We don't need no stinkin' AIR FORCE!

Those old C-5As had restriction placed on them for many years. The wing box was a problem (fixed in the C-5Bs). I suspect they were ready to go to the boneyard.

Yeah, those things have been around 40-45 years now. Probably time

C-17 production has already been given the chop with production for the airforce slated to end next year, after that they'll only be kept alive with export orders until Boeing closes the plant with the loss of 1100 jobs. More 'hope and change' at work. As the C-5s retire, the US air force is going to lose significant airlift capability, increasing logistics costs and reducing capabilities for the warfighter.

The stratagem for our military is changing. Specialization's example is the number of Special Operation Forces (SOF) and used of UAVs.

I personally disagree on ending the C-27J acquisition. But that is not a high ticket item.

Sounds like Pinetta is trying to head that direction. If it don't really weaken us, we need to let him try. There are going to be some base closures as well. It will be ugly but as you said, we never should have got there in the first place.

Not trying to get into a political debate, but perhaps you didn't notice that the economy was already going in the toilet during Bush's second term?

Back to the point at hand - older aircraft that aren't being utilized efficiently should be stricken, and the F-35C (USN version) appears to be dead in the water (had to use the maritime terminology for the Navy version). The tailhook is too short, located too close to the main gear, and there is not enough room on the fuselage to both lengthen the hook and move it back? Lockheed is not new to this game, and that (among many other flaws in the 35C) is absolutely appalling. It would not surprise me to see the CNO and SECNAV request that the 35C be scrapped - especially since Her Majesty's Royal Navy is now having serious misgivings over it and USN could not afford to be the only customer.

Agreed!

preach it man, preach it!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like a plan, but because it's that simple, you think our government will let that happen??????????lol.

agree

yes you do need 4-6 trips to the same city, efficiency and will allow for easier connections. the hub and spoke, while not desired by pax is actually one of the best ways to go for airlines with a varied fleet

I like Florida's idea of Well fare, and it is actually fare... You have to pass a drug test. I think every member over the age of 10 that receives benefits from Welfare, Food Stamps and so forth should be required to pass a drug test each and every time they receive benefits, plus at random intervals when they show up at your door. That would save a ton of money, even with the additional capital, plus it would offer more employment to those who really want to work... The workers also have to pass the tests...

Well, I think you are like me and a lot of the rest of us Al, you probably remember Korea and Vietnam where a lot of the younger ones don't. I don't remember Korea personally, but I have read the History and when they did open up that conflict, they came across in waves and by total surprise, just as the Chinese did coming across the Yalu. They didn't tell the world what they were fixing to do and neither did the North Vietnamese. Pop out of a tunnel, shoot your ass and disappear. All our high tech got it's ass kicked and 54,000 good men later, we tucked our tails and came hom. Distasteful as it was, that was the one good thing that Nixon did. And we all came home as baby killin' bastards.

Al/James: All that's just too simple and practical an idea. Besides, a lot of those folks vote and they are going to keep the ones that are in there. Sad but true and the politicians know it. Hopefully, if the Lord don't come, we'll live to see things reveresed and this country heading back toward what made it great in the first place rather than headed to hell in a handbasket as it is right now.

Thank You! This is the life freely chosen, freely givien for Freedom. Freedom is not Free. Only thee politicians place a price on it.

Probably titled by a Navy guy.LOL

The Guard wanted them because of where they were manufactured. Active AF Just wanted what they had saying if it ain't broke don't fix it.

The way you reason is proper of persons like many of us in this blog who are rational and orderly in the way we spend our moneys because we work hard to get earn them, however you have to understand that the military thinking is "damn the cost I need more of those latest-technology (and expensive toys)" and then invent all sorts of scenarios and pretexts -with the all too eager assistance of the defense contractors- and then go to Congress demanding the billions a year that are needed. Again, we all suffer from short memories: in the Viet Nam the U.S. Air Force and the other services dropped twice as much bombs than the Allies -both in terms of total weight and numbers- dropped in Europe during WWII, and what the U.S. got in return: 60,000 dead, 180,000 maimed physically and with mental disorders, zillions of dollars wasted, not to mention an estimated 2 MILLION VIETNAMESE dead, most of them CIVILIANS, and worldwiDe shame when coming home defeated by whom: people who got to use even bamboo sticks as spears and arrows.

I wonder how many thi and all the other stuff they have talked about will add to the UE rolls.