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| Aging Air Force wants big bucks fix |
| 2008-02-19 |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #4 Problem is more with the tanker fleet than the fast movers. Need a 737 (smaller) and 767 or 777 (larger) based version instead of the big KC-10 and not-as-big KC-135 (707 based) ancient flying gastanks we now have. Maint cost aand availability and lower crewing should make up the money in the long haul. And we really need a BUFF re-do, the damned thing is nearing half a century in age. Something that does what the B-52 does in low threat environments (plus maritime use), but at a lower cost than B-1 or B-2. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-02-19 22:30 |
| #3 Nah, just wait until Billary II or B.O. get in. B.O. will talk our enemies into loving us with his 'hope' theme. Hillary will just drive all the military to retire or the private sector. But that'll be OK, because anything bad that happens will still, somehow, be Bush's fault. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2008-02-19 11:53 |
| #2 Not to mention the fact that that fleet was very heavily used during the no-fly zone enforcement after Desert Storm. There were a lot of hidden costs to not having deposed Saddam the first time around. |
| Posted by: lotp 2008-02-19 11:29 |
| #1 "Aging Air Force There. Fixed that for ya. The F-22 and F-35 were SUPPOSED to have been in service in the mid to late 90s, but when the Cold War ended the Congress and the Clinton Administration decided that we could stretch that out because after all, we wouldn't have any more wars, would we? Put it in perspective, folks. The F-15 (as of now, it's subject to change)is scheduled to serve until at least 2015 - just shy of 40 years. By that time scale, we would have gone into Korea with the Sopwith Camel, and the P-51 Mustang would still have been in limited service in Operation Desert Storm. Modern combat aircraft cost money, and lots of it, and a disturbing proportion of it is due to political meddling. The USAF has gone without spares, support equipment, and promotions for a long time now to insure that only the best in the world fly top cover for this country. It's about time they stepped up and said, "This far and no more." Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2008-02-19 11:18 |