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Boeing intentionally spread its operations to as many states as possible in the US to guarantee itself some level of privilege amongst a large number of politic

Boeing intentionally spread its operations to as many states as possible in the US to guarantee itself some level of privilege amongst a large number of politicians from both major parties. There are clearly downsides to having manufacturing split up like this but the decision wasn't made for its engineering perks. Boeing is a sinking ship but nobody is eager to rock the boat lest their part of the ship take on more water than the others.

stefan_ 3y ago
That’s not really any different from how Airbus works (and explicitly so). But I learned that Boeing literally outsourced the fuselage and that makes you wonder if they are really fit to build airplanes…
- Sirizarry 3y ago
  Do you have an article or two where I could start the airbus rabbit hole?
  - pcurve 3y ago
    Here's a growing list of approved suppliers for Airbus. https://www.airbus.com/sites/g/files/jlcbta136/files/2023-04 https://www.airbus.com/sites/g/files/jlcbta136/files/2023-04... Their larger planes are assembled in Toulouse, but smaller planes are made globally.
- dreamcompiler 3y ago
  Boeing outsourced the fuselage to Boeing in Wichita, which had always built them. Boeing spun off that branch into a separate company now called Spirit, which is still basically Boeing except for its name.
  - hakfoo 3y ago
    If it's "still Boeing except for the name", that still smells funny. They got something out of spawning a new corporate entity. Without a convincing TL;DR I think most of us will assume it's for reasons that sound good to Boeing business people, but not to outside people. (I. e. being a "new entity" to avoid existing labour contracts, or serving as a liability firewall in the event chunks of plane start flying off)
  - panick21_ 3y ago
    Spirit is not just Boeing. Since the Spin-out Spirit has been buying many other companies and they are a supplier to both Boeing and Airbus. About 65% of their costumer base is Boeing. Spirit is a totally independent company.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
HeWhoLurksLate 3y ago
Lockheed Martin similarly has operations spread out to curry favors, but they also seem to build reliable stuff...
- damiankennedy 3y ago
  The F-35 has been plagued with defects. Even the ejector seat had a defect.
  - HeWhoLurksLate 3y ago
    ...okay then, looks like I was wrong. Guess they have a better PR department?
    - DoingIsLearning 3y ago
      Boeing's (aeronautic business) end-users are millions of passengers, Lockheed Martin's end-users are Defense and Intelligence. No need for damage control if mum's the word.
    - inferiorhuman 3y ago
      They were "smart" enough to get out of the airliner business after the rather spectacular failure of the L-1011 and the whole wings falling off thing they went through with the Electra. The military has a much higher tolerance for bullshit. The wings keep falling off the C-130 and the military keeps flying them (and the C-5).
      - hypercube33 3y ago
        I can't find a lot about c130 wings falling off. I found this which implies a known problem for c130a's wingbox which has a billion to retrofit with a new design - https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-sad-story-of-tanker-130-the-c-130-whose-wings-fall-off-during-the-2002-fire-season/ https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-sad-story-of-tanker-130-... Any more information?
hintymad 3y ago
> Boeing intentionally spread its operations to as many states as possible Interestingly, it is the senators who forced Boeing's hand, according to the ACQ podcast on Lockheed Martin. The senators were responsible to approve all kinds of government budgets for Boeing, and they wouldn't approve it unless Boeing also created jobs in their states.

stefan_ 3y ago

That’s not really any different from how Airbus works (and explicitly so). But I learned that Boeing literally outsourced the fuselage and that makes you wonder if they are really fit to build airplanes…

Sirizarry 3y ago
Do you have an article or two where I could start the airbus rabbit hole?
- pcurve 3y ago
  Here's a growing list of approved suppliers for Airbus. https://www.airbus.com/sites/g/files/jlcbta136/files/2023-04 https://www.airbus.com/sites/g/files/jlcbta136/files/2023-04... Their larger planes are assembled in Toulouse, but smaller planes are made globally.
dreamcompiler 3y ago
Boeing outsourced the fuselage to Boeing in Wichita, which had always built them. Boeing spun off that branch into a separate company now called Spirit, which is still basically Boeing except for its name.
- hakfoo 3y ago
  If it's "still Boeing except for the name", that still smells funny. They got something out of spawning a new corporate entity. Without a convincing TL;DR I think most of us will assume it's for reasons that sound good to Boeing business people, but not to outside people. (I. e. being a "new entity" to avoid existing labour contracts, or serving as a liability firewall in the event chunks of plane start flying off)
- panick21_ 3y ago
  Spirit is not just Boeing. Since the Spin-out Spirit has been buying many other companies and they are a supplier to both Boeing and Airbus. About 65% of their costumer base is Boeing. Spirit is a totally independent company.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

HeWhoLurksLate 3y ago

Lockheed Martin similarly has operations spread out to curry favors, but they also seem to build reliable stuff...

damiankennedy 3y ago
The F-35 has been plagued with defects. Even the ejector seat had a defect.
- HeWhoLurksLate 3y ago
  ...okay then, looks like I was wrong. Guess they have a better PR department?
  - DoingIsLearning 3y ago
    Boeing's (aeronautic business) end-users are millions of passengers, Lockheed Martin's end-users are Defense and Intelligence. No need for damage control if mum's the word.
  - inferiorhuman 3y ago
    They were "smart" enough to get out of the airliner business after the rather spectacular failure of the L-1011 and the whole wings falling off thing they went through with the Electra. The military has a much higher tolerance for bullshit. The wings keep falling off the C-130 and the military keeps flying them (and the C-5).
    - hypercube33 3y ago
      I can't find a lot about c130 wings falling off. I found this which implies a known problem for c130a's wingbox which has a billion to retrofit with a new design - https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-sad-story-of-tanker-130-the-c-130-whose-wings-fall-off-during-the-2002-fire-season/ https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-sad-story-of-tanker-130-... Any more information?

hintymad 3y ago

> Boeing intentionally spread its operations to as many states as possible Interestingly, it is the senators who forced Boeing's hand, according to the ACQ podcast on Lockheed Martin. The senators were responsible to approve all kinds of government budgets for Boeing, and they wouldn't approve it unless Boeing also created jobs in their states.