Three Firms Awarded $1-Billion-Plus AF Pact

Beech Aircraft Co., McDonnell Douglas Co. and Quintron have landed an Air Force contract to provide aircraft and related training worth more than $1 billion, Beech said.

If all options are exercised, the Air Force will get 211 Beechjets from 1991 through 1997, according to a statement from Beech, a unit of Raytheon Co.

Beech said its portion of the contract, including logistics support, would total about $1 billion.

McDonnell Douglas will coordinate a system for training pilots and will be responsible for system integration, while Quintron will provide flight simulators, Beech said.

Beech will eventually add 500 people to its payroll.