? What if Canada drops out what if Turkey goes Russian or any other contributor to the F-35 program? Australia might want more vodka in its lunch program and will allow Russia in amongst the F-35 program it now hosts for Lockheed. All these types of scenarios have been vetted by American Think-Tanks a long time ago and now Turkey is playing its hand against NATO and the F-35 family of participants because it wants to assure a national defense at the lowest price. 

It has the US over a barrel so Turkey assumes. However, Think-Tankers have already written up a plan B when ignorance happens. Politics and defense make a strange bedfellow. Turkey wants the S-400 so bad it wants to save face in light of dishonoring its already established defense partners. Oh my, Turkey has a leader who takes a populist stand of showing up American resolve by purchasing the S-400 missiles from Russia. Cheers Turkey, you have come of age defending your turf with what your neighbors already have, Russian equipment. It is the third rate strategy while putting the US in its place as the bazaar cheers on Erdogan's mantle.

Surprise and disappointment have struct the US military complex right between the eyes. However, the Think-Tankers have already thought this awkward situation through. Close the F-35 program in Turkey costing its nation thousands of high-end jobs and redistribute this technology loss to other subcontractors through its vast network of players. 

Great Britain would like a bigger share of the tech work using its Thales or BAE customers or Lockheed. The question then becomes how long can Lockheed do without Turkey's contribution? The question long ago asked by thinkers caused a ramp-up of what-ifs with these scenarios. American resolve has allied with many of a subcontractor wanting more F-35 production. The Turkey deal was a quid pro quo, anyway. If turkey buys a 100 F-35 Lockheed then the US government will hire Turkish technology to do the work from Lockheed design and engineering work.

The F-35 is at the parts is parts stage at this point. A bad part happens and the F-35 program has its arms around the issue. Turkey is at a crossroads and it can't act clearly which is a danger for the whole F-35 program. It must "go" as an F-35 weak link. The decision was already made last year when the S-400 missile question came up! Find a replacement for Turkey's contribution to the F-35 program. This I assume is either far down that road or completed with a redistribution of F-35 work orders. I can't guess details of how the US/Lockheed has accomplished this change but the US wouldn't be talking so strongly about Turkey since the situation has changed in the F-35's favor. A production delay is probably down to six months if Turkey is booted out and no F-35's leave the US bound for Turkey.

The loss of a 100 F-35's sales to Turkey is an external problem not directly related the US aspirations. It was a quid pro quo deal in the first place. However, it is a big inconvenience already worked on for the last year. Erdogan's ship has already sailed. The F-35 will never return to Turkey and the F-35 already has the S-400 number before the first one even launched it its direction. The gain for Turkey is US inconvenience and saving Turkish face. The loss for Turkey is Nato, economy and its Turkish defense. The S-400 is no F-35.

Adjunct Bomb Truck Or Stealth?

That is the question. Boeing is keeping alive a serendipitous idea that an F-15X could force multiply the F-35 going into contested battle airspace during a conflict. 

Youtube Video of F-15's Tankers and F-35

F-35 foreground  F-15 background

Isreal is looking at replenishing its aging fighter wings of 30-40-year-old F-15's with either the F-15i-x   or a fleet of F-35's. The limited battle space around Isreal could be flooded with F-35's in an AWAC's capacity or with limited bomb loaded F-35's. With a Boeing F-15X on the board, it would and could partner with the F-35 both as a fighter interdiction model and bomb truck. It could take its cues from an F-35 somewhere in the limited battle space, but have unparalleled performances against Gen 4 attacking aircraft.  Remember, an F-15 has never lost a fight as of today's combat record.

Impressive at least. A new F-15i could fill a gap as a strategic weapon platform utilizing F-35 smarts over the wifi in the battle. If Israel does buy some F-15's then it has a big plan to bomb and fight its Meditterean counterpart into submission quickly and saving the F-35 for more technologically endowed targets like the S-400. Isreal does have a plan in place and its next fighter jet purchase will tell the observer what it will do going forward. 

The F-15x could and should make an F-35 everything it isn't. Fourth Gen aircraft is a participating reality over the next 30 years at least. A new F-15(i or X) now will be used. Israel can and will buy about 70 of this type and another 70 F-35I saturating its defenses with awesome firepower and battle management taking out Russias clients at will. The next Israeli buy is not a negative response to the F-35 program. The F-35 is so good Isreal does not need an exclusive fleet of F-35's it couldn't effectively use. It needs more tools than a Swiss Army Knife type of fighter. It is looking at a hammer during this go-round of buying defense equipment. Saying this much indicates about an order for 25 F-15X's or (i's) and another 25 F-35i's as mentioned at the top

Question? What's Boeing Next Big Thing?

Boeing was running rampant in the aviation world until the wheel flew off its juggernaut. Two 737 Max's crashed inside of six months and put the 777X project behind closed doors staying well out of sight. Having select Boeing employees doing the finalization to test flight work. It also caused the 797 into a dithering tailspin as no one then knew if the 797 projects would launch until Boeing got back on its feet and off its heels from the Max crashes. It looks like the 777X project, the 797 intended projects, and the 737 Max were all in some kind of "No Man's Land" in a short time span. Nothing is certain when its big plans will get back up and on Boeing's feet.

The FAA is doing its own damage control over the Boeing Max accidents as it delegated a usually nominal installation of an MCAS system on Boeing's shoulders before the accidents occurred later in service. Ouch, it looks suspiciously like a colluded relationship between the FAA and Boeing. There are other investigations needing clearing before Boeing can restart the 737 Max program for all its customers having grounded aircraft just sitting and not making the revenue for anybody. The problem presumed will take until Christmas to fix and resume business under new procedures. The 777X program will go off later in 2019 without having any setbacks. The Boeing inventory keeps flying without any mishaps and finally, the 797 is announced before year's end.

One big loss is Airbus will outproduce Boeing in 2019 making it the world's largest airplane producer. It will take Boeing two more years to reclaim the title of world's biggest when it will bring the 737 Max, 777X and the Embraer 190 to the market in 2021. Boeing will have to replace 737 Max sales canceled through uncertainty and production delays the upgrades are causing. Boeing may recover lost sales during this period if it can absolutely mitigate the MCAS problem as a noncontributor for future flight safety. Boeing's confidence in the market place and industry has reached its lowest point in the last 40 years. It has set back fully auto technology coming forward by about ten years.

Below are steps Boeing may be taking to regain the aviation high ground it once had.

1. Commit all hands on deck fix for the Max.
2. Win project Sunrise with the 777X and 787-9 as specializing for the mission
3. Bring the 797 to public reality once the 777X flies successfully during the first flight.

