I think they ran out of gas. The blades aren't moving. Does that thing have an airbag?
Posted on 05/08/2006 10:28:35 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
After decades of upgrades to a fleet of notoriously cramped Sikorsky VH-3 Sea Kings, the White House has tasked Lockheed Martin with a dramatic, $6.1-billion makeover of Marine One, the presidential helicopter, starting this summer. The goal: to fit a mobile Oval Office into the tight quarters of a chopper. The new fleet will consist of 23 VH-71 aircraft, each of which will have 200 square feet of cabin space, nearly double the Sea King’s 116.
Aside from the legroom, the copter will incorporate major upgrades to the old defense and communications systems. Equally important is that the aircraft is flight-proven—the $110-million bird is derived from a European-built AgustaWestland EH101, currently doing military service for Canada and the U.K. Here, an inside look at the revamped Marine One, set to gradually go into service between 2009 and 2014.
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
IRCM = Infrared Counter Measures
Anybody want to guess what the presidents limo cost?
They got that eventuality covered, they have a new cattle and livestock sling in development for extra wide loads. ;-)
The bathroom is for the benefit of a future liberal President....
In case of an attack on the U.S., the liberal will have a place to clean up after messing herself.. Umm... I mean himself.
The article was titled the president's new helicopter.
The title should have been future president's helicopter.
Bush is never going to use the helicopter. Typical bush bashing article.
Note: This is being done BEFORE Dubai takes over nine weapons and parts companies in USA. He's not so dumb after all.
Bush's intention is to make sure the New Marine One is large enough to carry Hillary & Bill.
I spoke too soon! You are right, Bush will not be in office when Marine I goes into service. So Dubai WILL be in charge of whether a president lives or dies in future.
And I gave him the benefit of the doubt!
EH-101. VH-71 "Kestrel"
They use the same helo for Search And Rescue in Canada:
SAR CH-149 Cormorant
http://www.sfu.ca/casr/101-ch149.htm
"Cormorants and their British counterparts. Having suffered through a number of groundings, the type is now have severe tail rotor problems. Replacement titanium rotor half hubs are expected to be the cure."
They are already replacing it with the Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk:
http://www.sfu.ca/casr/101-ch148mh.htm
RAF has a varient called "Merlin"
1. There are ALWAYS more than one helicopter flying at one time, for several reasons. One is a "combat spare", and the other obvious reason is security: the "shell game". Which one of 3-4 identical helicopters is the President in ??
2. You always need at least twice as many copters as you have operational. Maintenance on helicopters is far more extensive than on fixed-wing aircraft, and thus you have to plan for it. . . .
3. When the President flies somewhere, they also have to stage helicopters there in advance, and the same rules apply.
So right there, out of the gate, you have a need for at LEAST 16 airframes. . .
I'd rather get this fleet of helicopters than completely seal the border.
Ugh I am getting so tired of listening to kneejerk whiners on this website.
Could you please point out the specific waste here? What system is overpriced? What part of the aircraft is going to be sold for outrageously more than it cost to research, develop or manufacture?
Here let me answer the questions for you...
"I don't know."
Then how in the hell can you whine that anything about this is wasteful?
Shut up you twit.
"Do we need 27?"
Apparently someone infinitely more qualified than you has decided that we do.
More proof that every thread is a border thread.
$5 million?
I getting a fin stuck in my 'artists perpective'. But at least I can tell who my friends are when it comes time to get it out. /silly
Close, from what I have read about $ 3 1/2 million per limo.
I'm betting that the price tag is for more than just the choppers. I bet it includes spares, tools, consumables to support the choppers, modifications to hangers and support facilities, technical documentation, and training.
GM may "donate" the cost of this limo - who knows?
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2005/01/17/005789.html
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