The first table shows staggering loss after staggering loss yet both Airbus and Boeing are still around. They are large, diversified companies with loads of defense business and all that implies.

The table also shows cost estimating is nuts in both the private and public sectors. Any honestly costed program will not make it past a Board of Directors or Congress. But something has to go forward and so overoptimism makes some careers in the near-term and kills others in the long-term.