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Concorde....
Thank you ‘309’. You have proved my point exactly,
although I didn’t realise quite how much the US Political and Financial systems had also screwed up your own aircraft industry. There is a board game called Monopoly in which the idea is take over all your competitors’ businesses and achieve a monopoly, so you can charge what you like. The US seems to play Monopoly with the whole World, not helped by corrupt and on-the-make politicians and stock market investors after a quick buck. Take-overs and mergers often provide that quick buck. If you are in the market for a large airliner, you essentially now only have the choice between Boeing and Airbus. Both of these companies constantly issue writs against each other claiming unfair Government subsidies, Boeing’s in the form of military contracts. Both companies produce lumbering sub-sonic aircraft. Why should they produce anything better if there is no effective competition? The UK government alternates between the Conservatives, who are the poor man’s version of the Republicans, and the (New) Labour Party, who are generally more concerned with spin, political correctness and the class war rather than nurturing our industries. To the latter anyone who owns a business is a ‘Capitalist *******’ to be taxed and snowed under with repressive legislation and red tape! However to be fair to them they did champion Concorde under Industry Minister Tony Wedgewood-Benn. Between them, the two main political parties in the UK have also helped to pretty well screw our industry by meddling, nationalisation and over-taxation. Several promising and possibly world beating military aircraft had their funding withdrawn at the last moment by politicians concerned about the escalating cost. But as one famous aircraft designer once said “If I told them the true cost up front, they would never agree to it in the first place”. I would like to remind the Americans that the UK produced the Spitfire fighter, the Lancaster, Halifax and Mosquito bombers, the first Jet Airliner (DH Comet), the first true Mach 2 intercepter, the Harrier jump jet, the first and only Mach 2 airliner - Concorde (with a bit of help from the Froggies), and many other innovative aircraft. Now we produce nothing other than Airbus wings, Rolls Royce engines and a few small trainers and microlights. Actually we do very little metal bashing of any sort these days, as the multi-national companies chase round the world looking for the cheapest possible labour markets, such as Eastern Europe and China. One of our major car plants is about to close so that production can be transferred to Slovakia. I personally haven’t done a job for years that actually involves making anything - only importing and selling or installing equipment from abroad. I am not quite sure how Great Britain, once ‘the Workshop of the World’ actually earns a living, as most companies over here are now service based. Essentially we all earn a precarious living by taking in each other’s washing! I suspect that even if I did start up a company that produced an innovative product, it would rapidly be taken over by a multi-national company. They are generally only interested in selling what they produce already. Some very successful UK companies have avoided the stock market altogether and remained as private companies just for this reason. I think that we need to reform our political and financial institutions so they are less weighted towards the big multi-national corporations, and more towards small companies and genuine entrepreneurs. By the way, I understand that the USA donates less in charity as a percentage of its GNP than many smaller and less rich countries. Derek Copeland At 05:36 13 June 2006, 309 wrote: Once Southern California (much larger than GREAT Britain) had a thriving aircraft industry: Convair, Douglas, Lockheed, all building commercial aircraft that in one way or another contributed to the advancement of modern travel. Late last month, the last commercial product from the old(e) Douglas Plant delivered (a so-called Boeing 717, nee MD-95, nee DC-9-30+ with Rolls engines...). The assembly line is silent, save for the wrecking crews. I would much rather see it 'for sale.' Many forget that Airbus (or its predecessor) benefitted from a doomed 'partnership' between Sud Aviation and Douglas (funny how similar the nose section of the A-300 is to the DC-10, isn't it????). Yes, I suppose you'll call McDonnell 'pirates' from stealing the Kestrel and improving it into the AV-8B, aka Harrier. Yes, it goes both ways, eh? Yes Derek, you have my pity, for what it is worth (not much, eh?). I am sorry to see Concord(e) silent -- almost as much as I am to see factories that employed thousands, created much of the 'Arsenal of Democracy' that no doubt helped save 'the United Kingdom' in the 40's (or is its current fate worse than it would have been without 'Americanization?'), and helped usher in many technological advancements. Please tell me you have studied history and can recall that once upon a time, GREAT Britain DOMINATED the world... As a good Canadian once put it, 'All good things must end.' Just be patient Derek. Yeah, a Union Jack on every streetcorner would be an improvement, eh? Isn't it wonderful to know that sour grapes grow equally well on both sides of 'the pond?' It wasn't politics alone or accountants alone that silenced Concord(e), a thing of beauty. But politics and accounting together form formidible allies...and the economics of operating much faster than God's good birds would sanely fly conspired altogether to end the party. Isn't it just plain silly that sombody's simple request for donations to restore an antique (albeit expensive and fast) airplane can cause this newsgroup to spin into degrading mudslinging over politics? Keep in mind, Derek, that the Americans did not invent 'domination.' I rather doubt you coud even say we've perfected it. Look also, if you dare, at the charity America affords the globe as whole, even those supposed 'enemies' in times of tragedy. Shame on you. |
#2
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Concorde....
Derek Copeland wrote: The US seems to play Monopoly with the whole World, not helped by corrupt and on-the-make politicians and stock market investors after a quick buck. Take-overs and mergers often provide that quick buck. Hmm, the US does? One of the companies that I used to work for (in the US) was gobbled up by a small (corrupt?) company from "England," perhaps you've heard of a US Company named Tracor? Or a "UK" company named BAe? Look in the mirror. I think that we need to reform our political and financial institutions so they are less weighted towards the big multi-national corporations, and more towards small companies and genuine entrepreneurs. What of small companies lile Columbia (Lancair), Van's RV aircraft, and such? One needs to remember that when a small company becomes successful, really successful, it becomes a large corporation -- which can still be an entepreneurial endeavor, say Broadcom, Microsoft (once upon a time) are examples. Your logic might pull these successful companies into pieces...despite the good they do...and then the incentive to be enteprenuerial is now gone... By the way, I understand that the USA donates less in charity as a percentage of its GNP than many smaller and less rich countries. What data is that??? Please let me know -- I'll be happy to be less charitible to the thankless globe so I can apply my good graces to tow and winch costs. If you're referring only to the charity doled out by the US government, let's not forget the charitable donations from private citizens, corporations, churches, rotary clubs... I happen to work for that "subsidized" tiny little company called Boeing (by way of merger and aquisition). As one would expect from a large company, its employees fund the largest corporate employee charity source, and for the tsunami victims gave over $3 million. Another fine Canadian put it quite aptly, you'll miss US, if we're not around. It's so easy to pick on the big guy -- even if he's nice to you. Enough from me. Back to Soaring...or at least thinking about it. |
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