The planes were not big. They were just fifteen meters long with wings less than seven meters across.
VOA: special.2010.07.07
But this week the planemaker signed a big deal with Wings Air of Indonesia, which will eventually have a fleet of 60 ATR turboprops, of which 40 will be its latest model, the 72-600 (pictured), which seats up to 74.
Moreover, says Adrian Beney of More Partnership, a fund-raising consultancy, such gifts are often essential for capital projects: small donations typically cover running costs, big ones pay for new wings in galleries or hospitals.
With the deal on hold, the European consortium that makes the Eurofighter is panting in the wings, proving that big-ticket arms sales are far from over.