The Russian IL-96 to bid for USAF tanker contract as Northrop withdraws

[CathayPacific]

The unimaginable has happened. As the Airbus/Northrop venture of A330 based tanker withdrew from the bid, the Russian is going to enter a bid for the contract with a IL-96 based design!

Seriously, Putin expects to win this contract?

Additionally, EADS may come in by itself with the same A330 design. This is becoming a circus.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/03/19/us.russia.refueling.tanker/index.html?hpt=T2

[DAIRD]

Russian humor. What else?

[HalcyonDays]

Russian humor. What else?

It certainly seems a very Russian response. They certainly do not have the industrial and managerial capacity to manufacture hundreds of Il-96 airframes.

[DAIRD]

No, it's more like the Russian Baboshka puppets: if you lift one, you're gonna find a another one where another one is hidden in another one....
And with the Il-96 as a refueller it looks the same: one Il-96 to refuel another Il-96 to refuel another Il-96 which refuels a F/A - 18....

[Eric Diffoot]

................REALLY???

............this is becoming rediculous.

On what ground do they even think they have a chance? Boeing bitc* their way to get the competition redone and have it in a way that kinda force Airbus/EADS out.......temporarily. This would have been a great April Fools topic.

[Eaglefan68]

................REALLY???

............this is becoming rediculous.

On what ground do they even think they have a chance? Boeing bitc* their way to get the competition redone and have it in a way that kinda force Airbus/EADS out.......temporarily. This would have been a great April Fools topic.

This story contradicts the Russian bid story:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idCNLDE62L0AX20100322?rpc=44

[BoeingKing77]

I cant even IMAGINE a russian aircraft in US markings besides the few the US bought from former East Germany and former communist states. Just like someone said on the Show Top Ten,this aircrafts a turkey. You'd try to give it to an american pilot and he wouldnt fly it.

[APS]

You'd try to give it to an american pilot and he wouldnt fly it.

He'd fly whatever he was told to fly. He doesn't get a choice.