I've written before about the massive financial boondoggle that is the VH-71 Kestrel program to produce a new Presidential helicopter.
At last comes some potentially good news. According to CNN:
President Obama said Monday he’s pretty happy with helicopter he has — though the new commander-in-chief joked he's never had one to compare it to.
During a fiscal summit at the White House Monday, Arizona Sen. John McCain — Obama's former rival for the White House — pressed the new president on the Defense Department's plan to overhaul the fleet of 28 Marine One helicopters, a process that began early in the Bush administration.
The price tag for the new helicopters has been estimated at over $11 billion, more than the cost of Air Force One — a cost that Obama said appeared unnecessary.
"The helicopter I have now seems perfectly adequate to me," Obama responded to laughter. "Of course, I've never had a helicopter before.
"You know? Maybe — maybe I've been deprived and i didn't know it. But I think it is a — an example of the procurement process gone amok and we're going to have to fix it."
Hear, hear, Mr. President! The sooner this colossal waste of taxpayer's money is grounded for good, the better!
Peter
I realize they've spent a mint on this, but which is the alternative between spending whatever is left to finish the project, going back to Sea Kings, or starting new? An awful choice to make, and I don't envy the guy that gets stuck jumping on that one.
ReplyDeleteJim
Keep your fingers crossed. One thing we in the test community depend on is "user support." I think that just went out the door!
ReplyDeleteTC
Leatherneck
Here's the problem with the helicopters. They're wonderful...as long as they run.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how it is in the Marines, but the Air Force helicopters (and many of its fighters and bombers) are so old, they no longer make spare parts. The fact that so many fly so well is a testimony to the manufacturers of the 70s and the ingenuity of the military maintenance personnel.
While I appreciate Obama's wanting to save tax dollars, I do hope he'll listen to the people who have actually had helicopters.