No, I still consider that an American product, despite the ownership
and outsourcing. (Howard Hughes probably still has a hand in it from
beyond.)

I do think the VXX decision was a bad one (for lots of reasons,
technical and political) and I wonder what they're going to do on PRV
and LUH . The shear numbers involved make it a bad deal to buy
Eurocopter or Agust Westland products -- even if the entire EU selected
American aircraft, the numbers don't match up. We buy 400 of something
and they buy 40.

I still believe our rotorcraft industry is a national asset to be
nurtured much as Europe has done with Eurocopter. The Brits have no
problem naming AW preferred provider and giving them advisory status on
future procurements. If they can protect their industry, we should do
something to protect ours.

We got ourselves into the postion where no US manufacturer was able and
willing to bid on the Army fixed-wing transports. (Commuter airliners
and trainers are beneath US industry) Do we really want to abandon our
rotorcraft leadership too?

HW