In article , "The Raven"
wrote:

"Mike" wrote in message
...
Boeing's Super Hornet 'Blue Light Special'
Aviation Week & Space Technology
02/04/2008 , page 24

Boeing pitches leap to a still-nebulous sixth-generation, multipurpose
fighter design

Boeing is trying to chip away at Lockheed Martin's lead in the future
fighter stakes by pitching further variants of the F/A-18 Super
Hornet, followed with the promise of a leap to what some now dub a
sixth-generation combat aircraft.

If Boeing is that desperate then why don't they dust off the X32 and turn it
into a production item?

Desperate? What Boeing is doing is smart marketing. What they are doing
is in effect telling potential customers (of both JSF and F/A-18s) to
think about what they want and when, and plan for more advanced
technology coming down the pipe. Not to just settle for the JSF because
it's available (now). And oh-by-the-way JSF keeps slipping, it's available
when....exactly?
It's a valid point. Probably drives Lockheed crazy.

--
Harry Andreas
Engineering raconteur