Boeing is now forced to bring the 797 into play with an effort for regaining any new and current customer's confidence for future sales consideration. While summarizing this year's tragic mishap that had occurred after both Lion Air and Ethiopian both lost their respective 737 Max 8's. The mishaps suggest a faulty MCAS sensor giving data inputs to automated control services for which pilots were unaware. 

Boeing has to establish that every system installed has a huge safety margin using duplicity of system controls, allowing the pilot never to be out of flying context from an automated system interaction. In other words, always allow functionality back to the pilot when systems can't work as intended.

The F-35 Is Germany's Turkey

Germany made a decision recently "not to buy the F-35". It was a leading European advise and consenter for having the F-35 for Nato equipment and now has turned 180 degrees going another direction opting for 4th Gen fighters built in Europe. Nato members are mystified by Germany's decision since they took German recommendations buying the F-35.

It becomes political not unlike the Erdogan's situation where Turkey opted out of the F-35 program over S-400 Russian missiles. Turkey got itself into a situation it "could not get out of".  It now finds itself on the verge of having Nato get out of Turkey. Politically speaking it will be Erdogan's downfall as Turkey's president. It will be a giant "cluster" for Germany to fly typhoons in the face of an F-35 squadron. Yes US resolve and compliance is that strong in both areas of influence. Russia is testing the American allies trees to see what nuts will fall out after shaking vigorously at its base. The "never mind" routine for both countries will go badly if either Germany or Turkey wants back into the F-35 program after a political debacle is realized in the respective countries. They were warned on how the regions must be defended and now it will be stuck with a cheaper paper bag to hold the defense together with Russian influence.

Trump is not a diplomat only a straight shooter with a six-gun from the hip. Germany and Turkey didn't get the Trump memo, "do what you promise not what America does". Even though Germany's righteous indignation may have been a feel-good moment, the pain that follows may be too extreme to bare in the long run, the F-35 is that good and the costs remain reasonable when it goes to 80 million per F-35A fighter jet. Spending decisions for every large entity like Germany and Turkey take years to formulate and a quick decision is made well in advance to not buy the F-35, like dropping the F-35 programs from its playbooks becomes a disaster at the political level.

Once the F-35 reaches full fruition in forty years, the short time political doers will long be gone and war will already have happened where the F-35 successfully was used and the typhoon could not stop an S-400 system from shooting that Typhoon down over Germany (by the year 2030). However, the NATO F-35 takes out the S-400 for Germany's sake. Isn't life grand when neighbors put the fire out when the homeowner uses its bedding to smother a raging fire instead of a fire truck like the F-35.

Just saying those F-35 critics have no vision for the program. Developmental stage for the F-35will end when it retires. Mitigating warfighter risk is the F-35 program it changes as technology changes meaning a hypersonic weapon deployed will have a countermeasure with the F-35  program in place. Technology will be a plug and play feature for the F-35. Germany's typhoon option or other 4th Gen fighters are hard-wired for the long haul as the battle space changes during a conflict. Remember how a Camillion changes its cover? Or a spider comes along with a new version of poison with no human resistance embedded in its skin? That's the concurrency idea of change but it has to perform a base quality which it finds itself at this time as in any other R&D project. 

The F-35 is not out of R&D nor will it ever become out of R&D and fixed design is the antithesis of the F-35 concept. It's too American looking beyond the horizon and Germany has bullet points guiding its thinking and Turkey has cultural dissonance with America to even consider the F-35 even though it has a technology stake in its making. 

America will have to do the F-35 alone and leave political thinking out of the formula to succeed.

Boeing Is Keeping Its Nose Down

...and to the grindstone fixing its MCAS rationale. Here are talking points from CT Post.

·       "Boeing has come under scrutiny in recent months for its failure to disclose the presence of the Maneuvering Characteristic Augmentation System (MCAS) on its Boeing 737 Max airliners. 

·       The existence of MCAS came to light only after the crash of Lion Air Flight JT610 in October.

·       On Monday, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg explained why the company didn't disclose the existence of the system to pilots while challenging the media's characterization of MCAS as an anti-stall system.

·       "It's fundamentally embedded in the handling qualities of the airplane. So when you train on the airplane, you are being trained on MCAS," Muilenburg said. "It's not a separate system to be trained on."

So Boeing wanted the 737 Max to handle like the 737 NG and did not correct an automated anti-stall system from calamity. Go to the article's main link above for your further review. The unintended consequence of a nose down crash has caused the death of over 350 passengers and crews. Pilots were unaware of an automated system flying the airplane under certain conditions (like a failed MCAS sensor). Mainly, an MCAS sensor failure followed by an automated system fly-by -inaccurate data condition. The plane crashes while pilots cannot restore it to a flight worthy condition. The president of Boeing is scrambling for the tall grass to save the company.

The fix must go through a long process of flight testing and computer updates. When sensor (s) fail then the pilot is notified of the failure and given complete control of flying under this condition. Secondly, the pilot has a failsafe procedure to recover the aircraft through training if a sensor ever fails again. Finally, there is installed duplicity of sensors if one or both fail the pilot can recover. Automation is only as good as its design or program driving that design. Commercial aviation is not ready for drone travel at this time. A competent pilot with a strong flying skill set is required to override the intent of automation or its failure. In other words, a pilot must be given the mechanisms and ability to fly an aircraft in the event of these kinds of sloppy bottom line thinking. Going out of business is an option but killing innocent passengers is not an option. Boeing must reconcile this kind of corporate mentality towards passenger safety.

No matter how many times Boeing says it was "not our fault nor we didn't know. It is in a dangerous business and should take appropriate measures to assure its product is protected by every means possible. It lacked redundancy with its MCAS system and lacked a professional sense for installing a risky feature for the benefit of giving pilots a sense they are flying a prior model 737. Insanity is the mother of all bad ideas. The president of Boeing has just fallen on his sword, hoping not to bleed to death when he says the system is not an anti-stall mechanism but rather a pilot aid for making the Max feel like its flying like the 737 NG!

The Boeing Bong Show

Boink, Boeing just revealed its ugly inner child. A Corporation running for stockholder expectation way beyond its capability to build a safely configured aircraft. When did Boeing go Boink? Back when the 757 was shelved and the 787 was promoted as the next big thing. It was about the stockholder and not the passenger hence two 737 Max bite the dust for some lackadaisical MCAS system which couldn't see itself out of a Max nosedive. Boeing has been called out, but its stock remains a strong happening even with mishap amiss from its chief moneymaker, the 737 Max family.

