Today's editorial cautions against hasty condemnation of the Air Force's decision to give Northrop Grumman and Airbus the contract for its new tankers rather than Boeing, which, of course, has a major manufacturing facility in Everett, Wash.

Most of the letters we've received on this subject have disagreed with the Air Force's decision. The one that ran today criticized Airbus' quality in contrast with Boeing's:

Boeing is the most experienced and most successful aircraft builder in history. Boeing is the world leader in aircraft tanker technology. Ask any major airline pilot who has flown both the Airbus 330 and the Boeing 767. The Airbus uses awkward and sometimes hazardous technology for automated flight control especially during the critical landing phase.

The work of manufacturing aircraft for our military ought to be the job of a U.S. company like Boeing with its advanced technology and experience and with the economic benefit remaining here. Mark A. Bauernfeind, Spokane Valley

(File photo of Boeing 767)

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