Posted on 05/14/2016 5:08:16 PM PDT by Kaslin
EXCLUSIVE: It was just a few years ago, in March 2011, when a pair of U.S. Air Force B-1 bombers – during a harsh winter storm – took off from their base in South Dakota to fly across the world to launch the air campaign in Libya, only 16 hours after given the order.
Today, many in the Air Force are questioning whether a similar mission could still be accomplished, after years of budget cuts that have taken an undeniable toll. The U.S. Air Force is now short 4,000 airmen to maintain its fleet, short 700 pilots to fly them and short vital spare parts necessary to keep their jets in the air. The shortage is so dire that some have even been forced to scrounge for parts in a remote desert scrapheap known as “The Boneyard.”
“It's not only the personnel that are tired, it's the aircraft that are tired as well,” Master Sgt. Bruce Pfrommer, who has over two decades of experience in the Air Force working on B-1 bombers, told Fox News.
Fox News visited two U.S. Air Force bases – including South Dakota’s Ellsworth Air Force Base located 35 miles from Mount Rushmore, where Pfrommer is stationed – to see the resource problems first-hand, following an investigation into the state of U.S. Marine Corps aviation last month.
Many of the Airmen reported feeing “burnt out” and “exhausted” due to the current pace of operations, and limited resources to support them. During the visit to Ellsworth earlier this week, Fox News was told only about half of the 28th Bomb Wing’s fleet of bombers can fly.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
This decline in the AF and military in general was not started with Obama.
“’Wiped Out’: Air Force losing pilots and planes to cuts, scrounging for spare parts, and the insane drive for more F-35s - the world’s most expensive plane.
Wiped Out - another FR thread.
Current pace of operations? Where is that going on anywhere but at Andrews AFB?
I helped intergrate Pave Tack, My uncle was an on site contractor. That was the main saving grace of the F-111,
besides it could do nearly Mach one at tree top level on autopilot.
Back to the Carter era.
I am. Is not the GOP in charge of the current budget and future allocations. Have they fixed the current issues? I
Another thread wiped out! I didn’t even get to read it. Egyptian pyramids might have affected the US elections! Oh no!
$11 billion increase for 2016 and a $161.5 billion increase for 2017.
No flames here. Its totally the gops fault. If they fought as hard for the.military as they did against Trump . . .
Doing Mach One at 300 ft on autopilot was thanks to its innovative Terrain Following Radar. It also had a very powerful ground mode Attack Radar.
Both of these features, and of course the variable geometry wing and the crew escape capsule, were lifted from the F-111 and incorporated into the B-1A. (The crew escape capsule was dropped on the B-1B.)
The F-111 was an excellent aircraft for it's main mission of a penetrating, long range, night and all weather, attack aircraft.
It was never going to be a fighter for the Navy, but that was McNamara's idea, not General Dynamics' or the Navy's idea.
And they still haven’t fixed the problems. It is more than money, it is leadership.
No more 8 years of Obama. Just say, Hell no to Clintoon!
Not only that, we will also have a left wing ussc
“Not only that, we will also have a left wing ussc!”
Can you in your/my worse nightmare even imagine the Scotus appts., she and Bill would make.
It’ll be a nightmare, that’s for sure.
WOW Talk about disconnect. Sounds like teachers that display that bumper sticker don’t realize if we had no military we would not long have a country.
When enemies take over they often murder teachers and people like that first to change the culture faster.
Stunningly stupid. This country is great enough if lead properly can afford to fund the military and education properly. I imagine those that display such a bumper sticker are likely the same ones voting for bad leadership.
BTTT
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.