Okay, got that Boeing bashing out of the way. Capitalism is not defined by the stockholder value but a better product for the best price in the market and Boeing slopped out a stockholder pleasing MCAS system. No one had an idea of how it would affect the 737 Max during an electronic failure with the angle of attack mechanism. Let the stockholder beware, your worst enemy is a company who values investment over the product soundness. Having cheaper straw placed in a cheaper broom is not always in your best interest nor does it help someone's Golden Parachute. Cheaper straw may bring those parachutes down to earth harder than a faulty MCAS system which no one knows anything about. To all those workers plugging and playing the 737 Max to the flight line, I'm sorry!

The top 100 people at Boeing Co. should now jump out the side door of its cargo planes. It's do-over time back at the barn, and that's where this saga is headed before another golden parachute is popped out the corporate backpack. Bring on the Super Pax or the next iteration of a single-aisle aircraft. Either its called Pax for the passenger for just old fashion "peace". The big difference that is made for the customer and not the stockholder. The Pax entry into Service will come about 2032 as Boeing tries to find its corporate soul in the process. The expectation is not stock value but just plane old survival as a big world market player.

Welcome To The Continuous Taxpayer.

Points to ponder.

• Taxpayer's don't really cover Government costs or spending
• Continuous is defined as an F-35 frame with continuous systems, development, and weapons added
• The F-35 is a continuous cost which The Taxpayer can't cover
• Like all systems before it, the F-35 will be on a continuous flight trajectory
• The F-15-EX is not the last F-15 model built by Boeing
• Continuous is the world's currency
• World's Currency is a synonym for US Dollar 

The F-35 is the most expensive aircraft system ever built. The US taxpayer believes it pays for this system for the defense of this country. The F-35 costs exceed what taxpayers can contribute. A blank check supports what the world needs as a "defense weapon". The F-35 is becoming that weapon and it will continue to add new capabilities into infinity and beyond on its frame.

A new airframe will be built called Gen 6. It will house better all of the F-35 attributes, only in a more advanced and expanded frame, thus continuing the costs of air defense for the world. A Gen 6 will go Mach 2+. It will have new coatings embedded on its skin to defeat electronic surveillance (radars et al)  without reapplying new coats of an electronic deflection matrix as found on the F-35. A Gen 6 will be called something beyond the F-35 in a numerical sequence but it is conceptually a repurposed F-35 strategy. An all-purpose and all systems superior fighter for every military branch. Aviation wings will need flying bomb trucks like an F-15 EX  complimenting the F-X progressions. 

The cost will continue as war never ceases its march on humankind. War is a never-ending element for humanity. Making a profit follows war before and after its march towards another war 's end and its cause of war. The cause of war is the human ego found in human beings. Not affording systems of war is more deadly than the weapons used. War is never fought without the perception of wealth or power in play. Kim Jung Un has a big ego. Donald Trump has a big ego!

War is the battle of egos (see WWI and WWII). Expect a war with Gen 6 warplanes.

Boeing's Blue Berry Bash

"Holy trash can Batman", there are candy wrappers under the 787's insulation wraps. A shaving here and a  shaving there adds up quickly, as in getting it out the door yesterday. Twelve hours sitting in one spot leave your tools and then go home. Wait the next shift is already working and it's not their job to pick up after 1st shift mess this plane is leaving in five hours and so goes the Blue Berry Bash at Boeing's profit first for stockholder meetings. It is a margin driven company. Alfred E Newman may lose his job at the top of the heap but nobody will be there to empty the trash.

Chinese Want To Break American Will

There are two factors in war, Means and Will? In World War II America attacked Hitler's means with the incessant bombing of Germany. However, German Will had been broken before Germany's capitulation occurred. Hitler's Germany failed using an invincible ideology to win the battlefront. Robert E Lee failed at Gettysburg battle to break the North's will for war and Lee knew there would be no Southern victory of the war because Northern Will remained intact after Gettysburg. The North already had superior resources and troop numbers. If Means equal 1 and Will equal 1, then 1x1='s 1. But if Will is reduced to 0 then 1x0=0. Will at 0 wins the war for one side and loses for the other side. The Chinese know this axiom of war. The nation with the greatest means and greatest Will win the war. The goal is to defeat an adversary by driving its Will to 0.

China is looking at a missile shot against a US aircraft carrier (Ford class) in order to sink it and break Americas Will for an Asian sphere of influence throughout the region. America knows this as does China. A war from means, suggests, the battle continues until some nation's Will is reduced to 0. Loss of means can also reduce Will to 0 in a hurry. 

The South started its fight with the North having little or no means compared with its adversary, the North. China would like to destroy American will out of Asia. Losing an American aircraft carrier is a gamble because America already has 12 more carriers in stock and American resolve will grow with the angst of losing one of its carriers. China would have to show a greater act of war than one missile shot at American real estate. It finds itself in the same position Japan held at the onset of WWII. The American will is that sleeping giant Japan feared. Means came along after America awoke and won WWWII. The Atomic Bomb destroyed Japan's Will. Germany lost its Will on the frozen sod of Russia

China is tinkering with destroying American Will through disruptive measures. Politics in this country is the most vulnerable target which is why Russia tries to influence politics the most because it has lost its "means" race against America. China is building means but probably cannot catch the US any time soon with its own means and can only hope to destroy its Will which is uncertainty with a most likely destructive outcome. Risk of failure is too high for China at this time when attempting a sinking of a US Aircraft Carrier.

What's More Deadly, The F-35 supply Chain or the S-400

Much has been made of Turkey's acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile battery purchased by Nato's Turkey. "It's an invasion on Nato", the US proclaims. Since the Russians will be there to install the S-400 missile they will become privy to F-35 secrets as Turkey not only supports parts and engineering to the vast US/Lockheed program and it would be flying up to 100 of its type within its own Airforce. The Russians are licking its chops to get its hands on just one F-35 to defeat the F-35 purpose.

The US has drawn a line in the sand. Either buy the F-35 or the S-400 but not both. It's not about the F-35's ability or the S-400's internals but its about access to the respective programs. Russia wants to know how sensor fusion really works and the Americans already know how the S-400 missile really works. The US has more to lose in this boxing match and it doesn't want a fight that is unessescary. The F-35 is too valuable to the US compared with the Russian S-400 system. It is a belief that Russia is more brag than fact concerning its own military-industrial complex. The S-400 is already defeated using the Pentagon mentality.

