Technical prestige as an end in itself for successful firms

This commercial competition [of aviation fuels] was a result of the profit motive, but was far from profitable, as is often the case in aviation, and was really competition for technical prestige.

Technical prestige in the case of aviation often punishes the corporate balance sheet but may be said to be profitable in the sense that a company solely engaged in any branch of aviation business goes out of business sooner or later if technical prestige is lacking.

That was from Schlaifer and Heron’s 1951 classic, Development of Aircraft Engines and Fuels.