2005 Aerospace Source Book

YOUR AW&ST AEROSPACE SOURCE BOOK

Welcome to the 10th edition of Aviation Week & Space Technology's Aerospace Source Book. This year's volume brings you--even more than in the past--the information and analyses that can help you understand the global aerospace industry of today and likely prospects for business, commercial and military aviation and space.

The Source Book appears this year as robust U.S. spending on defense, the war in Iraq and homeland security has pushed the market values of participating companies to new heights. In contrast, the U.S. airline industry is enduring continued financial turmoil while prospects brighten for carriers in Europe and Asia.

Airbus is close to the first flight of the A380 and recently received permission to seek orders for the A350. Boeing continues to build sales of its midsize 7E7 while maintaining the success of its 777. Regional jets, the darlings of the air transport industry for the last few years, are seeing their fortunes fade in favor of larger aircraft that rival single-aisle offerings from Airbus and Boeing.

On the military side, the F/A-22 and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter are edging closer to production while the Rafale, Eurofighter and F/A-18E/F are rolling off the assembly lines. The A400M transport is expected to enter service in 2009, while the C-17 and C-130J continue in production.