Marine One Spending Under Fire

Yahoo Buzz ^ | February 24, 2009 | Mike Krumboltz

[Grampa Dave]

Without Zer0 aboard, is it called MarineZer0.

[Grampa Dave]

“57. One for each state.”

You beat me!:)

[A.A. Cunningham]

I agree it’s not needed to replace them now nor was it needed when Bush approved it.

I wonder when the last time you conducted a phase inspection on one of the VH-3s was? They are getting long in the tooth nearing the end of their service life and are limited in capability. The VH-60s are not.

[sportutegrl]

Lets hope the new copter has a door high enough so he doesn’t hit his head again.

[MahatmaGandu]

$400 mil per helicopter means there’s an assload of graft in this or someone in the GAO is backloading accounts for black ops into this. Probable actual cost is maybe $80-$100 mil per the each and the Aurora or some other secret airframe from Lockheed is being funded on the balance.

[MahatmaGandu]

Scorpions are sweet little helicopters!

[MahatmaGandu]

Doesn’t justify $400 mil each. Not at all.

[Colonel_Flagg]

I’m with you, brother.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Costs have skyrocketed but that isn't Bush's fault. All of the bells and whistles that DoD, the Navy and the Secret Service have added have driven the per unit cost through the roof.

By the way, when was the last time you calculated the cost of taking the comm suite on a VC-25, reducing its size - yet maintaining its capability - and installing it in 28 helicopters?

[papasmurf]

I agree. Really, an R44 Raven II is more than he deserves. $550k fullly loaded.

[Grampa Dave]

I was wanting a very low door clearance. One that would ring his narcissitic head, when he strolls into it like King George.

[oneamericanvoice]

Thanks for the info. I am astonished that some of the Presidential helicopters are that old. I’ll bet they don’t use the really old one to fly him. But this is best left to the experts.

[Travis T. OJustice]

Sen. McCain suggested that if President Obama wants to help the economy, perhaps he should consider canceling his order.

To be fair and honest, the contract was completed before 0bama came along. It was not 0bama's order.

[1_Rain_Drop]

nope, sorry.

114. Each chopper needs a back-up.

[Grampa Dave]

“To be fair and honest, the contract was completed before 0bama came along. It was not 0bama’s order. “

When that contract was inked, our economy hadn’t tanked to where it is today.

I have yet to see Zer0 aka FDRII do one damn thing to cut expenses when it comes to him and his Juanta in charge of congress.

He should cancel the contract and negotiate for much lower prices on fewer copters.

[MahatmaGandu]

By the way, when was the last time you calculated the cost of taking the comm suite on a VC-25, reducing its size - yet maintaining its capability - and installing it in 28 helicopters?

Obama's got a Blackberry, doesn't he? Let him use that.