Gunn Sights by Gunn Tom;

Author:Gunn, Tom; [Gunn, Tom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Naval Institute Press

CHAPTER 4

Selected Case Studies

This is not an official or comprehensive history of any transaction or program; rather, in the time-honored mode of “don’t just tell me what to do, show me how to do it,” this chapter puts a focus on selected work of the sales and marketing teams that I was involved with in one capacity or another. These case studies include examples of airplanes, weapons, and support services, presented more or less in chronological order—although there were many overlapping programs and many programs are not included here.

Here you have what we did, why we did it, how we did it, and to what result in a range of complex and, at times, apparently doomed efforts. The details are based in large part on our collective memories, which may differ at times from whatever is on the published record, wherever appearing. Some of the things that we did, or that happened to us, are most assuredly not on the record. They may be the most instructive parts of the narrative.

C-17

The most successful program in company history almost didn’t happen, several times. Call it an example of how many things can go wrong and how often, before everything comes together. This tale begins in 1973 when Boeing and McDonnell Douglas each received a contract to build and test prototypes for the Advanced Medium STOL (Short-Takeoff and Landing) Transport (AMST). The idea was to develop a modern replacement for the aging C-130 cargo plane and test some new technology for short-field landings and takeoffs. Boeing entered the YC-14, and McDonnell Douglas entered the YC-15. After some successful flight tests, the program was cancelled.

I was then the director of government affairs. I found out about the cancellation from the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), who called me and said, “I’ve got bad news and good news.” The bad news: the AMST is dead. They were going to re-open the Lockheed C-5 line—the giant of airlifters—to build fifty more airplanes. The good news: as a consolation prize McDonnell Douglas would be awarded a contract for forty-four new KC-10 dual role tanker-airlifters.

“Budget reasons” were cited as the official excuse for the cancellation. The AMST would be too expensive. The AMST wouldn’t resolve another airlift issue, namely, what to do about the much-larger but also aging C-141s. Both statements were true. However, I was told by a knowledgeable official that the administration didn’t want to replace aging C-130s with anything but new C-130s, and the replacement for the C-141 would be an improved version of the C-5, the C-5B. Both airplanes were built by Lockheed, in Georgia, home state of President Jimmy Carter, who happened to be the direct boss of the “knowledgeable official.” Perhaps it was just a coincidence, but neither of the AMST contractors had operations in Georgia. Or so I was told.

DoD and the Air Force agreed with the decision to cancel the AMST, but also agreed on an urgent need to study the airlifter issue. This led to the RFP for a new airplane, the C-X (Cargo Transport Aircraft-Experimental).

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.