F-14 Program Builds Historic Business Bridge to Poland

TransFormation DoD ^ | Dec 6, 2005 | Chuck Wagner

[SandRat]

POLAND!!!!

[coconutt2000]

It is really to bad our northern neighbor isn't Poland.

[Army Air Corps]

PZL-Swidnik has a long history in aviation.

PZL-11s drew blood against the Luftwaffe in the battle for Poland.

[clee1]

I have nothing at all against Poland, and I am glkad they are, and have been, our allies. However, I'm wondering why the Navy couldn't find a US company with US citizen workers for their parts needs?

[blau993]

Cmdr. Dino Ferrari, F-14 deputy program manager at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md.

OK, even without messing around with Tomcats, does this three striper not have the coolest name going?

[SandRat]

The Commander should be driving a Ferrari. I fact Ferrari should give him a new one every 3 years just for the PR.

[sarasmom]

Cause USA manufacturing companies bidding on the contract refused to comply with the minimal background checks and security requirement assurances of current and potential future employees?

I would rather a company in Poland be awarded the contract than a company in San Francisco.

Just MHO.

[Professional Engineer]

ping

[clee1]

Thile I agree with the basic sentiment, just how secure of a workforce do you need to build a sheetmetal coverplate?

[steel_resolve]

That would be a terrific tag line. and maybe Romania/England to the South.

[sarasmom]

Depends on your point of view.
If it is one of "my pilots" who will fly that F-14, even the maintenance crew chief who decides to clear it for take-off with a minor missing screw is suspect.
Just as I don't want my child to eat vegetables grown,picked and/or distributed by some tuberculosis infested third world farm slave who thinks human waste is a natural fertilizer.

[BobS]

"However, I'm wondering why the Navy couldn't find a US company with US citizen workers for their parts needs?"

I work for a company that builds uW/Radar equipment for other countries' militaries (allies) because nobody else can. If Poland has the alloys and form tools and the engineering, go for it.

If somebody out there knows how to start up a composite materials firm for radar dishes- go for it. You will be in $.

[clee1]

Point well taken.

[Ronin]

Amen to that!

I would swap Canada for Poland any day of the week.

[rjp2005]

Dubzje!! Polish Power - yeah!

Poland is becoming the conservative Mariusz Pudzianowski (worlds strongest man winner) of liberal girly man Europe.

[A.A. Cunningham]

"On June 28, 2005 the first PZL-Œwidnik made F-14 transmitter bay access panel was successfully installed onto an F-14 test fuselage. Czes Covington, the US Navy/PZL-Œwidnik cooperation programme manager reported: - The panel fits into the access area perfectly. I have decided to release the panel to the squadron for installation. I have also decided to prepare the documentation that will release this part and all future deliveries so that they can be installed and flown without restrictions.

I am working this in parallel with the qualification document that identifies that the PZL-Œwidnik facility has successfully passed all testing and qualifies the PZL-Œwidnik facility as the sole equipment manufacturer for this part and certifies PZL-Œwidnik as being certified by the United States Navy as a manufacturer and supplier of F-14 honeycomb structures."

CDR Ferrari accepting the part on behalf of the US Navy

[A.A. Cunningham]

VF-213 and VF-31 on their sunset cruise.

051010-N-5088T-001 Persian Gulf (Oct. 10, 2005) – A specially painted F-14D Tomcat, assigned to the “Blacklions” of Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VF-213), conducts a mission over the Persian Gulf. VF-213 is assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), currently embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). U.S. Navy photo by Lt.j.g. Scott Timmester (RELEASED)

050924-N-9362D-001 Mediterranean Sea (Sept. 24, 2005) - An F-14D Tomcat, assigned to the "Tomcatters" of Fighter Squadron Three One (VF-31), launches off the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Roosevelt and embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) are currently underway on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Randall Damm (RELEASED)

[Grzegorz 246]

Why isn't there any Americans in the world's strongest men championship.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT