New JCA, C-27J Spartan, for the AF and Army...just not Navy

[bunk22]

Not sure when the progress began on this joint cargo aircraft but it's amazing that the Navy can't just get a replacement where it's needed. AF needs an aircraft, it seemingly happens. I know the Navy has ships, has a limited amount of money in the pot but I fear it will take a mishap with everyone onboard (as long as it's not pilot error) before a replacement for the C-2A(R) takes effect. Of course a cargo might be a boring ride but then again, better than a UAV in my opinion.

http://www.c-27j.com/c-27j-for-the-jca-program

 

[scoober78]

Yeah...they had development posters up in the C-12 sim building in Corpus. Looks like a pretty cool aircraft. I feel your pain...ok...maybe I empathize.

FWIW, I think my surrogate community blew the Navair aquisitions bank for this quarter century. Besides...you never know. They put a C-130 on a carrier once.

 

[MasterBates]

They will probably just buy more C-2A(Rx2)'s

 

[Flash]

I am not sure it is the same thing Bunk. The Army has been screaming for years for intra-theater airlift and they are apparently using up flight hours on their Chinooks at very high rate to transport supplies around Iraq and from Kuwait to Iraq. That and they are flying their C-23 Sherpas into the ground. The Air Force fought this for quite some time and the contract was awarded in spite of them, not because of them. The problem has been made all the worse with the wing box problems on the C-130's.

This is a pressing and public need in that is directly affecting the war, at least according to the Army. And they have lobbied for this publicly and forcefully for quite some time. The Navy's priorities are obliviously elsewhere at this moment.

History of the program:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/jca.htm

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/fca.htm

Some of the politics:

http://thehill.com/business--lobby/...-army-air-force-rift-over-jca-2007-03-19.html

AUSA (Army version of the Navy League) Memo urging restoration of funding some time ago:

http://www.ausa.org/webpub/DeptGovAffairs.nsf/byid/JSUR-6PUQJY

 

[scoober78]

That and they are flying their C-23 Sherpas into the ground.

Thank God...If there were academy awards for ugly airplanes...it would have to be a nominee...:yuck_125:

 

[loadtoad]

The black Sherpa looks a little cooler

 

[bunk22]

I am not sure it is the same thing Bunk. The Army has been screaming for years for intra-theater airlift and they are apparently using up flight hours on their Chinooks at very high rate to transport supplies around Iraq and from Kuwait to Iraq. That and they are flying their C-23 Sherpas into the ground. The Air Force fought this for quite some time and the contract was awarded in spite of them, not because of them. The problem has been made all the worse with the wing box problems on the C-130's.

This is a pressing and public need in that is directly affecting the war, at least according to the Army. And they have lobbied for this publicly and forcefully for quite some time. The Navy's priorities are obliviously elsewhere at this moment.

History of the program:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/jca.htm

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/fca.htm

Some of the politics:

http://thehill.com/business--lobby/...-army-air-force-rift-over-jca-2007-03-19.html

AUSA (Army version of the Navy League) Memo urging restoration of funding some time ago:

http://www.ausa.org/webpub/DeptGovAffairs.nsf/byid/JSUR-6PUQJY

Thats where the argument for a new "organic" intratheatre assest wins out....needed in Iraq/Afghanistan. Needed in the current type of ops we are involved. Maybe if the Navy somehow pushed what is needed....an organic asset required for Navy ops, often high tempo. It doesn't effect me, I'll never fly COD's again. The C-2B would be good enough and it might be a go but how long?? Not in the next 10 years would be my guess.

 

[HAL Pilot]

When I was at Southcom in Panama, the Air Force had a C-27 squadron at Howard. When we closed down Panama, the Air Force insisted on getting rid of the C-27s despite all the other services demanding they keep them. Now.....they are reinventing the wheel.

 

[bobbybrock]

This pissing contest b/t the Army and the Air Force has exsisted for some time. The Air Force see's another mission going away with the Army doing it's own intra-theater transport. It was odd seeing the C-23 bubbas flying down in the weeds with us helo bubbas. A few memebers of my guard unit to fly the 23 in OIF and said it needs a replacement quick.
It is funny how the Air Force will deep six a program, then rethink it when another service wants to pick it up. I think the A-10 and UAV programs are great examples. Either we do it or no one does. Team players.

 

[SemperGumbi]

...a mishap with everyone onboard (as long as it's not pilot error) ...

I am pretty sure if that ever happened, they would somehow, some way make Pilot Error at least a large factor. Lets not kid ourselves; the stuff they can pin on "pilot error"..... :icon_rage

 

[bunk22]

I am pretty sure if that ever happened, they would somehow, some way make Pilot Error at least a large factor. Lets not kid ourselves; the stuff they can pin on "pilot error"..... :icon_rage

You are probably right....whatever it takes to do nothing

 

[zab1001]

The black Sherpa looks a little cooler

Exactly, I'd fly that fug mother any day to do what those guys do.

 

[Stearmann4]

It was odd seeing the C-23 bubbas flying down in the weeds with us helo bubbas.

A Missouri Guard Sherpa pilot recently got a DFC in OIF!

 

[bunk22]

Even cargo pilots get medals once in a while....ie LtCol Joe Jackson, MOH in Vietnam flying C-123's.

http://www.mishalov.com/Jackson.html

 

[Flash]

In this week's Aviation Week & Space Technology, on page 22, they have a little blurb that says that the Navy will retire the C-2A from 2017-2026 and that they are now looking at replacement options. Sorry, can't find a link.