A Final Push for the Bedeviled, Beloved Osprey

The New York Times ^ | 07/06/03 | LESLIE WAYNE

[Cicero]

Maybe Boeing and Textron should settle for the $7 billion they've already gotten from this program.

[Cicero]

Sorry, $12 billion.

[Tacis]

Each of the V-22 aircraft being tested requires 122 mechanics to keep it viable and at least 12 clerical staff to make sure the records reflect the desired results. This is a terrible program and should be scrapped. The time and money being wasted could be put to much better use developing something that would work.

The diversity police have just forced Bell and the Pentagon to have the plate on the underside of each V-22 machine which says "LOOK OUT ABOVE, FALLING SCRAP METAL!!" also printed in six other languages to help save folks as these crash outside the US.

[RaceBannon]

Another issue: It will take a full year of training before anyone trusts a pilot in one of those to carry troops again, especially into combat that isn't kamakazi oriented.

USMC 1977-1981

[Parley Baer]

Remember now that this story is from the New York Times which is not exactly friendly to the military. They would rather see the money spent on social programs. I would want to see more sources before making up my mind on the subject. Parley

[Dick Vomer]

Simple problem solver....

have the CEO, CFO, retired Marine "consultants" and 1 congressman fly the Osprey for the next year exclusivly on short trips. Rotate the congressional supporters weekly so that they all can demonstrate how "useful" this machine is.

I mean, it's good enough to transport troops into a hot LZ. So why not a safe little commute around the country.... seems easy enough.

Greed....follow the money.

[Bobsat]

Amazingly well balanced article for the NYT.

As a former Army pilot (Vietnam - '68-'70), I'm still in the "inherently flawed" camp on the V-22. When they demonstrate that it can safely land with NO engine power, I'll reconsider....

[upchuck]

I wonder how many bucks Linda Dasshole has made off this boondogle?

Nice idea, the Osprey, maybe just a little ahead of it's time?

[Prof Engineer]

After two decades in development...

Time to quit flogging the dead horse already.

[dighton]

...

[Chief_Airframer]

Do one successful auto-rotation and I'll be sold

[Bobsat]

Do one successful auto-rotation and I'll be sold

I don't think they're even claiming that it can theoretically autorotate....

Any landing that results in injury or aircraft damage is called a "crash" just to make that point clear before the V-22 apologists get here.

[Criminal Number 18F]

Once again, the NYT cites the extreme-left, anti-military Center for Defense Information, a onetime Soviet front, as an objective organisation. I call BS!

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[eno_]

Remember now that this story is from the New York Times which is not exactly friendly to the military...

It's still an obvious deathtrap. And if it wasn't, it's still hideously expensive. Somebody in the world must be able to gear up to make enough helicopters to replace the old Sea Knights and etc.

[MaxPlus305]

If Dick Cheney was against it, it must be bad.