Posted on 12/02/2004 6:34:48 AM PST by the_devils_advocate_666
CHARLESTON (AP) -- It will take almost a year for McDonnell Douglas to deliver a new, made-to-order $5.1 million helicopter to the West Virginia State Police but troopers say the product is worth the wait.
''We'll finally get a helicopter we can do our job in,'' said Sgt. Steve Knotts, chief pilot and director of aviation for the State Police.
The state-of-the-art MD 902 Explorer will allow the agency to move troopers quickly, a capability that its current pair of Vietnam War-era OH-6 helicopters lack, Gov. Bob Wise said.
''We want to make sure we can respond quickly,'' Wise said. ''This will make a world of difference.''
Lt. Col. Steve Tucker said the older helicopters also limit the State Police's ability to respond to disasters.
The article implies a troop transport capability. Maybe they can use it to haul away illegals...?
Why would this police force need anything that other police forces didn't need? And how often do they need to fly in policemen like they're commandos? Did this come out of federal gubbmint funds thanks to Robert Byrd?
If they really need to transport 'troopers', why not just use an MH-60K?
It's fast enough, and you can combat rappel from the thing if you have to.
Besides, there already is precedent to use Blackhawks for such.
The article says they already have two helicopters, I just don't know what 5.1 million gets them over and above what they already have. Being a WV resident I'm just wondering if they are spending my tax money wisely.
I'm recalling the conversation between David Koresh and that BATF puke arguing the semantic difference between "mounted" machine gun and the rifle fire coming from the helicopters flying over Mt Carmel.(from the documentary "Rules of Engagement")
That too.
NY state police use Jet Ranger choppers.
I don't know why they are buying a NOTAR helicopter, it doesn't really offer too many capabilities that they would 'absolutely have to have' over astandard workhorse helicopter.
Honestly, I don't know what helos are going for these days. However, the article also mentions that the existing ones are "Vietnam War-era". That means they're 30 years old. Even with two in inventory, I imagine its a constant effort to try to keep just one air-ready 24x7 with the maintenance and spare part costs.
If they are used for search/rescue (and I'm just speculating) then at least one must be available all day, every day. If its down the day its needed a life-threatening mission, then all the money you spent for the other 364 days of maintenance and repair was essentially wasted. In other words, there are really no compromises in that business. Either you spend what's required for 100% uptime, or you risk essentially wasting 100% of anything that delivers less.
I wouldn't be surprised if the ongoing maintenance and repair costs for 100% uptime on 30 year machines probably exceeds the amortized $5.1 mil + repair/maintenance for a single new machine over the next decade or so. Then there's modern fuel efficiency, and modern avionic safety to consider. Insurance is likely less too.
It would be interesting to see the numbers that were used to justify this purchase to the decision maker, but nothing I've read leads me to believe it wasn't a justified purchase base on what (little) I know.
That sh** gave me knightmares.(groaning ahead of time)
I know.
I haven't seen it yet, but am told it was pretty creepy.. from both sides.
Koresh was no saint, far from it. But that was a massacre.
He definitely was no saint.
Just wish he didn't take all those people with him when he went out.
And I wish that someone somewhere had the guts to stand up against Reno's grand plan there.
There is no excuse for what happened there.
Which reminds me of why the heck would a police force 'need' a NOTAR chopper?
Yeah it can hover with it's nose towads the ground, That isn't very useful in real life beyond wowing crowds in an aerobatics show.
... we're from the government, and we're here to help...
That kind of help I could do without.
Yep.
Total BS. This a "want" not a "need." Wants are something you ask for when you have a budget surplus and low taxes. Needs are something that you can't function without. The WV State Police have obviously functioned for quite sometime without this $5.1 million toy. They don't need it. We shouldn't have to pay for it.
This chopper is for bragging rights at the conference in LasVegas. Total BS.
Hey, what do I know. I live in Ohio. WV is one big vacation spot for us.
Perhaps if it interests you, you could contact the WV State Police (non emergency e-mail is troopers@wvstatepolice.com) and find out if they can justify the expense.
Or there's always the governor, Governor@WVGov.org
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