Stargazer2006 said:
I guess you can say a design becomes a project when it gets a designation number, and then a program when it gets contracted and/or when a prototype gets built.
I would agree to the first part, but disagree to the second.
For me, the term "program" just means, that money is bound to be spent on a longer timescale, maybe for procurement
and maintenance of a series type, but maybe for research work on a specific field, not necessarily meant to lead to
a series aircraft. So a "project" can very well lead to flying hardware.Where should be the border between "projects" and
"programs" otherwise? When the prototype completed its flight testing, or when it was just finished for its first flight ?
Or when the first metal was actually cut and first components built ? Perhaps when the first metal on a proof-of-concept
demonstrator was cut, which not necessarily has to have much in common with a later series version ?
The general definition says, that a "project" is "... a singular, purposeful intention", but it says nothing about the result.
And a program is just a fixed objective and a fixed agreement, how to achieve a certain goal. So I think, both terms don't
rule out each other.
But I agree with Paul, that we shouldn't bother too much about linguistics and perhaps just keep in mind the forum rule:
"Prototypes that didn't enter series production may also be appropriate at the descretion of the moderators.
Aircraft built
in series production should generally be discussed in the "Aerospace" section "
It's relatively clear and easy and was sufficient all the years this forum now exists !
About the AP.519 please remember this thread, too:
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1651.msg47281.html#msg47281