Turkey is now playing the SU-57 card saying it will buy the Russian premiere jet if the US F-35 deal falls through. The US is shrugging at Turkey indicating "and your point is"! Turkey is sliding down a perilous path trying to leverage NATO/US aspirations with a good SU-57 deal. It already holds the US by the throat by making F-35 parts and supplying F-35 technology supporting the Lockheed program. That in its self is leverage or so it seems. The US is already porting the Turkish contribution over to the US controlled F-35 sub-partners. The US only needs time to cut Turkey out of the F-35 equation completely. Russia can't even field a fighter wing of SU-57's for its own needs, so how will it replace the 100 F-35's ordered by Turkey? So how will Russia field 100 SU-57's to Turkey with dumbed down features and supply high end features only reserved for the mother country, Russia?

It should be called a Turkish bluff. But the US is yawning at the bluff as it prepares to lose Turkey from NATO. It is sending the signal, " Go ahead Turkey, become Russia's problem child, we have a better plan "B" than the current plan "A" with you in the mix." Yes, its a US military set back only with time as the main victim. The US is making up time by keeping Turkey busy with negotiation and peripheral issue issues. The Patriot missile dropped by Turkey is a card played, as it already was going play the S-400 card next. The SU-57 card Turkey will play is countered by secrets the US holds. Remember, Turkey is not an adversary, but a spoiled member of NATO.  It's just that Turkey will have to go it alone in any regional conflagration. Turkey claims it needs self-defense options and is playing hardball pitting Russia against the US. Isreal doesn't care nor does the US if Turkey has to use Russian equipment securing its own region. "Just don't come knocking if you exceed a no-fly zone outside of Turkey."

No fly means no missiles or jets crossing airspace outside of its own national borders. That is the trump card the US holds during card play with Turkey. The US doesn't care if Turkey is in Nato or if the F-35 program is intertwined with Turkey because it has already begun plan "B". The US is already six months down the road from being strangled by Turkey's neck hold over the Patriot missile and F-35  deals it didn't or did make respectively. If you think there wasn't written in the F-35 deal paperwork forbidding Turkey from interacting found on the US adversary list, then you are greatly mistaken. The US, in order to have Turkey to make F-35 parts and supply engineering, was only given if they bought 100 F-35's as a partner. Buying Russian military equipment was a violation of the deal.

Now that Turkey is this far into the deal, it feels it has the US over a barrel. The US think tank has already broach that "what if" question whether Turkey would bolt after firmly entrenched into the F-35 program. "Bolting" is leverage to get a better position against the US. This is also true with all US partners in the F-35 program. 

Canada is one nation in mind as it plays with the US at "arms" length. The US doesn't have friends, it only has opportunist in the world market place. Turkey is playing badly and the US has already closed the book on Turkey. It has sent the message out to Turkey, 

"please buy those Su-57's from Russia or something else like the Su-35 and don't fly them outside of Turkey or they will be shot down because you violated the good faith deal we had with each other over those S-400 missiles as you spit in our face." 

The US F-35 supply chain won't stop, even without Turkey involved. The S-400 missile won't fly over US allies heads because the patriot missile will be in place at a platform in the Mediterranian. Isreal, Greece, and Iraq have skin in the game. The US is partnered with those countries making the S-400 purchase a direct reference to those nations which has its backs towards the US. Turkish resolve for Russia's military complex is a loss of the greatest proportion. It has traded for the S-400 and Russian military equipment at a bargain price leaving it
undefended from itself. Turkey has at its back Russia and its loosely knit family of "friends" not to forget Syria. The F-35 supply chain is more deadly than the S-400 missile.

MCAS And The Max

A "what-if story" about why?

The two 737 Max 8 each crashed with similar or if not exact circumstances when the two Boeing aircraft plunged to its demise with all aboard dying. Boeing, the maker, appeared to have installed a trap on the aircraft called an MCAS system, not unlike a remote control for your That would automatically turn channels once the up arrow was clicked. However, no one would know what to do if the sensor failed at the end of the control. The remote would not function the TV. The viewer only had about a minute to manually turn on the TV if arising from the chair and going over and turning the TV back on before it permanently crashes into the carpet killing all the channels available once and for all. Viewers never had to manually change from the side buttons of the set. In fact, a relic of an old wheel only the repairmen can operate, if a TV repairman even exists today. The viewer might try by turning channels manually. All the viewers in the room were born with a remote in its hands, No one knew about TV functions with buttons and wheel actions. The remote is how TV functions!

Boeing only engineered the MCAS system to work in a stall and it never figured what if MCAS remote sensor doesn't work or the batteries went dead so it would fail. The viewers in the room got rid of their rabbit ears decades ago and didn't know what to do. MCAS sensor failure occurred and there was no manual telling a viewer what to do in case of an emergency. In fact, the showroom guy in electronics from where the TV was purchased was quoted as saying, "look in the kitchen drawer or end table for an electronics manual". The viewer in the last seconds of TV operation went to that "kitchen" drawer and saw not only one manual but dozens. The manual sitting in the drawer on top was for a Sony watch copyrighted 1992. There was no recent addition for the Max 8 TV stand or even for the battery installation for the MCAS. The viewer had only seconds to act so they went back to the living room and turned the TV back as all sensible TV junkies would do. After all, they are not TV engineers just operators of the TV guide and the recorder. The MCAS means Must Consult A System. 

What system? which doesn't work after it loses its remote sensor having no batteries. The viewer reflects on the last guidance given in viewer's class. "We are all going to die." The FAA is still looking in that stuffed kitchen full of antiquated electronic and kitchen appliances manuals for a solution. It is seeking an answer during the next year and studying what viewers who only had seconds for correct action preventing a massive TV crash for which they were never trained for in the first place. No one at Boeing never considered the obvious, what if the MCAS system fails?

Boeing Needs The 797 Now More Than Ever

President Trump offers the idea to rebadge the 737 Max in light of its recent failures killing 346 passengers. Boeing is searching for a way to bring the 797 ideas to fruition before the two accidents occurred, having failed its engineering point installed on the newly done over 737 Max. Trump is on to something. Boeing is planning a 737 remake by the 2030s.  Boeing may be stalling for time to launch a new line-up of aircraft after the 777X takes-off. The 787 is doing nicely at this time. Winging It has come to a conclusion over Trump's statement of rebadging the single-aisle 737. 

Build a clean sheet single-aisle super modern frame with engine acceptance having the most efficient configuration, Call it the Freeliner. It will set you free. Make it a Max 8 carrying capacity, and then a Free Liner 10 holds 205 seats.

Build the much anticipated 797 called a "B-Liner" holding between 220 to 270 seats with dual aisle sensibility with a 5, 000 plus range. Having a Freeliner and B-liner in your stable will complete a Boeing family of aircraft. 

