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To: jk4hc4
I can understand your emotions. You keep blaming the Osprey for the deaths of 46 Marines. Please set your emotions aside. Was it the fault of the aircraft or pilot error?

Again, I understand your emotional reaction. Almost every death is a sad event, but as a matter of perspective, do you know how many military personnel are killed each year in training accidents?

How many die in crashes of other aircraft? How many die in helicopters?

How about narrowing it down to each type. For instance, how many die in Blackhawks and its variants? How many of each type crashed during operational testing?

Come back with numbers and we can see how the Osprey stacks up and if it lives up to the reputation you're trying to give it.

39 posted on 06/17/2006 10:59:20 AM PDT by GBA
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To: GBA

I'm a UH-60 Blackhawk Maintenance Test Pilot. I've logged about 800 hours in the 60, the last 100 all combat time in Iraq. I can attest that it is a maintenance-intensive aircraft in every respect, but also a fine combat performer.

Since it's development and procurement (1977) I would estimate at least 500 people have died in Blackhawk crashes. This unfortunate reality is the cost of doing business in war and peacetime. Another unfortunate statistic (I'm not quoting a source, only my experience of 10 years active duty) that the crashes are roughly 90% pilot-error.

The Osprey will take its lumps. That's just the way it is. Tomorrow I'll strap on the UH-60 for another combat mission in Indian Country as we call it (Iraq). I'm confident in my machine and my abilities. No doubt the Marines will be too given more flight time and experience in this new aircraft.


49 posted on 06/18/2006 8:46:07 AM PDT by strider44
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