Boeing
The Boeing Corporation brought its Air Refueling Technology Demonstrator to the state capitol today. The large trailer houses a state-of-the-art set of simulators - for the flight station and for the boom operator. Boeing is heavily invested in a public relations blitz for the program, as it lost the U.S. Air Force next generation tanker contract to foreign rival Airbus Industries. The contract remains in dispute, and Boeing hopes the Air Force will reverse its decision.
The Boeing NewGen Tanker is a widebody, multi-mission aircraft based on the proven Boeing 767 commercial aircraft, updated with the latest and most advanced technology and capable of fulfilling the Air Force's needs for transport of fuel, cargo, passengers and patients.
There are numerous suppliers for the program here in Minnesota, representing 230 jobs and $11 million in revenue annually (for this program), including: CPP, Honeywell, Kurt Manufacturing, Remmele Engineering and Rosemount Aerospace. Boeing has 21 employees in Minnesota and 218 suppliers / vendors, representing $624 million in purchases annually.
Read a recent article about the Boeing - Airbus dispute here.
Learn more about Boeing's NextGen Tanker program here.
Go back : Release Date: 2010-05-04 12:01:36