New presidential helicopter on hold

[unhappycamper]

Program could cost $11 billion
Officials are “continuing to look at all...


New presidential helicopter on hold
By Gayle S. Putrich - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Dec 17, 2007 16:18:39 EST

The most trying moment for the VH-71 presidential helicopter came in the twilight of what had already been a rocky year for the program.

After cost increases and schedule problems — driven in part by nearly 2,000 requirement changes — DoD officials met Dec. 13 with the White House Military Office to discuss the program’s fate.

The following day rumors abounded that the program faced cancellation, but the Pentagon swatted away speculation.

“There has been no decision to terminate the program,” Bill Balderson, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for aviation programs, said Dec. 14. “We’re continuing to look at all the options. We’ve looked at almost every conceivable option because we didn’t want to take anything off the table.”

Sources suggested that the Pentagon wanted to kill the program, which reportedly has grown from $7 billion to $11 billion, but was overruled by the White House.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/12/defense_VH71_071217/



uhc comment: There's not much on wikipeadia about the VH-71 --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VH-71

The Lockeed Martin/AgustaWestland/Bell Helicopter website is all aglow about the VH-71 --> http://www.teamus101.com/index.cfm

globalsecurity.org reports the VH-71 was built on a cost plus basis --> http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/vxx.htm

[jimshoes]

1. Didn't the putz-in-chief get a couple of new

choppers when he first slimed into office back in 2001 or there abouts?

[RC]

2. Why can't the pretzeldent get around like the rest of us do.

Have friends take him to the airport and then fly coach. Don't forget the shoes when going through security.

[Ganja Ninja]

3. They should all have to fly commercial.

That way they might not be so inclined to waste tax payer dollars flying around to photo ops and pep rallies and we might get an improved commercial air travel system out of it.