The Max 8 accidents have pushed Boeing aviation to the next level. The tragic accidents with its Max must be a lesson learned for all people who travel by air. Corporate objectives must take a back seat to customer safety. Boeing must stop economizing development for corporate bottom lines. It must build successfully safe airplanes first and always and nothing short of safe. If it can't do that and stay profitable, then it should get out of the business or shrink it back behind its safe line of experience in building airplanes. Boeing must retrench its corporate model to a safe spot and follow a Trump quip of renaming the Max, is just a glimpse of what may come sooner rather than later. A Boeing remake from scratch of its product line marks having a new sense of direction. The time is now to make the difference as it so has pursued in the last generation of aircraft making. Bring on a Freeliner and a B-Liner and set travelers free and in a straight line. 

You Don't Hear Stuff, Just Apologies: A Boeing Condition

Since the Max 8 fell from the sky, Boeing stopped making airplanes so it seemed. Very little coming from Boeing about its 777X gets a mention. Even its roll-out was attended only by Boeing employees well after its own and long mentioned 777X coming out party. Boeing went quiet on that big bird. 

Now that this is observed, it is safe to say a lot of things are happening at Boeing. Apologies and MCAS are the headlines, but in reality, the activity of the 777X is a monstrous project which hasn't skipped a beat. It is being fitted out just the same for first flight and that will be soon. It may occur without fanfare or public Network TV at the forefront of reporting. It will occur at Everett, Wa though, hopefully in daylight. 

Boeing has gone underground since the 737 Max crashes and only reports what will help its aviation cause. The 777X program has become a very skittish affair. The new Boeing norm is if it's successful, let's report that success after its success. 

No longer are live shots of high-risk factory door openings or inside the airplane view of banks of equipment bolted in place before first flight. Its own website shows aging content of the 777X from last year which has been watched over and over again without nary a new photo of what's up with the 777X. 

The 777X might fly silently into the sky and land successfully with a full report following the accomplishment. Gone are the bolden days of first flight unless it knows something that will startle the world back to everything is okay once more. The Max accidents have been a major setback to Boeing other than just bad news. It has changed how Boeing faces the world from top to bottom. The signal of change happened at the 777X first rollout, a private party. By the end of April, the 777X will fly but no mention of this event is coming from Boeing as it prepares this aircraft, it can't risk failure of the first flight.

One might say everything is riding on its success to gain back world confidence in the airplane maker. It could happen to the other guy but they are watching closely as to not make the same mistakes that Boeing made. Being overconfident is in its own decision making. Pushing through assumptions not fully vetted because it would cost profitability for a program. 

Now Boeing is spending money and resources on an airplane, the 777X, with only about 350 booked orders. Since, if successful, there will be thousands of orders going forward plus the prestige of being a fantastic airplane maker. It's not that to tragic crashes happened on its single-aisle offering but it's in a time when crashes have been eliminated for the most extent. Two crashes and multiple occurrences of the same type of problem has exposed Boeing's thinking on what is an expense and what is a safety margin. The pursuit of a profit margin has been exposed in Boeing's leadership. 

Therefore, go underground with anything until it is done right then report. It is only a survival instinct for any creature in harm's way. The first 777X flight will be held close to Boeing's vest.

The F-35 Self Destruct Switch

The US is worried China or Russia may land its hands on an F-35, since Japan just lost one, albeit, at the bottom of the Ocean. Last night an F-35 disappeared and the hunt is on to find it! All those billions are at risk. How about installing a dead man's switch and det cord throughout its body to scatter its pieces throughout land, sea or air? A simple co-action between ejector chair and airframe would put to ease an unsurvivable airframe windfall for adversaries looking for pieces no bigger than a postage stamp at the bottom of some sea. If a heart stops longer than five seconds then boom. If the ejector seat is engaged then five seconds later boom. It's a no-fly zone and a no recovery issue. The F-35 is in pieces on land or in the sea. If you have a heartbeat no problem for the pilot. If it comes down on the wrong side of the line or just comes down, then Boom! Please eject before coming down in order to survive. An F-35 falling into the wrong hands is not worth the salvage or recovery but the pilot is always worth the recovery no matter what. Install a dead man's destruction switch after the pilot ceases in the F-35. Safeguards could be installed in order to protect those around the aircraft during secure positioning. Other words the det cord would not be engaged to explode unless several conditions exist at during the F-35's existence. Parked, serviced, or in operation, it could not explode ever unless certain conditions are met. The ejection seat is exploded out as intended, impact or water condition enveloping the airframe is detected, then boom! Ejection or death is needed (required) in order to save "life" from the boom when going off the grid! 

If the pilot has stopped ceasing in the cockpit then Boom! Sorry China, Russia et al. You get F-35 pieces to play with. Anyways, secrets are part of our national defense.

The Boeing Recovery?

After the 2nd 737 fell from grace killing another 150 of its passenger Boeing has a track record of pausing, then reflecting on its complicit participation, and then moving aggressively as it loses ground with the calamity.

The FAA is seeking tall grass on this matter as it biffed its responsibility by allowing Boeing to watch its own hen coop in the front yard of aviation.

The truth of the matter will follow a long investigation but it now appears the thing Boeing installed to outsmart flawed human pilots has now exposed a flaw in human thinking of automating everything it doesn't think pilots can do. The system itself failed and pilots fly at a disadvantaged. Pilots have little recourse to fly out of harm's way when a sensor fails and software regurgitates what humans who never piloted an aircraft code a solution. The MCAS system or anti-stall routine doesn't take into account false equipment readings as it only looks to override hapless aviation pilots for a condition that were not trained for. A what-if scenario,  may not involve tailwinds driving an aircraft over its intended airspeed thus starting a cascading chain of events putting the 737 into a nose dive for preventing stalls. Then there is a what-if when a sensor fails because equipment sometimes are flawed but the operator is not aware of a broken part. Boeing really needs to address this critical issue.

It has over 100 years of experience building airplanes but it still failed to secure the possibility of unintended consequences. Now it will cost them billions when considering losing further ground in the single-aisle market place. However, Boeing will roar again and it has now begun its final stage since the second disaster for its Max program. Let us not lose sight of every airplane manufacturer has its problems. Boeing is human too. So being aggressive is a fear reflex. Stockholders are scared too. The will reflex as well so Boeing will ramp up its Max efforts towards the single-aisle. When the wind is knocked out of you get back up swinging.  Boeing just got "busted". It will play all its cards on the single-aisle market. Expect a new single-aisle offering sooner rather than later. The 797 programs may come into play as it may meld with the single-aisle linking the duo aisle but the second crash has awakened the Boeing beast in the scheme of things.

Automation is only good as its weakest link is the lessoned learned.

