narrow interest

i'm only including this news bit for a couple of specific readers, many of the rest of you probably won't find it interesting.

American soldiers will soon be flying in German- and French- designed helicopters built in the heart of Dixie and powered by Texas-produced engines.

Champagne toasts were the order of the day at American Eurocopter headquarters in Grand Prairie late Friday after the U.S. Army announced that it plans to spend upward of $2 billion to buy 322 helicopters that will be built in Mississippi...

Bell spokesman Mike Cox said company executives were disappointed by the Army’s decision, but they still believe the Bell 412 – “was the best aircraft for the missions the LUH will fly.”

The 412 is a larger, more powerful helicopter than the Eurocopter model, but its list price – roughly $6.0 million each – was at least a million dollars per aircraft higher.

“We knew based on the price point that they were looking for that we were high,” Cox said, but Bell officials had hoped to convince the Army that the greater capability was worth the extra cost...

note the similar surnames of the bell spokesman and the author of the article.