Government contracts, which could be lucrative, were always a matter of public interest. As a result, competitive bidding was used to ensure transparency, fairness, and accessibility to a wide number of potential contractors. This system was not always conducive to producing the best and most effective product, especially in the case of aircraft and engines that had a rapid obsolescence rate. In addition, the General Staff, which controlled the purse strings for the Air Corps, had a major role in deciding which aircraft would be purchased and for what missions they would be used. The problems with this system were illustrated by the Boeing XB-17 prototype that promised a dramatic increase in performance: it was faster than any pursuit aircraft while also carrying over two tons of bombs for 2,000 miles. But when it crashed during performance trials due to pilot error, the General Staff refused to buy the revolutionary bomber and instead insisted on purchasing hundreds of less capable, but cheaper, medium bombers. Airmen who protested this decision were punished with demotion and exile.