Close to the Sun: How Airbus Challenged America's Domination of the Skies

Aris has crafted a highly entertaining and informative account of the development of Airbus Industrie, despite a few errors and ommisions.Like all European industry analysts, Aris' supporting arguments for government subsidies of Airbus are one sided and self-serving. The now standard mantra that Boeing commercial aircraft development benefitted from the USAF funded KC-135 is rolled out here again. This completely ignores the development of the Boeing Model 367-80 several years in advance, at a cost equivalent to the net worth of The Boeing Company at the time. It was through this gamble that Boeing succeeded in convincing the USAF that a jet powered aerial tanker was necessary, as well as spurring airline interest in this technology. In addition, most countries favor their indigenous industries in their government's military procurement, Europe included. By claiming that government subsidization of a civilian aircraft industry infrastructure is necessary, the Europeans are effectively admitting that they were underfunding their own defenses throughout the cold war, relying on Uncle Sam's presence to enable them to invest public funds in industrial development and international trade. The other ommisions are of a more minor nature, including the statement that the A310 featured the industry's first 2-man flight deck (what about the DC-9 and the option on early 737's?). Aris also falls for the "revisionist history" arguement that the 777 was only meant to compete with the A330 and the MD11, leaving the A340 solely in competition with the 747. What about all those ads in Aviation Week extolling the virtues of 4 engines on long over-water flights? Why did Singapore airlines "trade in" its A340's (before the last one was delivered) and buy 777's? And the claim that the A340-200/300 is "as fast" as a 747 is pure comedy to anyone with any knowledge of these aircraft. I guess Aris just didn't want to have to explain that the 777 outsold the A330 and the A340-200/300 combined. Okay, so having said all that how can I rate this as a four-star effort? The large commercial aircraft industry has become so highly politicized that I expect any account of either of the two remaining participants to be heavily biased. Having this expectation, I was able to concentrate on the positive aspects of this account, and there are many. The inside details of the politics between the partners is especially interesting and something we in America don't appreciate enough. European industry can be rightfully proud of what they have accomplished so far, and they will no doubt continue at the industry's cutting edge. I would recommend this book to any serious student of the commercial aircraft industry, but as part of a "balanced diet". I also recommend "Flying High" by Eugene Rogers (no, not the company sponsored "Legend and Legacy"), as well as "Birds of Prey" by Matthew Lynn. Finally, "The Sporty Game" By John Newhouse (if you can find a copy) remains king of the hill.