[Spook50]

Originally Posted by Jan-78FJ40

I understood in the first place. I also think that there were most likely some shady deals going on when this contract was awarded. However, in a direct side-by side of the two planes it was not so clear whether one was clearly superior to the other.
and considering how many airbus commercial jets are flying around, and how successful they have been for many many years, I don't think one can state that airbus are generally inferior.

Oh-edit: both companies will assemble most of the planes here, boeing to a bigger extent, but the split is something like Boeing 70% US made/assembled, vs. Airbus 60% (if I remember correctly).

Unless it's changed since shortly before the contract was awarded, nearly 100% of the Boeing jets will be manufactured domestically (with the exception of certain individual parts being made overseas) and the Airbus jets will be manufactured overseas, then flown to the Northrop/Grumman plant to have the tanker mods done on them. It's possible it could've changed since then, but that's the info that I remember from when we were given info on the differences between the two tankers.