Okay, So The F-35 has Numbers By 2020

Below is a build progression of the F-35. Of course, numbered are partner sales and foreign delivery beyond what the US Takes from Lockheed's F-35 production lines.

The year 2019 projects 130+ F-35 units to be delivered to all its customers by the end of this year.
The United States will receive a bulk of 2019 deliveries reported below.
 

2019                        130 F-35's completed

About 60's F-35 have reached foreign military operations where 2019 will see a boost in delivered F-35 to other countries around the world. 

Having 358 F-35 delivered through 2018 suggests about 297 F-35's are with the US for testing and for the operational force. 

The summary for the F-35 looks impressive as the US military tries to achieve having over 1,700 of the F-35's A, B, and C in its military inventory. If the pacing remains the same for delivering around 150 F-35's every cycle. Expect a 20% to 80% for a foreign to US delivery split over the next years.

Charting out a rate of 160 units a year will give it a ten-year build cycle to reach over 2,000 F-35 units.

The remaining world's military production pace falls behind the Lockheed pace. The Russian model 57 and Chinese models 21, 31, or even its 10 will be a paltry number made compared with the F-35 production fleet. China makes up a lot of ground with its missile innovations.

Sunstroke Project Just Plain Fun

Okay SNL its time to feature Sunstroke Project. Good music good times from Moldova.

My favorite group and I'm old.

What Lays Beneath, The KC-46

The KC-46 is soon to replace the 50-year-old plus KC-135. It's an older 767 looking technology so what's the big deal about another Kerosene and Cargo tanker? New approach lights?

• F-35 like electronics
• Flexible Mission conversions
• Clandestinely Force Multiplication
• Secret Sauces the KC-135 couldn't even imagine
• Battlespace roll playing

These are few items just to mention and not all the subliminal attributes found within the flying gas station. Just think of the KC-46 more than just a highway stop on a back road. It's really a combat player where others only can dream of a fill-up and "go" kind of appendage.

The real reason it took so long to come to operational competency was was its complexity not unlike the F-35 program.  It fuels even flying motorcycles if asked! Its electronics goes from defensive data to offensive management for others to feed off of during a battle. Not to overrate the KC-46, fifty years of warfighting knowledge has been installed into the KC-46 since the 1960's era KC-135. It will take 2-3 years for the military to really get its arms around this beast. The boom operator sits comfortably up front watching a monitor hooked to high tech cameras for refueling connections instead of lying on the air warrior's belly manipulating the fuel nozzle into a flying receptacle under all conditions. That advancement alone makes you want to enlist into the US Air Force refueling mission.

The battlefield continues to change like in a video game when extra situations arise. The mission capability of the KC-46 is a broad stroke of the battlefield paint brush.

Day 1 of Battle:

• Refuel and Land at home base
• Change to medical evac and then pick-up wounded and comeback
• Change to Cargo and drop its load
• Load fighters and drop them into combat
• Detect adversaries and pass information through data links
• Jam incoming weapons
• Operate as an aviation command center when needed

Now you see the value of the KC-46, it's a big player

Secretly it allows all of the airwing to extend its missions simultaneously. It could refuel the F-15 and F-35 at the same time and send some helicopters in for Jet A. Could the KC-135 do that in one pass? No!

There are other things under its skin we can't even imagine and that is why developmental problems keep arising. It isn't just the boom operator station problem needing attention. It goes deeper but the press demands a story and the boom operator screen issues are as good as any while Boeing sorts out its secret sauce.

A tanker or KC-46, in this case, plays a vital roll in the battle space and has become a tool for combat success, not just a flying gas station, but a one-stop shop that continually changes when the battle rages on.

Shanahan Lacks Professional Political Smarts

An "x" Boeing Exec has not learned life's lessons before becoming this nation's "Acting Secretary of Defense" leader. Here is a Military Times Shanahan quote:


Military times Quote:

"Previous news reports indicated that Shanahan has disparaged Lockheed Martin’s fighter, the F-35, and other Lockheed weapons systems in private Pentagon meetings. In January Politico reported that Shanahan called the F-35 “f---ed up” and reportedly said Lockheed “doesn’t know how to run a program.”"

All of this above may be true but an idiot wouldn't go public with these statements to make a point. Now Shanahan is under investigation having a Boeing bias with this type of public banter gainst Lockheed as Acting Secretary of Defense. 

The Shanahan rules of engagement should follow these principles in his new position. Boeing's hallways trained you poorly for this position and verbal rancor is unacceptable. Follow these points and live a little longer as Acting Secretary of defense.

There are many more bullet points not mentioned but these are your basic top seven Shanahan points to follow in politics. Trump is not the role model to aspire to, he is the President!

• Vet your mouth with other professionals before speaking anything.
• Don't disparage publically/privately what you "FEEL".
• Go back to fifth grade and learn how to be smoothly powerful.
• Your five minutes of fame is over!!
• Trust no one!.
• Speaking to a room full of people is a death trap.
• Because of Boeing, you have a new set of rules.

Instead, speak of, the F-35, as a troubled program in many areas, let's address those troubles. The KC-46 program has troubles as well so let's discuss this at a special meeting. and... so forth.

"Truth To Power" is the gold standard when confronting opposing views and cannot be argued against you as a leader.

We Don't Know What's Going On At Boeing Neither Does Boeing

Boeing has a problem. It got too big and it doesn't know what is going on with its Max. It all starts with leadership at the top driving for golden parachutes instead of making sound aircraft. I know some high up exec had nothing to do with the recent 787 Max 8's crashes but somebody's heads have to roll and the long musical chair game of  Golden Parachutes have started. Usually, the most innocent executive goes first.

However, the profit over safety mantra has arisen its ugly head with the Ethiopian Max 8 loss, exposing Boeing's vulnerable flank. It must go back and take off game piece in order to restore corporate order. The Max 8 disasters have pushed Boeing to the corner of the brink and it, unfortunately, it needs to urge a new single-aisle pushing the 797 to the back of the line. Boeing will build a new single-aisle over the urgency of a new dual aisle NMA. It's do-over time for Boeing. It should have a structured path forward with safety as its banner or pleasing profit-minded stock-holders. Boeing did not do due diligence on the Max line of the 737 make-overs.

The Max was to keep its customers in check before having to make a risky venture on a clean sheet innovative single-aisle. Boeing averted risk-taking with the Max line of aircraft but the risk is beating them from the unforeseen mishaps it just encountered. Sloppy steps taken to avert risk has placed them a far riskier position today than six months ago. The death of passengers have paid the ultimate price with their lives but Boeing is going to pay a corporate price with its risky behavior.

