Sure, if you gave them a nice hint like that ("name an airliner"). I didn't say "name an airliner." I said, "what kind of plane is used as Air Force One." I work in avionics, and I don't believe a lot of my colleagues know the answer.

Whether or not a 747 itself is recognizable, I won't argue, and isn't my point. Walk up to random person on the street and ask them what kind of plane is used as Air Force One, and I doubt many of them will know the answer.

Not completely. The fuselage and blades are built in the UK. Other components are built in Italy.

Again, I know that. Now you're just nitpicking. Besides, try telling Lockheed UK that they aren't a European company. LMSI in Owego, NY is the prime, but LM an International corporation.

I know that. My point is AgustaWestland is a European company, and is a subcontractor to LM (the prime). People raised a stink because of it, but LM still won the contract.

I would argue that the average American does not know or care what kind of plane it is.

What does the prime contractor have to do with it? Marine One is contracted to an American company, but the Aircraft is built by a European company.

You're wrong. The helicopter replacing Marine One is European. Why wouldn't they do the same for Air Force One?

What did he said about backups after this? My curious because, usually, people don't learn.

I've been trying to convince my red-neck family of that for YEARS. My daughter's mother bought her two swimsuits from Wal-mart for $20 a piece. Each wore out in a week. I then bought her one from a sporting goods store for $40 that lasted over a year. Of course, I got an earful because I wasted money ($40 for a swimsuit?!). Sigh.

I was going to feel sorry for her, but she whined in the article it would take her TWO years to recouple her loses. Just two years to earn back 1/2 a million.

No, no, no. Dylan Thomas, not Bob Dylan!

(and the groups is actual comp.std.c++)

comp.lang.std.c++ is dead. Has been for a while.