Saving Long Beach

Boeing’s decision to close its 767 line in Everett, Wash., (see above) could prove the salvation of its C-17 production facility in Long Beach, Calif. Boeing’s Chief Financial Officer James Bell said at a Miami conference earlier this week that the company might use the Long Beach plant to produce a 767 aerial refueling aircraft if Boeing gets the contract from the Air Force to build a KC-135 tanker replacement. The Los Angeles Times reports that a 777-based tanker would be built in Everett, though.