Antoin, Thank you for your question and thoughts; If I were going to buy that many planes, I would look within and cover all options from within. As for the Ford truck, Yes it is American made. It is a 1986 F-150 AND STILL going strong ! Thanks for Ford's engineering, All I do is add water ,Change the oil, change plugs , tires, and the "nut" behind the steering wheel. California being part of the USA, They buy American air products ! Again, Thanks for your thoughts, Bob BOB FLETCHER US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS MILITARY DESIGN SECTION 10th FLOOR S.W. SACRAMENTO DISTRICT 1325 J STREET, SACRAMENTO CALIFORNIA, 95814-2922 Phone (916) 557-7235 -----Original Message----- From: Antoin Daltun [mailto:adaltun@xxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2004 10:11 AM To: AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: SFGate: Virgin to buy Airbus airplanes/Branson names carrier; executive lineup announced Bob I enjoy your postings, but on this I have to ask: Do you believe it is wrong for non-US airlines to buy US aircraft? Would you expect Boeing, GE, Pratt & Whitney to agree? What about US Companies investing abroad and foreign investment in the US? Do you realise foreign trade is only about 10% of US GDP? Are you sure your Ford pick-up was built in the US? And where does the logic stop? [What about States Rights? Should only Californians own Californian airlines flying Californian aircraft?] Antoin Daltun living in a country which lives by exporting and importing ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fletcher, Robert SPK" <Robert.Fletcher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: 16 June 2004 15:48 Subject: Re: SFGate: Virgin to buy Airbus airplanes/Branson names carrier; executive lineup announced > The fact that this action by Richard Branson to buy Airbus instead of Boeing > is totally wrong; whether it was Boeing or Lockheed or any other American > company or not, the fact that Branson has hurt an AMERICAN COMPANY. Our > people should BUY AMERICAN . It is just WRONG to go outside your own > country and purchase someone's else's products, We have , I think, the best > production companies in the world ! Oh yes, I realize the "out the door" > price can sometimes dictate where you obtain your requirement, the fact that > this has put fully productive people out of work and many will end up on the > dole. That is one reason I bought my Ford as verses a foreign car/truck. I > believe in American made products and the folks that work in our factories! > They are AMERICAN workers and deserve to be building for the USA !