Boeing needs to find what it's doing, stat!

Turkey is getting The S-400 The US has the SiAW

Something is better than what Turkey will buy from the Russians but it remains a national US secret in the startup of its production, which it has just received $350 million for its current product development. 

It's called the Stand-in Attack Weapon  It is also important to note is that America for decades or has for years been evolving an anti-radiation missile. The current missile in service is called an AGM-88 HARM thus having a lower capability than the newly accepted AARGM-ER, having a longer stand-off range. The excitement for this platform is specifically available for neutralizing radar positions in contested airspace before the main arriving force enters the battle space. 

The forerunning and advancing 4th generation jets mounting AARGM-ER will clean electronic ground defenses out from a sweep of its defensive airspace electronics.  A fighter bomber may only carry a rack of 3 AARGM-ER on the first flight to the battle space but the up and coming B-21 Raider has room for 12 AARGM-ER missiles.


So little is known of this missile and its high changing battlespace temperament, it will and can adjust its mission mid-flight with great effect to a winning outcome.

The AARGM-ER missile is a safe standoff missile for the fighters  The distanced fired from the objective can be managed by both the fighter pilot of the targeting missile or from a ground/space installation. The targeting missile can change if the target changes or a mission is changed mid-flight.

Stationary Missile defenses, even if they are repositioned by hundreds of feet or are networked by other stations have no shot in its own survival life cycle. 

A "semi-fixed" S-400 defense system, even though it could be moved during an action, an AARGM-ER would safely prevail over a hardened defensive missile with its Bombers and attack jets. 

Throwing A Wet Blanket Over the Max Because They Can

Recently the  Max 8 crashed again! No BIG business stalls on its responsibility, because it can. The once and mighty FAA balks at a conclusion but has relinquished that position with a US grounding proclamation for the Max 8 as pending lawsuits gain momentum over the latest crash. Whose in control of this matter? Money!

The Max wet blanket becomes a one by one airline pronouncement of "ours is Okay, "let's fly!"

A bad sensor, a bad DIY 737 Max 8 manual, and poor maintenance practices contribute to a disaster but money stands-by and watches. One by one the airlines grasp at staying afloat during this latest mess. Somehow a solution emerges after money is protected. The wet blanket is removed and we all get along.

Second Crash Tightens Boeing's Noose

A second 737 Max 8 crash in six months has placed a boot on Boeing's aviation neck for which a noose can slip over. Ethiopian Airways lost 157 today in a Max Crash.

157 dead as second Boeing 737 MAX-8 crashes after take-off

Not recanting details of this current devastation because investigations have just started and all loved ones have not been notified, it indeed places Boeing's 737 endeavors under the microscope. If Boeing is the contributing factor then a reexamination of its recent 737 Max upgrade is indeed the focus and results could possibly change the dynamics of the aviation market place which is not the main concern at this time.

The Lion Air crash last fall of 2018 could be a segway to this crash but so little is known at this time. Boeing cannot let the truth about its product be a dismissive topic. Whether an obvious mishap from other causes is found in the little remaining debris or a Boeing oversight issue remains to be discovered. A tragic day for the passengers and its airline. Another truly black eye for the industry which has many chapters of loss of life following to this point in history.

Airbus Nets -99 Orders By The End Of February 2019

"Oh, my" is an old Dick Enberg exhale in a sporting event when something happens. Well, something did happen at Airbus during February. It took in 4 orders from its upstart Bombardier extension which didn't exist at this time last year for Airbus. It also noted from its own website it had negative net orders of -99 frames suggesting a shrinking order backlog and book. Maybe Boeing will book 100 VietJet Max, 10 Bamboo 787's and 18 777x, thus shrinking the Airbus backlog lead by a block of 128 orders with these three customers mentioned and depending on finalization, that is a Boeing necessity.

Airbus is suffering an order payback slump at the start of 2019.  A slump is a slump and the year is long, but none the less Boeing has loaded the bases with no outs and the clean-up batter at the plate. "It just has to hit it out of the park."

The steady backlog shrinkage gap from 2018 and so far in 2019 promises Boeing could regain the top billing by 2020 if it announces the 797 and will indeed be built as an NMA. It has its production chops going with a pedal to the metal attitude. It will produce its 787 at 14 a month and go long with 55 Max a month during 2019. It has an opportunity that its 767 productions will beat the A330 production of the same genre found in the medium WB class. The 767 is a tanker and freighter model from its prior 767 passenger fame. 

Airbus at the end has an undelivered backlog of 7390 including the recently acquired Bombardier backlog. Boeing's February number is not published but it had at the end of January about a 5,800+ unit backlog or an Airbus 1,600 unit lead which surely is changing in Boeing's favor once its end of February numbers are posted next week. Remembering production crunches out cash and orders establishes a revenue recognition type in accounting. The churning of orders and deliveries is an interesting study. Airbus has a flat spot so far in 2019, which could significantly change at the next big airshow.

Roast Turkey At S-400 Degrees

Turkey and American Technology soon part. Turkey has climbed out of the frying pan and into the oven with the US arms procurement. Russia sold them some S-400 missiles under the US complaining warnings to do that little thing. Now America is making a moral choice of taking the money for 100 F-35's or running to the next buyer who will comply with the terms of ownership.

Mainly not giving away national secrets of the US to Russia as part of the deal. Money does not equate to American freedom. Turkey does not care about America's freedom.  So for a mere $10 billion dollars. America's freedom is not for sale anywhere on this planet and Lockheed needs to explain why selling Airplanes like the F-35 adjacent to Russia is a high-risk venture is the point of the F-35, so investors must take a ten million dollar hit collectively as new buyers for the F-35s are found.

DON't SELL The TURKS The F-35!

My freedom is worth more than a mere hamburger drive-through with the family for $0.03 cents a person. Just think of Russia looking at the patriot missile system under programmers stare. Just think of an S-400 bringing down the F-22, F-35 and a trillion dollars of your Tax dollars in one show of force. What is at stake here is more than pride, it's your life that is on the line. Friday night with your closest friends at the steak house is out when the S-400 nullifies all of our collective sacrifices. Sounds a little drama doesn't it. However, Turkey played its ace already and bet against American freedom. Bad move since America cherishes its freedom more than apple pie itself. The trade is for one aircraft carrier worth of F-35's for twenty years of US secrets in one play. The answer must be a sound NO! A mere 100 F-35 for the Turks is not what the F-35 was built for, it was built for defending our freedom. Turkey has made its S-400 bed now lie in it. 

