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 ...
And development costs too. Each unit is projected to cost $110 million.
Likewise.
People outside of aviation, military aviation particularly, don't understand that this is the purchase of a system, not just 27 individual choppers. They don't see the cost for training, logistics & spares, depot maintenance, etc. Plus this is an airframe we don't currently deploy which means everything must be put in place from scratch.
I'd like to hear their howling if they could see the price before offsets.
Any knee-jerk reaction seems to be attacking those who simply ask questions.
I must have missed the "question marks" (?) in the following: "They must be joking" and "That's absolutely out-effing-ragrous!!!"
The word "Bush" does not appear on this thread until reply # 6.
That'd be your reply # 6.
Oi...tedious...where'd you get that, "Democracy for Idiots"?
The first and foremost duty of any US taxpayer is to be informed. Not to default whine about things going on outside of the kiddy pool. Find out what the hell is going on...then question it if needs be.
"Any knee-jerk reaction seems to be attacking those who simply ask questions."
Yes, yes...we all understand that the true patiots here [see: Loserdopians] are constantly under attack by us silly Bushbot Neocons.
Ugh, some of you idiots need to just log off and stop causing everyone else's I.Q. to drop.
How 'bout you log-off and we'll all watch the a-hole factor drop to zero.
Outstanding post.
Thank you.
The same reason you don't see the airlines flying the Osprey; they need a few years of operational use in the military (working the bugs out) before they are fit for civilian use.
[Eyeroll]
Such a witty retort, thanks Brilliance.
LOL
Its like the telescope that comes up out of a submarine to see whats all around them. This is the spy scope on the helicopter. :-)
exactly osprey for prez, JCS and all the "leaders" in appropriations committee
Probably because the security of the Commander in Chief is the top priority of the government.
exactly osprey for prez, JCS and all the "leaders" in appropriations committee
Will Hillary really need all 23? ;)
Its gonna fligh THAT high????
The 2006 Cadillac Presidential Limousine is a hand-crafted and armored version of the Cadillac DTS (DeVille Touring Sedan) stretch sedan for the President of the United States. The vehicle was custom built by O'Gara, Hess, and Eisenhart, armored vehicle builders who have been building armored presidental limousines since the 1960s. The base platform is a Cadillac DTS, but little of the original vehicle remains. For example, DeVille's flush-style door handles have been replaced by a loop-type design apparently borrowed from the 1992-99 generation Buick LeSabre, doubling as grab-handles for the Secret Service agents running alongside the car. Exterior examination suggests that the head/tail lights, and the wreath-and-crest emblem atop the grille are some of the few stock components.
Similar to its precessedor, the 2001 Presidential Limousine, the stretch Cadillac features an executive leather interior with a rear foldaway desktop, an extensive entertainment system featuring a 10-disc CD changer, and adaptive, massaging cushions. The president sits in the rear, facing a console-mounted secure communications panel connected to five antennas mounted on the trunk lid. The vehicle has a flag of the United States hung up on the right front fender, and a flag of the Seal of the President of the United States on the left front fender. Flush-mounted high intensity discharge (HID) spotlights illuminate the flags at night. Like a standard Cadillac DeVille, the presidential limo is said to have a night vision system, but the camera moved to an undisclosed location.
This is the most heavily armored presidential vehicle to date. The jet-black skin has 5 inches worth of ballistic armor, and is said to be able to withstand anti-tank grenade lauchers. The underside of the car is also armored. The windows, which do not open, are transparent armor thick enough to block sunlight, which is the reason the interior is illuminated with fluorescent lighting. The vault like doors require automatic systems to open. Any casual observer can see the rolling fortress with the white rims on the tires, completing the armoring with a run-flat tire system. The limousine is also environmentally sealed against chemical and biological attacks.
Pctures: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Limousine
Sounds like a bargain at $3.5 million ; )
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