Air Force Spends $2.6 Billion on Planes (they can't fly)

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON - The Air Force has spent $2.6 billion to buy 50 planes which do not meet the military's requirements and cannot be flown in combat zones, Pentagon (news - web sites) investigators reported Friday.



The Air Force has continued to order more C-130J planes despite the fact that contractor Lockheed Martin hasn't delivered one that met requirements in the eight years since the program began, the report said.


Problems with the propeller-driven cargo planes include faulty computer and diagnostic systems and inadequate defense measures, the Pentagon's Office of Inspector General concluded. So far, none of the planes has been cleared for some of their primary missions: Dropping troops and cargo into war zones and flying in conditions requiring the crew to wear night-vision goggles.


The inspector general's report concluded that Air Force and Defense Department officials mismanaged the program, requiring millions of dollars in upgrades and thousands of hours of work to make the planes capable of performing as well as the aging models they're supposed to replace.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&ncid=542&e=1&u=/ap/20040723/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/pentagon_pricey_planes

It's Friday evening dump time.

[underpants]

1. An end run to avoid $600 hammers?

Aim high

[Kolesar]

2. Built in Newt Gingerich's district to be based in Trent Lott's state

That is why those C-130s got ordered in huge quantities. (edit:typo)

[amber dog democrat]

3. Well how about putting them in museums ?

and flying them to county and state fairs as well as air shows ?

Maybe tbey can be converted to fight forrest fires.... as long as they are air worthy.