Travels And Aviation NEWS: Report: Air Force to name $35B tanker winner

The long-awaited decision of which company will land the massive $35 billion KC-X U.S. Air Force tanker deal is expected to come as early as next week, according to a report from Aviation Week.
The Boeing Co. and the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co., the European parent of Airbus, are the two remaining bidders in the Air Force's nearly decade-long attempt to begin building a new refueling tanker.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Air Force will award the deal to a consortium that includes Airbus and Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE: NOC).
Lexington Group defense analyst Loren Thompson says EADS will win. However, Teal Group analyst Richard Aboulafia says the contest has become so politicized that the only way out is a joint-buy contract.
And with that announcement, the Air Force is ready for protests from the loser.
"We have assumed that there might be a protest," Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said in the report. "We have taken a lot of care and time. ... To document all of the necessary aspects of our source selection."
It's been a contentious battle, complete with verbal sparring from elected officials regarding government subsidies, changing alliances, a document mix-up that may have shown Boeing the writing on the wall and an advertising war playing out in trade magazines.
The Aeronautical Systems Center, based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, is working with the U.S. Department of Defense to manage the competition for the new refueling tanker program. Both Boeing and Airbus have offices in the Dayton region that service Wright-Patt.

2. Boeing gives $5M to Air Force museum in Ohio
DAYTON, Ohio — The National Museum of the United States Air Force in Ohio says a major expansion project has received a $5 million boost from Boeing.

Museum officials announcing the aircraft maker's gift on Thursday said it will go toward construction of a new, 200,000-square-foot building at the museum near Dayton in southwest Ohio. The building will be the museum's fourth and will house its collection of presidential aircraft and a space exhibit. The institution is hoping to land a retired space shuttle.

Boeing Vice President Chris Raymond said in a statement that the company is committed to helping the Air Force share its stories and lessons.

Construction on the new museum building is scheduled to begin in 2013, followed by an opening in 2014.

3. 3 Boeing 767s on order for Chile

Chilean airline LAN has ordered three more Boeing 767s for its international fleet. At list prices, the order is worth $510 million.

That raises the total of unfilled orders for the 767 to 52. Boeing also reported Thursday that it had received orders for four more 777s from an unidentified buyers.

Boeing has been building the 767 since 1982 at the company’s Everett plant. LAN has 26 767s in its fleet.

4.

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Up Close and Personal with the Boeing 747-400 Dreamlifter

Boeing 747-400 Dreamlifter (N747BC) parked next to the Future of Flight at Paine Field.

During our TweetUp at the Future of Flight last Sunday, we all had the opportunity to get a close look at one of the Boeing 747-400 Dreamlifters. Off and on during the last few months there has been a Dreamlifter parked next to the Future of Flight, which provides folks with a closer view.

I have been under a Boeing 747-400 on the tarmac a few times and even been pretty close to the Dreamlifter, but neither compare to walking under and around one. The aircraft has such odd shapes and it seemed every angle provided an interesting photo.

On one side of the 747, was a parked Cessna 172. You can imagine that the Cessna looked quite small compared to the much larger Dreamlifter. On the other side of the Dreamlifter were five 787 Dreamliners. Someone remarked how small the 787′s looked compared to the Dreamlifter. I started to remark “yea you could fit one in the Dreamlifter,” when I realized the humor in that statement — they do fit in the Dreamlifter.

The Dreamlifter is used to transport Boeing 787 Dreamliner parts from around the world. The first Dreamlifter flew on August 17, 2006 and there is currently a fleet of four, which are all operated by Atlas Air.

This is one unique and interesting aircraft to say the least. Even if you can’t get under one on any given day, there is always a good chance you will find one parked at Paine Field or possibly taking off.

MORE PHOTOS:

* See rest of my photos of the Dreamlifter

* A few more photos from Jeremy with NYCAviation

* 16 photos from (@TxAgFlyer)

NEHA JAIN

International Airlines Training Expo