1939

Jim- Makes sense. By the time I started flying F-111s in the early 70s, it was just GD. Same thing happened to Mc-D in St Louis, just a lot faster, and to North-American/Rockwell. You really do need a family tree to keep them straight. I did source selection for the Airborne Laser in the 90s and during the process, Boeing bought Rockwell, which thoroughly confused the proceedings since they were the two competitors. So Boeing did not grump too much when the other Boeing won.

 

Typhoon was on the drawing board ages ago and took so long to come about it really is just a Gen 3 delta fighter that has finally emerged in Gen 4 times and surrounded by that marketing. No Viper, Hornet, or Rafale driver is losing sleep over Typhoon...and I've flown it in ACM/BFM. It's a great airplane, but nothing worth buying for anyone not saddled with an investment ball and chain agreement.