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Latest Marine One takes flight
- Thread starter HeyJoe
- Start date
your mom is easy on the eyes...
Did i just say that?
Neat helicopter. I'd love to know about all the TS gadgets it has!
Let me fix that for you . . . :icon_tong
Why do you say that? I know they've had some electronics interoperability issues, but is there something bigger going on?
The schedule is just hugely compressed - they are talking IOC in a little over two years and they have accomplished just about squat for test points so far. There are dynamic issues with the tail rotor (block I's, read about Cananda's problems with them) and they've barely even tried integrating anything. The issues of traveling with it, breaking it down, support requirements, etc are another problem.
My guess is they will make a show of flying Hilary around once in whatever they have that is painted right and you will still be seeing plenty of the H-3 in late 09. Look at Bantle's quote around the middle of the article: "and positions the team to deliver production aircraft capable of flying the President in October 2009".
(No, I am not going to vote for Hilary. But I just really enjoy teasing the HMX-1 guys about that...)
My guess is they will make a show of flying Hilary around once in whatever they have that is painted right and you will still be seeing plenty of the H-3 in late 09. Look at Bantle's quote around the middle of the article: "and positions the team to deliver production aircraft capable of flying the President in October 2009".
(No, I am not going to vote for Hilary. But I just really enjoy teasing the HMX-1 guys about that...)
A sperm bank maybe?Hey it's true. I have to get my good looks from somewhere!
That's not even funny to joke about.
I dont know if this was previously discussed but there was a huge stink about this helicopter. Sikorsky was furious that the contract was given to our allies. A lot of other people were upset that a helicopter that will be carrying our president was not built entirely by Americans. If I remember correctly, some parts were made overseas but then assembled here, any thoughts/ follow on facts?
It is a lot longer story than that. Sikorsky was furious because they wanted the contract - they have been desperate to get the U.S. military as an S-92 customer. The overseas factor has been used as a political debating point, but Congress has already ensured that the production vehicles will be built here (either Amarillo or Fort Worth, I'm not sure if Bell has decided yet). It is going to cost a lot more to do it that way, but the politics are what they are.
To really delve into this you have to get into the whole CSAR-X discussion. To do that, you really have to sort through the P.R. (both corporate and political from the districts/states with the most to gain) as well as USAF's historical relationship with Boeing.
If you are really interested check here and follow the links in the article:
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/gao-re-csarx-recompete-the-contract-03082/ . (Note the number of times politicians get involved, and how closely their opinions match that of the company their state/district represents). You can follow that with the link I posted awhile ago in this thread: http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=135738 which will throw in a little perspective.
Not really an answer, I know, but it is a pretty complicated question.
For Steve: http://www.slate.com/id/2169647/
To really delve into this you have to get into the whole CSAR-X discussion. To do that, you really have to sort through the P.R. (both corporate and political from the districts/states with the most to gain) as well as USAF's historical relationship with Boeing.
If you are really interested check here and follow the links in the article:
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/gao-re-csarx-recompete-the-contract-03082/ . (Note the number of times politicians get involved, and how closely their opinions match that of the company their state/district represents). You can follow that with the link I posted awhile ago in this thread: http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=135738 which will throw in a little perspective.
Not really an answer, I know, but it is a pretty complicated question.
For Steve: http://www.slate.com/id/2169647/
HMX-1 has an operational test role in addition to its unique "White Top" mission to transport the Commander-in-Chief and other high ranking executives so other than the DT/OT testing, you'd have to be assigned to HMX-1 once it's operational and be selected for the Executive Flight Detachment side of the hangar.