[Gunrunner2]

>>$1 BILLION plus for a single plane?<<

Hi.

Cost is a complicated issue because the cost per jet goes down the more you make. Aerospace companies take about 7-10 yrs before a jet comes off the line, and in that time they spend a bunch of bucks. Aerospace companies must recoup their non-recurring R&D costs. . .much like May-tag and washing machines. If May tag only built a couple of dozen machines then the cost per unit would be sky high. Consequently, by cutting the number of jets you raise the cost per jet, and that makes for great hype in the papers but is not a reflection of a) the true value of the jet, and b) where the blame for the high cost should be placed.

Cheers

[Long Cut]

And that is a perfect example of why ANYONE running for Congress should be required to have either an MBA, a degree in economics, or not les than ten years' experience in the private sector...and NOT as a lawyer.

They repeatedly reduced the numbers of F-22s in the buy, extended the development time by decades, and generally played games designed to make it LOOK like the cost was "cut", never getting the fact that they only increased the cost-per-unit. Had they just stuck to the plan, the plane would now be in full service, and we'd have about 600-700 for the same price.

In truth, I think we've simply got too many different airplanes. There is no reason why the Air Force couldn't have adopted the F-18 instead of the 16 (sorry, Viper fans). MD had a nice land-based version planned which was a great deal lighter than the Navy version.

It still boggles my mind that interservice rivalry costs so much in time and money.

For example, why are airplanes like the F-22 NOT designed from day one to be more easily adaptible to carrier ops? The Navy shouldn't have to re-invent the wheel every time.

Also, why wasn't the A-10 considered by the Marines? Seems it fits right in with their work. It's cheaper, too, which is something they like. Yet, they went down the Harrier road. Not that the concept wasn't good, but it couldn't carry half the ordinance of a Hog.