Size IS important to Boeing

Jeff Robinson, Boeing's marketing manager has invited me along to Everett site, at 3003 West Casino Road, Everett, WA 98203 for a photo-op to see the Guiness Book approved world's BIGGEST mural which is a digital graphic that has been applied to all six hangar doors on the south side of the building, which is also recognized by Guinness as the largest building in the world by volume.

Sory to disappoint readers but, my camera simple isn't big enough but Jeff says he will rush me an official pic as soon as. I would like to make it, just to meet those guys from Guiness and get them to slip me in as Lord Patel of the Internet the First Lord of the Internet. (Which is a bit cheeky for a Muslim non-drinker dontcha think ?)

Everett is of course where Boeing will assemble all the bits (40 tons of Japanese PAN carbon fibre in each plane) made almost everywhere else in the world to make their 787 Dreamliner ... no wonder Airbus who passed the evacuation of the A380 yesterday (another world's BIGGEST Mr Guiness !!) with flying colours calls it the Lego - Liner. Just to interest the legislators among you Gov Chris Gregoire of Washington State got the The State Legislature in 2003 to approve tax breaks for aerospace manufacturers as part of the state's effort to convince Boeing to build the 787 in the state... he's just extended these breaks to other aerospace companies in the state... and Boeing complain Airbus gets subsidies !!!

Smallest


Boeing have produced the new small Diameter bomb the USAF's newest precision guided munition just 71 inches long and weighing in at 285 pounds, the bomb's small size increases the number of weapons an aircraft can carry, therefore raising the amount of targets it can kill in one sortie.(They beat Lockheed Martin to get the contract)

Because of its size and precision accuracy, it also reduces collateral, or unintended, damage in the target vicinity. Available in a high damage steel casing or low collateral composite casing increases the type of target available.

Complementing the weapon is a smart miniature munitions carriage systemsimilar to an aircraft stores management system by communicating with and controlling up to four weapons. The whole wing mounted system can carry four small diameter bombs, enabling an aircraft to quadruple its load out.

A small diameter bomb can be used in adverse weather and has a standoff range of more than 60 nautical miles with supersonic launch.It is said to be compatible with every U.S. fighter and bomber aircraft

Once released, the weapon uses its inertial navigation and an anti-jam Global Positioning System to fly to the target. Its guidance is further augmented by a differential GPS system, which provides corrections to enhance accuracy. (Harris Corporation a Boeing Gold Supplier has the contract for the GPS system - worth $500Mn alone)

As the Air Force chief of staff's (John Jumper) number one weapon priority, the small diameter bomb is the fastest major acquisition program in Eglin history.

The small diameter bomb will first be integrated on the F-15E Strike Eagle and is scheduled to have required assets available in September. This means warfighters will have the weapon in their arsenal and can use it.

"In the urban conflict we're currently engaged in, the warfighter struggles at times to find a weapon that gives them a desired effect on a target without an excessive effect," Col. Richard Justice, commander of the Miniature Munitions Systems Group said, "so the small diameter bomb will be a nice addition."

The Air Force plans to purchase 24,000 small diameter bombs through 2017 at less than $30,000 a weapon.

So the real kicker is that each F-15E instead of carrying 2 X 250 lb JDAM's @ $30,000 a throw, he loads up with 8 x SMDB's @ $30,000 a throw, that's 1/4 Mn bucks a sortie into the Boeing coffers. Small bombs BBBIG profits ...but don't tell Mr Guiness !!

(Pic bomb at close quarters, the white conical things the men in uniform are holding are styrofoam coffee cups.)