Author Topic: US Presidential Helicopter Fleet (Read 640 times)

Wolfala · « **on:** March 25, 2004, 07:10:55 PM »

Interesting report on NPR this evening - the U.S. helicopter fleet for the CIC is going to be supplied from the UK and Italy - apparently in thank you for support over the years. Senator Dodd of Connecticut mentioned this was not going to be mentioned until after the election. Sikorsky already started cutting jobs.

Wolf

Sandman · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2004, 09:16:59 PM »

Fleet?

I would be surprised if HMX-1 had more than six aircraft.

This is hardly enough to keep the employees at Sikorsky working.

Wolfala · « **Reply #2 on:** March 25, 2004, 10:51:01 PM »

SO you understand the concept - they are hurting to begin with.

Sandman · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2004, 10:57:09 PM »

Your post makes it sound as if Sikorsky is going out of business because HMX-1 is changing aircraft.

Odds are, the inverse is true and the tiny "fleet" kept for presidential service won't make a bit of difference.

Coolridr · « **Reply #4 on:** March 26, 2004, 05:44:49 AM »

It's not just the loss of the HMX-1...after they spent a ton on the Commanche ..they go and cancel it. Think it's damn stupid to buy that foreign helicopter. All US military armament (even for the Pres.) should be made HERE!

Nilsen · « **Reply #5 on:** March 26, 2004, 05:55:55 AM »

The bidder with the best price/quality should win imo.

polka · « **Reply #6 on:** March 26, 2004, 09:26:34 AM »

The aircraft is a foreign design, but it will be built here in the United States by Lockheed Martin.

Naso · « **Reply #7 on:** March 26, 2004, 10:12:12 AM »

And the helycopter is an Augusta/Bell

gofaster · « **Reply #8 on:** March 26, 2004, 02:25:02 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by polka
The aircraft is a foreign design, but it will be built here in the United States ....

Same thing they did with the Beretta when it replaced the Browning as a military sidearm. But nobody cried "job loss" about that. I see nothing wrong in going with a superior foreign design and domestic manufacture (Packard-built Merlin aircraft engines come to mind).

muckmaw · « **Reply #9 on:** March 26, 2004, 02:56:05 PM »

Personally, it sounds like it's still keeping American's at work, but no matter how small the order, if it's government or military, the order should go to a U.S. Company, in my opinion.

Frogm4n · « **Reply #10 on:** March 26, 2004, 03:02:14 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by muckmaw
Personally, it sounds like it's still keeping American's at work, but no matter how small the order, if it's government or military, the order should go to a U.S. Company, in my opinion.

Then you do not believe in the views of conservitive america. Where pure capitalism rains supreme.

Tumor · « **Reply #11 on:** March 26, 2004, 03:22:37 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Coolridr
It's not just the loss of the HMX-1...after they spent a ton on the Commanche ..they go and cancel it.

Woulda been dumber to continue a costly project that was based on a concept with goals that were proven to be unreachable. Current choppers do fine and are still way ahead of the competition.

Now, if they would only give up the Osprey lol (....

or did they?)

Coolridr · « **Reply #12 on:** March 26, 2004, 04:20:22 PM »

The Osprey is alive and well and a welcome replacement to the fleet of aging H-46 Seaknights and their temporary replacement the MH-60....The Osprey is very versitile. There have been accidents and setbacks but is still a worthwhile program..Now the F-22 Raptor is a very expensive program that can be canceled that still hasn't found it's way to production after nearly 15 years.

Tumor · « **Reply #13 on:** March 26, 2004, 04:48:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Coolridr
The Osprey is alive and well and a welcome replacement to the fleet of aging H-46 Seaknights and their temporary replacement the MH-60....The Osprey is very versitile. There have been accidents and setbacks but is still a worthwhile program..Now the F-22 Raptor is a very expensive program that can be canceled that still hasn't found it's way to production after nearly 15 years.

As long as the JSF program remains intact your correct, but the two birds are meant to compliment each-other. Not to mention that our current fleet of just about everything save the newer Superhornet is getting old. Right now we have the F-15C/E and F-16's bearing the load (for us anyway, not knocking the my squid bretheren), which equates to an absolutely awesome aircraft partnered with a big (little) piece of crap (sorry, no offense to Lawn-dart lovers). The F-22 alone would solidify the arrangment, add the JSF and our position on top is secured for the foreseable future. The Commanchee however, was designed to succeed in a mission based on theory thats since proven faulty. It would be a totally cool little bad-assed weapon to have, but we just don't need it and I'm glad no more money was wasted on it. The F-22 "would" be an updated/better platform to compliment a mission that already works. IMO, we should hold off on the F-22 but not cancel it. Your right, we don't need it now... but we will. As far as the Osprey.. well, I'd get on one, at gunpoint.

cpxxx · « **Reply #14 on:** March 26, 2004, 05:22:46 PM »

Is Senator Dodd a Democrat? It sounds a bit like an election stunt to me. I very much doubt that the decision has been made just yet. I've checked all my usual aviation sources and found nothing about it.

In any case if US-101 does win it will be built in the USA by Lockheed Martin and will be practically 100% American. It's nothing new for the US to select a foreign design and build in America. The US Navy T-45 Goshawk is an adaption of the British Hawk trainer. The Texan II is basically an American built Swiss PC-9. The Harrier these days is more American than British. The Coast Guard bought French helicopters but underpowered them with American engines which they are now trying to replace with French engines.

As usual all is not what it seems. Incidentally you may have heard of the Airbus A380. The new mega airliner. No less than 50% of it's content has been sourced in the USA. So much for an allegedly European aircraft You see it works both ways particularly in aviation.