Author: Matthew G. Saroff

Tanker Tango Continues

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Boeing is now considering both the 767 and 777 to the USAF for its proposal, which would mean that their tanker proposals would bracket Airbus’ A330 proposal in size.

One complication is that Boeing has done nothing on the 777 concept, not even wind tunnel testing, so responding to the tanker RFP would be a challenge.

Meanwhile, Northrop-Grumman is saying that any RFP must seriously consider “best value” as a criteria, and since the A330 tanker is about the same price as the 767, and rather cheaper than the 777, it would favor them.

In any case, Boeing and NG were busy flinging poo at each other at the Paris air show. (paid subscription required)

More Bumps in the 787 Road to 1st Flight

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We have another delay in the 787 first flight, and this one is for a serious technical reason, “the revelation that the new airplane’s composite wing induced delamination and deformation on body join points during a routine preflight stress test.” (paid subscription required)

So as opposed to flying in the coming week, Boeing is now looking at a 3-6 month delay.

In related news, Qantas is canceling or deferring its 787 ordersdelay, though they are claiming that it’s the air traffic slowdown, and not the delay, that has led to this decision.

Remnants of Future Combat System Grow More Expensive

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The costs of the “Brigade Combat Teams” are escalating, according to the CBO.

When I worked on FCS,* they were called a “Unit of Action,” and I didn’t get it then.

The final word on this is in the final ‘graph of the linked post:

And the kicker? While the BCTs are supposed to be able to deploy faster to meet immediate needs, the report contends that while they will be able to respond more quickly than the Division model currently in use, “they require roughly the same amount of time to transport their equipment overseas.”

FCS, the gift that keeps giving.

*Full disclosure, I worked on the Future Recovery and Maintenance Vehicle, FRMV, “wrecker” variant of the FCS-MGV† from 2003-2006 at United Defense (later BAE Systems after the Carlyle Group sold me to buy Dunkin Donuts).
†Future Combat Systems-Manned Ground Vehicle. These are the ones that are the tanks and APCs. As opposed to the various unnmanned vehicles, networking technologies, etc. that form the full FCS along with the MGVs.‡
‡Yes, I have worked everywhere. Maybe I can’t hold down a job, but more likely this has been my role as “technical hit man”, where you are parachuted in to take care of a specific need.

F-15 Silent Eagle Updates

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It appears that the program executive officer for the JSF, General David Heinz, of the is unamused by Boeing’s marketing of the upgraded aircraft, which notes that it, “as all the stealth that has been approved for export by the U.S. government,” which implies that the export variants of the JSF will be less stealthy than than the version fielded by US forces.

I think that the general misses the point, it was not a shot at the JSF, but rather a shot at elements in the Pentagon who might want to restrict its export in order to further boost the F-35.

In the meantime, it does appear that Boeing is looking to minimize its exposure in the development process, as it’s aggressively looking for development partners, while it leaves the start of aircraft development on pause, pending a review of the “business case.”

They don’t want to invest in a product that no one will buy, and so they are slipping the flight test dates by 6 months.

Another Senseless Physics Related Tragedy

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Homeless Guy Smashes Other Homeless Guy Upside Head With Skateboard During Quantum Physics Argument:

A homeless man is on trial in San Mateo County on charges that he smacked a fellow transient in the face with a skateboard as the victim was engaged in a conversation about quantum physics, authorities said Wednesday.

I should have a joke here, but I got nothing.

Thankfully though, Opus3 at by invitation only Stellar Parthenon BBS does have a joke:

Actually, a common occurrence in physics departments, where the people look homeless…

He so owes me a screen wipe.

WTO Says Environmental Tarriffs Legal

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Much in the same way that they allow for the VAT to be charged at the border, a tariff to reflect the cost of carbon regulations would be legal:

Countries implementing cap-and-trade systems for greenhouse gases may be able to use border taxes to protect domestic industries, after the World Trade Organisation gave a cautious nod to such measures.

It’s basic common sense, though they do note that it cannot be, “a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade”.

Economics Update

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Generally, the news has been pretty good, with personal income rising and consumer confidence hitting the highest level in over a year.

Additionally, we are seeing more signs of a credit thaw, with the 3 month dollar LIBOR falling below 0.6%.

In energy, we have an offer of amnesty on the table in Nigeria, which has driven oil lower.

This has led to a decreased perception of risk, which, along with some statements by China’s central bank, drove the dollar down.

One wonders how bank failure Friday will shake out tonight.

Zimbabwe Update

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First off, we have a row between Mugabe and Tsvangerai over the Bank of Zimbabwe Governor, Gideon Gono.

This is a non-trivial row, because the spectacularly corrupt Gono was the architect of Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation, and he did so in order to pay off the various ZANU-PF constituencies to support Mugabe.

It’s gotten heated enough that the (ZANU-PF member) military and security chiefs have said that his removal would be unacceptable.

