HeraldNet: Air Force tankers/dinosaurs need replacing now, senator says



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Aerospace Blog

July 2, 2008

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Air Force tankers/dinosaurs need replacing now, senator says

Posted at 11:14 am by Michelle Dunlop

Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby urged Defense Secretary Robert Gates to expedite the Air Force’s KC-X aerial refueling tanker replacement in a letter sent today.

The Republican senator said that while government auditors may have found flaws in the Air Force’s competition, they did not “contradict the Air Force’s conclusion that the Northrop Grumman/EADS KC-45 was the winner,” Shelby wrote.

Northrop/EADS would build their tanker in Mobile, Ala. Last week, supporters of the Boeing Co.’s KC-767 introduced legislation instructing the Air Force either to re-bid the $35 billion deal or to give it to Boeing unless the agency wanted its funding held up by Congress.

While the Air Force sorts out its next move, its fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers continues to age.

“The average age of our current tanker is now older than the average age of the pilot who flies it,” wrote Alabama’s Shelby. “Not only do we need to quickly deliver new tankers to our airmen, we need to ensure that the replacement aircraft is the best available option for both the warfighter and the taxpayer.”

Just last week, Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Ala., called Boeing’s KC-767 a “dinosaur” compared to the Northrop and EADS KC-30.

Speaking of dinosaurs … the Press-Register in Mobile came out with this editorial cartoon to illustrate the age of the Air Force’s existing tanker fleet.

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You Washington Losers
Talk about hipocracy--y'all want to rip off the country to pad your wallet and shortchange our troops. The 767 carries less fuel than the 135--yeah, let's go backward 50 years when we buy a new tanker--what idiot would do that? The A330 carries more fuel than the 135 for the same price as the 767; oh yeah, it carries more cargo. Anyone interested in fiscal responsibility and national security backs the A330. All others are crooks, thieves, politicians, and CEOs.
Ethos Water1 | Jul 3, 2008 7:37 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

The Right Honorable Gentlemen from Alabama
To Senator Shelby and Rep. Jo Bonner.

I don't object to you wanting the best for your state and your constituents, but what we are looking at here is:

1. What's best for our USAF.

2. What's best for ALL of our citizens.

Senator Shelby said:

“Not only do we need to quickly deliver new tankers to our airmen, we need to ensure that the replacement aircraft is the best available option for both the warfighter and the taxpayer.”

Does "quickly" mean waiting for a factory to be built? Or for the airframe to be manufactured in Europe before being shipped to the US for final assembly? What about your general worry for our taxpayers? Does the money that will be sent overseas versus staying in the USA reflect that worry? We are all aware that not all of the parts/assemblies of the KC-767 are American made, but if you looked at the overall picture, more money would be sent overseas if we purchased the KC-30.

And Rep. Jo Bonner...you called Boeing’s KC-767 a “dinosaur” compared to the Northrop and EADS KC-30. Hey Jo...look at it this way. Our airmen need a tanker that works...right NOW. Not a theoretically unproven airframe that has yet been fielded. The KC-767 is like a Ford Explorer that is already on the road and proving to be a good performer. Whereas the KC-30 in nothing more than the equivalent of a "concept car" at the Detroit Motor Show that may or may not be built (even if it can be economically or with a market).

You guys down in Alabama are Americans just like the rest of us across the USA that want the best for our military. How about acting like it instead someone kissing up to Europe...my question to you is:

"What's in your wallet?" (Or who?)
Sam Makarevich | Jul 3, 2008 11:18 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

Tanker
The problem with the senator from alabama is that he refuses to understand the neutral facade that the GAO must maintain. Specifically, the GAO said that if it weren't for the multitude of errors on the part of the A/F, Boeing could very possibly have won the competition.
So let me translate the legalese for the Sen. from alabama; Boeing presented a much better answer to the RFP as stated and it was a travesty of grand canyon proportions that led the A/F to award the contract to airbus and its subsidiary n/g. Do it over boys or face the legal heat.
Clear enough alabama??
J Marchant | Jul 2, 2008 6:23 pm | 1 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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