Air Force Resumes Payments on C-17: The...

Air Force Resumes Payments on C-17: The Air Force had suspended payments to McDonnell Douglas Corp. for development costs on the C-17 cargo jet in July over problems with the cost estimates for developing the $30-billion, 120-plane program. A company spokesman said the Air Force has made payments of $71 million in late September and $59 million early this month. The plane is being built at the company’s huge Douglas Aircraft Co. plant in Long Beach. Aerospace analyst Lawrence Harris of Bateman Eichler, Hill Richards said McDonnell Douglas appears to have satisfied the Air Force’s questions about the C-17’s cost.