This is great news! Everybody knew that Iarbus couldn't have obtained the kind of moen ythat they have, and start teh A380 liek they have, and still they compete with Boeing on a thin margin.

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1685

Well, it would be bad form to cheer, and plus, I really don't hate Airbus, but I can feel a lot better about Boeing now. If this doesn't boost 747-8 and 787 sales, I don't know what will.

Well, 787 sales don't need a bosst ;) but the 747-8 does. But the A380 wouldn't exist if Airbus had the funding of Boeing, there is no way an aircraft that massive could bee even built as a prototype without the backing of a few airlines.  They have been getting away with freebies for too long, and that has what's made them competitive. If they hadn't received these billions they'd still be making only the A320 series and maybe the A330/A340, not a massive A380 and soon A350.

I'll bet there are numerous companies who were planning on buying the A380, but they may have to cancel their orders. It's likely that Airbus can't produce the A380s much anymore...

I meant before the project started.

Yeah, but I'm saying they might not be able to cover the costs of manufacturing.

Apparently my uncle has been complaining about this for years. I suspect he'll have plenty to say next time I see him.

Though, you know, I feel kind of bad for anybody who owns stock in Airbus right now.

Yeah, they'll NEVER make 1,000 A380's like Boeing has 747's. Thye haven't broken even. They have less than 250 orders, they need 270 to 'break' even. Compared to teh Lockheed L-1011 considered a marketinf failure, teh A380 will as well.

I assume alot of the money goes to make sure the parts are built in European country's that have high quality standards due to strict laws etc..

Some country's in Europe are very very relaxed about quality control and you would not want those country's making parts for Boeing or Airbus.

America has strict quality controls which reflect the quality of the aircraft that is being produced out there and i could never see Boeing sourcing parts from country's with relaxed quality controls as they would have to double check every part.

I dont know if Boeing source parts from other country's btw but if they did i would assume they use country's that have laws in place that guaranty quality.

Also does anyone know how much money the American government have given to Boeing in the past ??

I would always look up Airbus related news in http://boeing.mediaroom.com because they are so objective and free of any bias.
Lets check out Apple business issues at microsoft.com and later catch some other bias free political stuff at Fox News.  ;D
Ask your local energy provider how dangerous atomic power plants are and guess what he will tell you about his very own. Caught my drift?

That Boeing/Airbus subsidies thing is running since decades, so nothing new to expect so far. You won't find a clear white or black there, but tons of grey, if you know what I mean. Also, please don't search "true" things at the site of one participant. They are running a whole media expert branch (like Airbus does too) just to "inform" people.
That's big money business, so don't expect too much of what's not there, truth about that grey mass.  8-)


I think that the General section of these forums is focused on general flight sim related items, maybe humorous stuff, some stories and so on.
Getting into the political stuff therefore is way off those limits and also salvages the (not to be underestimated) danger of getting political debates running.

Since an Airbus and/or Boeing bash of any kind offers quite some (political) material, we should better return to our hobby and enjoy the sim birds we have.
What do you think?  :)

You are right. Perhaps this isn't the best discussion to be having on a flight SIM forum.  :)

You're welcome, boeing247.  :)