Actually, thinking about Tesla is appropriate. No one really thought starting a new automotive manufacturer from scratch was possible, but Tesla did it. Yes, it's very hard and you'll probably fail, but if you do things different you might actually have a chance. The reasons all the old aircraft companies failed is probably the same reason Boeing is struggling. Don't copy what they've done in the past, make your own way. Yes, I know that building aircraft is a much higher hill to climb, but I think it might be worth it.

They could also join some of the small aircraft startups that are trying to gain a foothold. Maybe a cadre of experienced aircraft engineers would help them raise money and get a product to market faster.