Tanker competition.

• Author: Corbett, James Trent
• Position: READER'S FORUM - Letter to the editor

* In the article, "Defense Department can split tanker buy, and still save money" (June 2009), the authors mention only those issues that benefit from a split Air Force KC-X tanker buy. Arguments against a split buy might include the fact that you are not only buying the best aircraft, but also the loser aircraft of the competition as well. There are costs involved with separate training, maintenance and logistics. Will it be cost effective to have two separate aircraft assembly lines? This will make it harder to reach the...