I don't dispute your point here. My input to this particular argument has only one focus: That being whom I would rather see go out of business... DAL or BA. I would much rather see BA go out of business. The secondary issue is whether I believe BA is any danger of that. Absolutely not, because they do lots more than build commercial airplanes. It is up to them to produce a better product than airbus, and I believe that in many ways they do, but they also have to be price competitive. The market will determine that IF, the market is allowed to function. When Boeing gets subsidies from both another country's government AND OURS, it's not a fair market, and it is not Boeing that is ultimately being harmed. Frankly, I am surprised they can get away with it fro a legal perspective. (disclaimer: not a lawyer and not in H.I. Express) So to your last point, if the US Government were to ever get over itself, and support US businesses, those low interest loans would be available to American companies as well as government supported sand fleas. And I say all of this from the perspective of a guy that would rather sell crack than fly an airbus.

Much better return on selling crack than flying any aircraft! Possible benefits are all inclusive resort via your local law enforcement.

We procured 100 737-900s because Boeing boned the 787 program and owed us LOTS of money. What other Boeings have we bought? We ordered a bunch of 321s and a few 330s. So the impending RFP will be telling. My bracket isn't busted on these conclusions and predictions, and in my final four, I have a few 737-900s, but NOTHING bigger from Washington State.

Oh, and how bout my VOLS?

++++++++++++++++++++++717

I think you hit on the crux of the opinion. The ones that didn't like the airplane, didn't like it from a pilots' perspective. One said "I'll tell you everything I like about the Airbus... It's a comfortable cockpit"..... that was it. That was all he liked about it. The other one didn't say, other than to say it was a mistake and he would bid off as soon as he could.

And re-reading my post, I probably said something I should not have said, but I want to explain that comment. I said it was an unsafe design, and that was bad verbiage. To me, it seems to be a great design for a single pilot operation. For the last almost 30 years of my flying career, I have had secondary inputs from the airplane which IMHO are very important when you have another idiot sitting next to you that can change things without your knowledge. Frozen throttles, joysticks that are not interconnected AND out of easy view of the other pilot are a couple of things that (IMO) remove that safeguard.

The other points you raised are the very same issues with, and why I am not interested in flying either the 777 or 747. I still love flying the airplane, and I still love going places. Neither of those missions interest me, and you never get to fly. While the 330 is not in THAT category, for me it comes down to the airplane. It's just not for me. So for all you guys junior to me, you moved up a number as far as holding captain on it, so you should be encouraging more old farts like me to stay off of it.... Unless the rope burns me off thru retirements of 757s, it will be a cold day in Alabama before I learn to speak french.

How come it doesn't "remind" you to flare? Or raise the gear? It's creepy and annoying. Where's the CB? And I turn autothrottles off on most of my landings... or is it autothrust? :)

I have no idea what all this doom and gloom about Boeing is all about. Their stock is doing well, and they are solidly profitable. Strip off the commercial aircraft division, and I'll bet they STILL make money.

Screw the EX-IM bank, and those foreign entities that benefit from it.

Might be a good retirement plan is the gubbamint steals mine. :D

3 hots and a cot, and whose gonna mess with an 85 year old man?

Correct on the ME carriers. Asian carriers have already started.

Here comes the supply and demand curve.

Oh, that wasn't meant for you specifically, I just used your post as an incentive to write.

I really don't think Boeing is ever going out of business in regards to it's BCA division. The logbook is way too big and the problem is the initial costs when there's a new product rollout like the 787. The 777X will be much less burdensome on the company.

So, as soon as fixed costs for the 787 development ease themselves out of the mix and net profit margins increase, it's business as usual.

The trick is how much cash flow does the company have until they're out of the jam until that happens? I am guessing they'll be A-OK.