Nickname: siracusap

Review: It's the European version of the Spruce Goose.

Date reviewed: Jun 28, 2006 7:08 PM

Nickname: MIKY

Review: This is a socialist company. 3-months vacations and a 32-hour workweek are the norm. But Airbus is not going broke. Besides, all the airlines don't want Boeing to be the sole builder.

Date reviewed: Jun 27, 2006 3:31 AM

Nickname: Matthew Hurst

Review: Boeing studied their SST passenger jet at length and decided that it was not rational to build and market it. The Europeans went ahead with their heavily subsidized SST, the Concorde. While it was a beautiful bird, an engineering marvel, and a source of national pride for the British and the French, it was also a complete waste of the taxpayer's money. Even after the plane was given away to BA and Air France it couldn't be operated at a profit. Boeing later studied a double decker air passenger plane called the NLA. By the 90's, they had dumped that idea too. When McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing in '97, development was stopped on the double decker MD-12 for the same reasons. Airbus will never regain development costs of the A380. If they are to continue make products that will challenge Boeing's, the European taxpayers will have to once again foot the bill for bad decisions made by highly paid aerospace executives.

Date reviewed: Jun 16, 2006 9:26 PM

Nickname: markdasharj

Review: Boeing is a real honest to gosh aerospace company. They make stuff that works in all walks of technology.... Fortunately Boeing has an income that EADS does not have: Defense contracts $$$

Date reviewed: Jun 16, 2006 7:16 PM

Nickname: econguy

Review: It sure looks like Boeing sucker punched an overconfident Airbus on this one. First Boeing appeared to be going head to head on a jumbo jet design competition and 'bet the company' type investment play. Then Boeing pulls back and switches to a smarter choice after Airbus took the bait. I have to hand it to Boeing on this brilliant maneuver and follow through effort. Now get to work and stay on schedule!

Date reviewed: Jun 16, 2006 5:54 PM

Nickname: ian

Review: Boeing is a technology driven company. Airbus is driven entirely by sales. That is why Airbus sold more planes the last few years but Boeing is making more money. Airbus sells below cost knowing it can always suck more out of the four European governments subsidizing its mistakes. The preferred manufacturer for those looking at cutting edge is Boeing. Anyone who spends as much time in an aircraft as I do will always prefer a Boeing built aircraft, which is why my government bought them for Canada.

Date reviewed: Jun 16, 2006 9:23 AM

Nickname: RVator4

Review: I seriously doubt that the 380 will ever break even. Sure, some will be sold, but how can an airliner be judged "successful" when it never breaks even with the high development costs?

Date reviewed: Jun 15, 2006 11:25 PM

Nickname: Gustav

Review: I have traveled many miles by air during my working life and the A380 symbolyzes all the worst aspects of air travel. Overcrowded passenger areas, lugage delays, security farces, and lines of people for every service, from toilets to rental cars. I wonder if the marketers ever asked any passengers before they came up with this behemoth of an airplane.

Date reviewed: Jun 15, 2006 9:48 PM

Nickname: Mudhook

Review: You want to talk subsidies? The State of Washington, then led by Gary "The World's Worst Poker Player" Locke, gave away the store to Boeing after it moved its corporate HQ to Chicago. Boeing is enjoying the Airbus travails at the moment, but I still think Airbus will win the argument! After all, for the last decade or so Boeing has been telling everyone that "jumbos" are out, but who is now modifying a 40- year-old design to compete with the A380?

Date reviewed: Jun 15, 2006 7:49 PM

Nickname: packpuck

Review: There is just no way to sugarcoat this disaster for EADS. The conglomerate is a subsidized, nationalized enterprise that has never had to weigh its business decisions against its survival. It doesn't have to please investors as much as it has to please the European nations that keep it on the dole. Heads should roll over this, and when the dust settles Airbus should dip into a successful conglorate (GE? Lockheed? Boeing?) to pick a new management team.

Date reviewed: Jun 15, 2006 6:50 PM