[Never on my watch]

I suspect Joint STARS is going to be a near term casualty of Obama's distain for the military. There is, however, a good debate to be had over the long term use of the 707 Joint STARS platform v. the Global Hawk unmanned system. But I would hate to see that the transition to this be driven by the failure to re-engine the planes. Our guys are flying these planes now and the engines are on their last legs. A billion $ sounds like a lot, but it will make this weapon system safer and extend the operational life considerably. Meanwhile we can continue to develop the unmanned follow on.

[phormer phrog phlyer]

JT8’s have been around for along time and are not very current. Why can’t they put a more current CFM’s like are on the KC-135’s?

[phormer phrog phlyer]

JT8’s have been around for along time and are not very current. Why can’t they put a more current CFM’s like are on the KC-135’s?

[phormer phrog phlyer]

Sorry for the double post.

[Zap Brannigan]

Rather than having new JT8D’s manufactured from a dormant production line, wouldn’t it be easier to:

(1) install CFM-56’s like on the KC-135R’s and DC-8(70 series). Those engines are still being made for 737’s; or

(2) buy some old DC-9’s and MD-80’s and pull the JT8D’s off.

[Squantos]

Park Air Force One for a week an we can pay for a new JSTAR’s .......

[InterceptPoint]

Joint STARS is the imaging radar. Correct?

[UNGN]

AA and Delta have hundreds of -219 JT8d's that will be parked in the Desert in the next few years. Re-engining these planes with "new" engines makes no sense. A 15 year old engine in a 40 year old aiframe IS a "new" engine.

put in new LLP's and wear components and slap them on. It shouldn't cost more than 2-3 million/engine.

3 million X 4 Engines X 20 Aircraft (spares) = $240 Million, leaving $3/4 Billion for "integration" and "profit".