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Airbus Misses a Paradigm Shift
Samizdata.net has some interesting takes on the Airbus-Boeing history
and prospects for future developments. Airbus Misses a Paradigm Shift http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archiv..._misses_a.html |
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Airbus Misses a Paradigm Shift
There was an interesting article in the Atlanta newspaper www.ajc.com
yesterday or the day before about the Lockheed competitor of the Airbus. The Lockheed product is very important to the Atlanta area economy. I'll thus try to link/post it, because it compares the planes, and thus is interesting for several reasons. For instance: The horsepower of the Lockheed is approximately half of the horsepower of the larger Airbus, and perhaps the old American design uses proportionally less fuel than the newer European Airbus per pound transported (?). Here's the article: http://www.ajc.com/search/content/bu...8bizjumbo.html Woes at Airbus may benefit Lockheed Martin By DAVE HIRSCHMAN The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 07/18/06 Delays in aircraft deliveries, cost overruns and executive turmoil at Airbus Industrie have boosted rival Boeing in recent weeks - and Lockheed Martin's C-130J may benefit, too. So far, Airbus' misfortune has centered on its A380s, a massive commercial jet designed to carry 550 passengers on long-haul, international flights, and the A350, which is being redesigned at an additional cost of about $5 billion. The European consortium says its planned military transport, the A400M, is on track and unaffected by the dark clouds surrounding Airbus commercial jets. File (ENLARGE) Because of Airbus' problems, there is more interest from foreign customers in the C-130J, made by Lockheed Martin in Marietta. But Lockheed officials say military aircraft buyers around the world are becoming more skeptical of Airbus timetables and price projections for its A400M - and that is creating new sales opportunities for the venerable C-130J Hercules transports made in Cobb County. "A lot of doors are opening for us," said Peter Simmons, a Lockheed spokesman who represents the boxy transports built in Marietta for 50 years. "We're starting out with a proven airlifter, and Airbus is starting with nothing. There's general concern about whether they'll be able to deliver." Airbus says its A400M will make its first flight in 2008 and deliveries are set to begin in 2009. The company has 192 firm orders for the planes from seven European countries, South Africa and Malaysia. The A400M is significantly larger than even the stretched version of the C-130J, and it's projected to fly higher and faster and carry more cargo than its American rival. "The A400M is on schedule," said Kristi Tucker, an Airbus spokeswoman. "Production delays are only on the A380. Our A400M production line is totally separate." Richard Aboulafia, aerospace analyst at the Teal Group, said potential A400M customers have "legitimate cause for worry," however. The A380 is more than one year late and billions of dollars over budget, and high-profile launch customer Singapore Airlines recently cut its orders for the oversized jet in favor of Boeing's more fuel-efficient 787 Dreamliner. A380 buyers Quantas, Malaysian Airlines and Emirates Air also said they are evaluating their options. The A350, designed as a fuel-efficient, relatively low-cost Boeing alternative, is being redesigned and won't enter airline service until 2011 - four years after Boeing's 787. Noel Forgeard, co-CEO at Airbus' corporate parent, European Aeronautic Defense and Space, and Airbus CEO Gustav Humbert resigned under pressure after the latest round of A380 delays were announced. "Customer perception of Airbus management is a concern," Aboulafia said. "They've got to wonder whether they are reliable, whether they can execute. Do they have the engineering talent to do all the things they're trying to do? There are valid reasons to be skeptical." Lockheed and its C-130J haven't had any shortage of problems, either. The Pentagon nearly scrapped the entire program last year, and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has been a powerful critic. McCain insisted that the C-130J, developed as a commercial airplane in the 1990s, adhere to the same contracting standards as other military programs, and Lockheed has taken months to comply. About 1,800 Lockheed employees in Marietta work on the C-130J assembly line. Aboulafia said Lockheed is becoming increasingly aggressive pitching the C-130J overseas. The planes have a sticker price of about $72 million each, but buyers typically get discounts by purchasing multiple aircraft and related services. Canada is likely to decide this year what kinds of planes it will buy to replace its fleet of 40-year-old C-130s. Other U.S. allies including Israel are facing similar choices. Lockheed's Simmons said he expects most will choose a "known quantity" in the C-130J. "Our airplane has been proving itself every day in some of the most hostile environments in the world," he said. "Theirs is question mark." COMPARING PLANES ............A-400M....................C-130J Wing span..138 feet, 4 inches........132 feet, 7 inches Length ....138 feet, 11 inches ......97 feet, 9 inches Height ....48 feet, 4 inches ........38 feet, 10 inches Engines....4 Rolls-Royce turboprops..4 Allison turboprops ............