The machinists' union said yesterday that it filed court papers challenging efforts by bankrupt jet maker Hawker Beechcraft to sell itself to a Chinese company, alleging that the move could cost jobs and threaten U.S. national security, Reuters reported yesterday. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said that the sale deserved scrutiny from federal regulators, state officials and the community of Wichita, Kansas, where Hawker Beechcraft is based. Hawker Beechcraft, owned by Goldman Sachs and Onex Corp, disclosed last week it was in talks regarding a $1.8 billion sale of the company with Superior Aviation Beijing Co., a 60-40 joint venture between privately owned Beijing Superior Aviation Technology Co and government-backed Beijing E-Tong International Investment & Development Co.