Members of the MDC have approached the Southern African Development Community asking for an intervention, but non seems forthcoming.

The regional association of governments is sticking with precedent, and being generally useless, so the MDC is moving toward changing the law chartering the Zimbabwean central bank so as to reduce Gono’s authority.

Things are improving a bit though at least in economy, with inflation moderating, though the persecution of civil rights activists continues.

In mining, which will necessarily be a source of much needed foreign currency, you have the good and the bad

On the good side, you have Zimbabwe Zimbabwe moving to ban raw chromium ore exports, and insisting that it be smelted first, which will greatly increase the benefit to society, as there is 10x the profit post smelter. (as an aside, the US and EU have filed a case against against China for doing this at the WTO, because under neocolonialist WTO rules, poor countries are not supposed to develop industries based on their resources)

We also have some gold mines reopening.

On the down side, mines minister is still one of Mugabe’s cronies, which means that he is still on the EU’s sanction list, and was denied a visa to enter the UK, and all indications are that this was well justified, as civil rights violations at the mines seem to be pretty horrific.

Specifically it appears that the Zimbabwe army is using slave labor to operate diamond mines in the east of the country, as a way for Mugabe to continue to pay off the military for its support. (See also here)

We are starting to see some aid resuming to Zimbabwe, with Norway being among the first western nations to do so, though most nations are taking steps to ensure that the aid does not pass through government agencies, which are still compromised.

Deep Thought*

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Farrah Fawcett died today, when she got to heaven god told her she could have one final wish.

She said she wanted all of the children on the Earth to be safe.

Shortly after Michael Jackson died of a heart attack.

*Not my thought though, it’s been floating around the web.

Non Denial Denial from Bernanke

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So, in testimony before the House Oversight Committee, he claims that the Federal Reserve acted with the “highest integrity” with regard to the BoA Merrill deal:

The Fed chairman said neither he nor any member of the Fed “instructed, or advised Bank of America to withhold from public disclosure any information relating to Merrill Lynch, including its losses, compensation packages or bonuses, or any other related matter.”

The disclosures “belong squarely with the company, and the Federal Reserve did not interfere in the company’s disclosure decisions,” he said.

Translation: I didn’t tell him to lie, but I said that if disclosures queer the deal, you are toast.

He testified against legislation allowing for audits of the Federal Reserve:

When asked about legislation that would allow for broad audits of the Fed by the Government Accountability Office, Bernanke said such powers would compromise the central bank’s independence and be “highly destructive to the stability of the financial system, the dollar and our national economic situation.” Maintaining independence on monetary policy is “critical,” he said.

I may not be one of those financial whiz kids, but when someone says, “No audits,” I think, “Serious waste, fraud, and abuse.”

Note to Self: Read Murray Waas

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Seriously, this guy is the best investigative reporter of my generation.

This time, he shows how the Bush administration leaked the fact that there was an investigation of Republican Congressman Rick Renzi the day after a wiretap warrant was approved:

In the fall of 2006, one day after the Justice Department granted permission to a U.S. attorney to place a wiretap on a Republican congressman suspected of corruption, existence of the investigation was leaked to the press — not only compromising the sensitive criminal probe but tipping the lawmaker off to the wiretap.

Career federal law enforcement officials who worked directly on a probe of former Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) said they believe that word of the investigation was leaked by senior Bush administration political appointees in the Justice Department in an improper and perhaps illegal effort to affect the outcome of an election.

At the time of the leak, Renzi was locked in a razor-thin bid for reelection and unconfirmed reports of a criminal probe could have become politically damaging. The leaked stories — appearing 10 days before the election — falsely suggested that the investigation of Renzi was in its initial stages and unlikely to lead to criminal charges.

Note that if they had gotten permission to wire tap a Congressman, criminal charges are nearly a slam dunk, and the US attorney pursuing the investigation of the now-indicted Renzi was one of those purged by Bush and His Evil Minions™ for insufficient political loyalty.

BTW, it appear that the leaker may have been Alice Fisher, who was a recess appointment by President Bush as Assistant Attorney General in charge the Criminal Division of the DoJ.

She is the only assistant AG in that position who has never tried a criminal case.

Un-dirtyword-believable.

The Supreme Court Gets One Right, 8-1

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With Clarance “The Speed Bump” Thomas being the dissent.

Notwithstanding some very hostile questioning by justices at the arguments, the Supreme Court has ruled that strip searching a 13 year old girl because someone alleged she was carrying Advil on her is just wrong.

Unfortunately, they also said that the plaintiff, Savana Redding, could not pursue her lawsuit, because at the time, the law was not clear.

This is the first time in decades that the supreme court has ruled for student’s rights at school.

I guess the spectacle of a 13 year old white girl being stripped for possession of headache pills was too much for even them.

I rather imagine that if Ms. Redding were black, the vote would have been closer.