> Of course one could argue Boeing receives massive 'subsidies' from the US government in terms of pork-laden defence spending contracts.

Were their defense programs (which includes clients outside the US, one of the interesting aspects of this move on their part, as they still want to sell Canada military planes) subsidizing their commercial operations, why would they not simply shut the commercial side down and keep more of that sweet, sweet, defense money as pure profit?

Of course, if it doesn't, why doesn't Lockheed build out a commercial division? Do the technologies for each application just diverge too far to make it an irresistible combo?