View Full Version : New Air Force cargo planes fly straight into mothballs
BMT (RIP)
10-07-2013, 10:25
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/10/07/new-air-force-cargo-planes-fly-straight-into-mothballs/
BMT
twistedsquid
10-07-2013, 17:21
$567 million for an "Italian made" cargo plane that can operate on underdeveloped runways? Is there a $567 million inadequacy in the C130?
longrange1947
10-07-2013, 17:40
Looks like a C123 remake. :munchin
Yet another reason why there is no surprise that our government is in the mess its in
Underwhelming
Uninspired
Uncoordinated
Divisive
Ineffective
...just a few words that come to mind in no particular order
At least we were able to make time to dictate that a SHARP bullet be added to the leadership block on an NCOER
twistedsquid
10-07-2013, 17:52
Maybe it's "spend it or lose it" reasoning.
Looks like a C123 remake. :munchin
They are the same as the G222 that the Itialians use. Basically a baby C130 with 2 engines. Nice platform to jump from. The Germans also have some and a few other EU countries.
It's the C-27 by Fiat. SOUTHCOM (SOUTHAF) had a fleet many years ago for intra-theater transport. It could hold two pallets turned sideways and about one ODA. When we left Panama, they got rid of them. Sold them to the DoS Air Wing at Patrick AFB and they still use them in the Andean ridge for the same kind of stuff.
They are the same as the G222 that the Itialians use. Basically a baby C130 with 2 engines. Nice platform to jump from. The Germans also have some and a few other EU countries.
Yep, I've jumped one. Nice. Kind of reminded me of a C-7A Caribou. But a little more "solid." The Italian crew chief looked like Pavarotti and kept squirting red wine into his mouth out of one of those squeeze packs that come in their rations.
The Reaper
10-07-2013, 18:58
Good bird, can land on shorter runways than the C-130. Great jump platform for small units.
Biggest problem was very limited range at full load. When we were still in PM, SOUTHCOM had them at Howard under the theater air program.
The Army was buying them recently because the AF (and Army RW assets) could not service all of the log customers in theater.
Then the AF said that it violated the Key West agreement and wanted the C-27s transferred to them. As soon as the ink was dry, they dropped the program. Sort of like the C7s.
Some of you may not know it, but most of the resupply for our guys in theater are para drops, so this airframe made sense at the time. Still would for a FID or UW op, but the AF doesn't like to do that, kind of like the A-10.
TR
Maybe it's "spend it or lose it" reasoning.
It'd s the funding category -- program versus discretionary. That is one of the problems with the cuts. The DC definition of program versus discretionary is not what a unit would think of as discretionary. Program is protected. All the cuts come from discretionary. Tactical medical supplies and training - as an example -- discretionary.
So big cuts in training and typical needed supplies while we stock pile tanks. :rolleyes:
Peregrino
10-07-2013, 20:37
What amazes me is that it took the media this long to notice/comment. We've been trying to get some of these for months, Key West agreement be damned. (The USAF isn't very high on my approval list.)
It's the C-27 by Fiat. SOUTHCOM (SOUTHAF) had a fleet many years ago for intra-theater transport. It could hold two pallets turned sideways and about one ODA. When we left Panama, they got rid of them. Sold them to the DoS Air Wing at Patrick AFB and they still use them in the Andean ridge for the same kind of stuff.
The problem with those were they were purchased with the smaller engines not the RR that most EU countries had. They were trying to cut cost and wound up with a underpowered AC. DoS did get them and they still are not that good.
Now get in one that has the RR engines and the G222 type of avionics you have a great little plane....
What amazes me is that it took the media this long to notice/comment. We've been trying to get some of these for months, Key West agreement be damned. (The USAF isn't very high on my approval list.)
You know we rewrite old agreements and that one is due for a rewrite to meet current needs and restructure.
Some years ago (many), my team flew staged from Panama to do a deployment into El Yopal, Colombia (1995 or 1996?). Mother Air Force refused to land at the Airport becuase it had not been "surveyed' even though it was an active, well used airport. So, we ended up jumping in while CDSing all of our equipment (except me and my senior medic as we were the ADVON / DZSO). Two months later and it's time to go. Air Force still refuse to land on the runway. So, SOUTHCOM sends one of its C-27s to pick us up which, of course, had no problem (they landed 727s / 737s on that runway). I don't know what kind of engines it had. But, I thought it was kind of a cool little plane.