(9,250 horsepower)........(4,591 horsepower) Price......$85 million ..............$70 million MOST POPULAR STORIES The 2006 election Barnes is back in the race Ralph Reed concedes defeat | Election Day Statewide primary election results Hinton confesses to Melendi murder Search AJC Archives Search staff-written and other selected articles. Advanced search from 1985 to present from 1868 - 1929 services Show off your summer toes. Find a nail shop. Get a move on. Find a reliable moving company. Find the right people for the job: Keyword Business Name Powered by mundohispánico The voice of Georgia's Hispanic community since 1979 El vocero de la comunidad hispana de Georgia desde 1979 Check out Nation/World | Metro | Sports | Entertainment | Living | Travel | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Health | Site map © 2006 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | Customer care | Advertise with us | Visitor agreement | Privacy statement | Permissions | Our partners auzerais wrote: Samizdata.net has some interesting takes on the Airbus-Boeing history and prospects for future developments. Airbus Misses a Paradigm Shift http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archiv..._misses_a.html |
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Airbus Misses a Paradigm Shift
Since Boeing and Airbus must design their aircraft based on their best
projection for the future, it is not difficult to see where a new aircraft design might fail. Boeing bet on lighter weight composite materials while Airbus looked to grab the market for long haul air travel -- an aircraft which would cram in the maximum number of passengers. With the cost of a barrel of oil now around $70, Boeing's lighter weight design has presently come ahead as the winner. Although Airbus has yet to be counted out. Established industries always face a difficulty in matching their development to meet the market. For example, it has taken too long for American car manufacturers to recognize that gas guzzlers are likely not to be the future trend. For the serious problems at GM, it was nothing less than popping the clutch during a paradigm shift. And demonstrates that regardless of the industry, a business cannot always force a market change to accommodate their inventory. |
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Airbus Misses a Paradigm Shift
This is a question for fact:
There've been beaucoup mergers here in the late 20th, early 21st centruries: Is Boeing now merged with Lockheed-Martin? Just an opinion wrote: Since Boeing and Airbus must design their aircraft based on their best projection for the future, it is not difficult to see where a new aircraft design might fail. Boeing bet on lighter weight composite materials while Airbus looked to grab the market for long haul air travel -- an aircraft which would cram in the maximum number of passengers. With the cost of a barrel of oil now around $70, Boeing's lighter weight design has presently come ahead as the winner. Although Airbus has yet to be counted out. Established industries always face a difficulty in matching their development to meet the market. For example, it has taken too long for American car manufacturers to recognize that gas guzzlers are likely not to be the future trend. For the serious problems at GM, it was nothing less than popping the clutch during a paradigm shift. And demonstrates that regardless of the industry, a business cannot always force a market change to accommodate their inventory. |
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Airbus Misses a Paradigm Shift
Robert Cohen wrote: This is a question for fact: There've been beaucoup mergers here in the late 20th, early 21st centruries: Is Boeing now merged with Lockheed-Martin? [snip] No, and probably would not be allowed. LM was prevented from merging with Northrup (before they merged with Grumman). You've seen probably as much contraction in this industry as you'll see for a while. Boeing is now Boeing/MacDonald/Douglas/Vought........ |
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Airbus Misses a Paradigm Shift
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