Posted on 02/24/2009 3:02:37 PM PST by Grampa Dave
Marine One Spending Under Fire by Mike Krumboltz February 24, 2009 01:26:08 PM President Obama has talked tough about the need to shed wasteful spending. But will he practice what he preaches? His one-time rival, Sen. John McCain, brought up a pricey presidential project that seems a bit unnecessary — a fleet of 28 new Marine One helicopters that will cost taxpayers around $11.2 billion. At a recent summit to cut the federal deficit, Sen. McCain suggested that if President Obama wants to help the economy, perhaps he should consider canceling his order. Obama replied that he's already looking into it. Obama then joked that perhaps he's been unknowingly deprived all his life, but his current Marine One chopper seems just fine to him. CNN is reporting that the new helicopters, which were originally ordered by President George W. Bush, are now on hold (though not officially cancelled...yet). Naturally, all this talk of gazillion-dollar equipment has people searching. Folks are desperate to know more about the fancy helicopters, what they can do, and why they cost such an exorbitant sum of cash. Queries immediately surged on "marine one photos" and "why is it called marine one." Regarding the second inquiry: It's called Marine One only when the president is aboard. As for why the president needs 28 of them — apparently, it's a safety precaution. When flying in Marine One, identical choppers travel next to the president's ride. Trickery throws off the bad guys. But why in the world do these contraptions cost $400 million each? After all, isn't a helicopter just a helicopter? Apparently not. The Washington Post explains that the proposed fleet would be outfitted with "cutting-edge communications equipment, antimissile defenses and hardened hulls." Oh, and a kitchen. You can't forget that.
(Excerpt) Read more at buzz.yahoo.com ...
These are very pricey and I agree it’s not needed to replace them now nor was it needed when Bush approved it.
Wonder how old the current ones are? Did anyone ask the folks in charge of that?
There goes about 3000 Bell/Textron jobs...
It would be like the incoming scene to the beach to go surfing in Apocalypse Now with the music of Wagner as I recall....
I suggest we just wait and make sure this happens after 0bama is out off office. NO NEW BLING!
57. One for each state.
The husband of a friend of mine was on this contract. They were to be made in England and my friend was looking forward to going back there to live.
I was thinking more like having them all strategically globally located.
It would be the Global Marine One Shell game where in the world is Carlos Hussuin O Santeigo.
Allah ackbar infidel!!!
From the Wiki:
The current helicopters have aging airframes, having entered service with HMX-1 in 1962. VH-3D replaced some VH-3A in 1978, and the remainder of VH-3A were replaced by VH-60N beginning in 1989. Due to the age of the VH-3D, a replacement type is in development, with initial operational capability due by 2008 and full operational capability by no later than 2014.
The selected replacement is the British-Italian AgustaWestland AW101, produced by Lockheed Martin under license as the US101, with the military designation VH-71 Kestrel.
The replacement cost of the fleet was estimated at $6.1 billion when contracts were signed in 2005. However, as of March 2008 the cost of the new 28 helicopter fleet is projected to be $11.2 billion, or roughly $400 million per helicopter. That is greater than the inflation adjusted amount paid for the Boeing 747s that serve as Air Force One.
And some people b*tch and moan about the F-22 costing $100 million. I'd rather have four new fighters than one helicopter.
I wish someone had pointed out to Obama it isn’t “his” helicopter.
Thanks for the good feed back: “That is greater than the inflation adjusted amount paid for the Boeing 747s that serve as Air Force One.” I think that John touched on that yesterday. That is amazing.
See Papa Smurf’s comments re the cost of these critters.
Agreed.
So we don't currently have a Marine One.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2193167/posts?page=12#12
“The current helicopters have aging airframes, having entered service with HMX-1 in 1962. VH-3D replaced some VH-3A in 1978, and the remainder of VH-3A were replaced by VH-60N beginning in 1989. Due to the age of the VH-3D, a replacement type is in development, with initial operational capability due by 2008 and full operational capability by no later than 2014.”
Great, but his ego and ears wouldn’t fit in.
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