Maybe The 797 Will Go Double Bubble

An old Boeing concept which Embraer employs on its own aircraft makes Boeing's next 797 a double trouble of borrowing one of its own designs having Embraer engineering behind it. Just saying, the 797 is building passenger space while having enough seats for airlines to make money.  Boeing's recent Embraer acquisition was no fluke and its 797 concepts of toying are not accidental with the Embraer on board with Boeing's design engineers. Something has got to give and it may be double bubble trouble slowing the works a little bit.

There are Two 797's In The Works

The two in mind would be called the 797R- and 797I-. One,  the "R" version would seat 250 or so passengers and would be a high density step up from single aisle for any regional travel. The "I" version would have a range for going Intercontinental or about 6,000 miles with 220 passengers. Both would be separate designs built on a dual aisle and same engine supplier basis.

Why? Boeing is already building the paper airplanes while lining up "key" suppliers before an announcement, hence the 2020 time extension rather than announcing in 2019. The result is still scheduled for 2025 for the first delivery of one type. Boeing is working on this concept as we speak and will keep secret its true intent. The Asian community will support the high-density "R", or regional type while Europe will eagerly focus on the "I" type or known as the Intercontinental. It stands to reason Boeing is truly wrestling with pulling the wool over Airbus' eyes with these transitional concepts. The Northwest should build the "R" type and Charleston will do the "I" type. Boeing is working on who will do what before committing to the two programs. It needs an engine maker, and it needs dual program management.

This would suggest that "ducks must be in a row and accounted for" before making such a brash announcement. Little lead time is given for an Airbus response since Boeing knows Airbus intel is hard at work playing with Boeing for its own benefit. The A321NEO program cannot address what Boeing will propose with one airplane type so it will go for the "twofer" having a 797R and a 797I, pleasing customers on both sides of the world at the same time. It would be offering, similar to,  making the 737-8 version at the same time as a -10 version is offered but in one announcement. 

Boeing took five years to go through the Max type airplane from a 7-10. This is a start of two programs covering the proverbial gap found from the 737 single-aisle to the 787 dual aisles. The four thousand mile airplane segment which Boeing is addressing would expand to a 6,000-mile unit segment thus encroaching upon both the 787-8 and the 737 Max 10 programs, and both are either filled or are filling rapidly suggesting an overlapping segment for the 737, 797 and 787 programs.

Boeing, at this time, is slow to act on this NMA market because it is more than just filling the gap, it is redesigning its market approach for current and potential customers. If it guesses wrong, Boeing will need decades to recover its scheme in the market place and Airbus will suffer. If it guesses well, then Boeing will hit it out of the park as a home run and Airbus will not recover even with decades of time and money on its hands. Boeing is doing something bigger than an NMA slot filler. It's trying to complete itself with this decision.

Boeing.com For The Live 777X Launch

On March 13, 2019, Boeing will launch its 777X which could be found on The Boeing Company Facebook site or on Boeing.com under its reveal. tab or another I've found may have a link for the 777X reveal.

https://www.boeing.com/777x/reveal/

Go to Boeing.com to find time and link is the best advice for the 777X. At this time poor communications exist for the live event, which is a sweet deal before waiting for a youtube after the event posting.

So try the above link for further live viewing opportunity but time has not been set unless I missed something. A bad effort by news or Boeing for finding a connection to the event.

Somebody, please post here for accurate details and a link in a response section And I'll repost this to the blog for those who want to know the time-link information for the live event on March 13, Wednesday 2019.

3-13-19 = 777X

"Roll out the X and have us a Barrel of fun" song lyrics from the old Heidel Haus days.

Yes, the 777X roll out date has been leaked by Boeing on social media.

Project Sunrise A Boeing Necessity

Boeing is hoping Qantas Company will buy the 777-8X for its Project Sunrise selection for its Qantas Airlines. A win here for Boeing would be for bragging rights which it would relish having over Airbus. The potential deal is advertising money on the table so prices on a fleet order will plunge per unit ordered by Qantas at the end of its. project. The 777-8X is about 375 million as is but the price could plunge as this is a high profile deal for this type of widebody. Airbus, on the other hand, is modifying its A350 proposal to go the distance with passengers near 300. But Boeing has the wings and that GE9X engine.

The 777-8X is configured for about 353 seats, but distances and hours should give passengers more space and airlines more distance it requires. Both makers have formidable offers but since BA just ordered 18/24 777Xs the emotional momentum has shifted to Boeing's winning the Project Sunrise offering.

The 777-8x will drop off about 75 passenger seats, down to a sensible 275 passenger "load". It will have the folding 235-foot wing which Airbus will not match unless it wants its A350-1000 to fit into abandoned A-380 terminal slots found in about 60 airports around the world. The 777X wing will fit anywhere the 787 flies. Qantas is keen on Airbus at this time just for pricing advantages over Boeing's offer. Remember the advertising account and what a Boeing 777X selection would do for future sales?

Price will drop to about 200 million per unit making Alan Joyce a little more comfortable with big ideas backed by investors. The next question is how many orders. That discussing has already happened with the two big makers in the running. Nothing less than 20 units ordered would do for any manufacturer. I would guess the orders would flow as follows for the winner. Qantas must order 20 with a 20 option in place for ten years. Or in other words about 17 billion at list prices before discounts.

Aviation wars are a funny business and it's hard to predict how things will work out for any maker. But Boeing is more able to drop price than Airbus. It's more able to morph the 777-8X into a globe trotter as it will have slightly more range than the A-350-1000 configured for Project Sunrise. Boeing knows Alan Joyce wants 300 seats for this venture but "close" to 300 seats is what either maker will offer. A Boeing deal will be made because Boeing has the Wings and the Engines. Both makers can do the internal amenities for passengers, including a boudoir for most. Boeing can and will go 9,000 miles easily where Airbus will have to trick out an offering with more fuel and fewer seats to make that range.

Airbus will have to go 250 seats with its A-350-1000 and some extra fuel tanks to boot. Allan Joyce may think 250 seats is not profitable and what he had in mind. He wants those 300 seats! Ticket prices need to fall to fill 300 seats to go 9,000 miles each time. Going from Sydney Australia to London, westward, against the wind on most days is difficult and dangerous when the weather changes mid-flight. The aircraft may have to fly around a bit and burn more fuel and serve more amenities when it stays aloft for 21 hours instead of 20 hours. Egads!

The time on board will necessitate space and kiosks for the passengers and crews as well. People need to move around, sleep and browse about the cabin for 20 hours of duration. A seat can only stay so long at the movies or on the web. The amenity offering will be an interesting proposition most air travel people only think of after 12 hours in the air. Sleep is one part of that equation as is seat time. The open variable is plan B. Browsing the cabin.