An-72s For The Us Army?

[XV107]

ISTR that this did get a short mention in Janes Defence Weekly as well, suggesting that there might have been something in the story, even if it was only a garbled report of a brainstorming session at Boeing.

If you were a major aircraft manufacturer without a suitable aircraft to offer in a large competition, you'd want to sit down and look at partnership options with non-US firms. An-72 would be a possible contender given its capabilities, but I'd guess that unless the aircraft and all parts were manufactured in the US (guaranteeing supply, etc) then the option would be discarded fairly smartly.

In the end (at least according to Boeing's own news releases in July 2006) they teamed up with Alenia and L3 to offer the C-27J (see following pdf from the consortium - clicky)

[anthonyp]

Hmmm, linky no worky, which is weird, considering I checked it out earlier today.

[XV107]

Even more odd since I clicked it and read the thing before posting (and can't get it to function now)!

The HTML version still works, though  via a google of  Joint Cargo Aircraft GMAS - relevant bit for those who've not seen it is:

C-27J JCA TEAM SUBMITS JOINT CARGO AIRCRAFT PROPOSAL

Washington, D.C., June 7, 2006 – Alenia North America announced today that the C-27J JCA Team of L-3 Communications Integrated Systems (L-3 IS), a subsidiary of L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL), Alenia North America, Inc. (a Finmeccanica company), Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (NYSE: BA), and Global Military Aircraft Systems (GMAS) personally delivered its proposal for the C-27J as the best value solution for the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program. L-3 IS is prime contractor for the JCA program.

[nev]

Yeah, I call bull-s#!+ on this one.

But it was on Wikipedia!    

Like you say though, perfect for whiff, even if it would be painted in lo-vis gray    

[anthonyp]

Yeah, I call bull-s#!+ on this one.

But it was on Wikipedia!    

Like you say though, perfect for whiff, even if it would be painted in lo-vis gray  

Precisely why I called BS  

Wikipedia, where they replaced the words "factual" and "researched."  With what they replaced them with, draw your own conclusions.

And low-vis grey ROCKS!!!  Light ghost, dark ghost, dark gull, flat gull, gunship... I could go on and on and on and on...   B)

One of my LHS's has an Eastern Express An-72 (or something close and/or approximating it).  I might pick it up and redo it as a JCA just for kicks.

Totally off subject, another one of my LHS's bit the big one in the last month.  Rider's of Madison Heights is no more (I was just there a month and a half ago, and there was no talk of closing!).

EDIT:  Ah, now I see how Boeing's involved in the JCA.  They joined the third party company (GMAS) to market the C-27J, with possible assembly responsibilities for themselves at Long Beach.  Interesting thing is the Boeing site has something about Boeing not competing in the FCA project with preceded the JCA, even though the front runners for that competition are the same as the JCA.