McDonnell Deal With Taiwan

Re “Flying Into New Territory,” by Ralph Vartabedian, Nov. 21: I usually enjoys Vartabedian’s articles but wish to make two remarks:

--In the list of “foreign content of American aircraft” he mentions Japanese, Canadian, Korean, Italian, Spanish and Australian components, but forgets French ones and rather important ones at that: French jets. As a dual U.S.-French citizen, I could not let that pass.

--Further, he states that “European nations have invested $26 billion to build up Airbus since 1970, and the subsidies show no sign of ending.”

Airbus replies that defense contracts to Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, etc., serve the same purpose as subsidies and the Europeans also remember the $200 ashtrays.

The EC is now investigating British Airways ethics for “suspicious dealings” with Boeing. The British airline never bought a single Airbus jet, after quitting the European consortium when it looked about to fail and begging to join Airbus again when it prospered (28% of the world market, according to Vartabedian).

JACQUES M. POLETTI, Los Angeles