[thedilg]

Weren't the numbers based on 900+ projected units?

I have followed fairly closely for about the last 2 years. The quantity of 458 has been relatively static. Just recently the cost quietly jumped $2 Billion. I expect that the cost will continue to rise.

If the original program cost was $58 billion for 900 airframes, the original program unit cost was $64 million a copy vs todays $131 million a copy. So far this is just a doubling of the cost estimate. I always figure on a Phi factor increase. (3.1416) It hasn't happened yet because of the difficulties. Once they get production release from the DSARC principals look for the cost to about double again. My prediction. Hold me too it.

Godfspeed, The Dilg

[Bobsat]

The CATO Institute report referred to in #42 by Drago mentioned 913, but that was many years ago. It's basically 50 year old technology that they've been trying to get to work on the V-22 for 15 years. Bear in mind that we landed on the moon (repeatedly) 34 years ago, and even with all the advances since then, the Osprey is still plagued with seemingly insurmountable shortcomings.

Even if the technical problems were overcome )and it could land power-off), its horrendous price tag puts it in the company of the F-111 and Harrier as an expensive (potential) solution in search of a problem.

When the Military-Industrial Complex Eisenhower warned of wasn't looking, the excellent A-10 was developed and deployed. Relatively cheap, very effective, and irreplacable in the current inventory as the USAF geniuses found out when they tried to mothball it before Desert Storm. There's was just nothing like that flying gun to zap tanks!

Presuming that there is a real need for a fast VTOL transport, tell me again why Harrier technology won't work....