'Aging' airforce wants big bucks fix

'Aging' airforce wants big bucks fix

news.yahoo.com

After more than seven years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Air Force's aging jet fighters, bombers, cargo aircraft and gunships are at the breaking point, they say, and expensive, ultramodern replacements are needed fast.

"What we've done is put the requirement on the table that says, 'If we're going to do the missions you're going to ask us to do, it will require this kind of investment,'" Maj. Gen. Paul Selva, the Air Force's director of strategic planning, said in an interview with The Associated Press.

"Failing that, we take what is already a geriatric Air Force," Selva said, "and we drive it for another 20 years into an area of uncertainty."

An extra $20 billion each year over the next five — beginning with an Air Force budget of about $137 billion in 2009 instead of the $117 billion proposed by the Bush administration — would solve that problem, according to Selva and other senior Air Force officers.

(visit the link for the full news article)

Here's an idea...In stead of 'wearing out' all of our craft by fighting in endless invasions and occupations, how about saving the wear and tear on them by keeping them at home for NATIONAL DEFENSE. Nah, that would make too much sense. It's easier to keep emptying out the tax-payers pockets to keep these endless nightmares going.

This should set us back a trillion more dollars that we already don't have.

news.yahoo.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

The YOUNGEST of the ANG F-15s that are standing alert around the mainland US is about 28 years old. Even if we keep them at home, they HAVE to fly training, which is going to put stress on the airframe. Sure not as much, but our B-52, KC-135, and C-130 fleets are older than almost all of the pilots flying them! The last KC-135 was built in the 1960s! Even without being involved in two conflicts, we still would NEED to replace a huge chunk of the fleet.

Congress is playing games with the fleet as well. Maguire AFB in NJ has 8-10 aircraft that are nonflyable, and have been for years. They're nonfixable as well, but Congress won't allow them to be retired. They have stated that the USAF MUST maintain a certain number of each type of aircraft. So once a quarter they go out and start engines, and move them around. That's the extent of their capabilities. But they still show on the rosters as active, because the engines run.

Originally posted by DimensionalDetective

Here's an idea...In stead of 'wearing out' all of our craft by fighting in endless invasions and occupations, how about saving the wear and tear on them by keeping them at home for NATIONAL DEFENSE. Nah, that would make too much sense. It's easier to keep emptying out the tax-payers pockets to keep these endless nightmares going.

Did you forget that we are fighting the enemy now in Iraq and Afghanistan? Did you not hear that Iraq and Afghanistan are where al Qaeda is, among other places?

Why are you blaming America because we are fighting those who attacked our country where they live, instead of here?

And what's this about endless invasions and occupations, etc?

Here's an idea. Read up on history a little. Stay on top of current events. Try to stay objective and look at the options to what we're doing now to keep America safe?

Do you really think that standing down from the war on terrorism will solve all our problems?

Have you even thought about it at all?

Originally posted by GradyPhilpott

Originally posted by DimensionalDetective

Here's an idea...In stead of 'wearing out' all of our craft by fighting in endless invasions and occupations, how about saving the wear and tear on them by keeping them at home for NATIONAL DEFENSE. Nah, that would make too much sense. It's easier to keep emptying out the tax-payers pockets to keep these endless nightmares going.

Did you forget that we are fighting the enemy now in Iraq and Afghanistan? Did you not hear that Iraq and Afghanistan are where al Qaeda is, among other places?


Here's an idea. Read up on history a little. Stay on top of current events. Try to stay objective and look at the options to what we're doing now to keep America safe?

Do you really think that standing down from the war on terrorism will solve all our problems?

Have you even thought about it at all?

I see you have been well brain washed.

3500 in good jobs snuff it in a big explosion on 9/11 in front of media cameras...BIG DEAL.

we are subjected to this tiresome brainwashing BS every day since.

for 5 years now.

NON STOP PROPAGANDA FROM ALL THOSE WHO MAKE MONEY FROM THIS EXPLOITING OF 9/11.

This BS is used to restrict our freedom and waste our money on pointless wars/security.

$500 BILLION OF OUR MONEY WASTED ON THOSE 3500.

$142 million per person.

Were they really worth it?

People die every day in America...just because they DON'T make FoxNews does not mean their deaths are any less important then the deaths of 3500 millionaires who lived the good life.

Doctors/Big Pharma are the 3rd biggest killers in America after cancer and heart disease.

They kill 240000 every year.

Have you even thought about it at all?



2400000 kILLED BY bIG Pharma.



:bash::bash::bash: 240000 KILLED BY BIG PHARMA EVERY YEAR.

[edit on 26-2-2008 by esecallum]