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Dogfight: Congress vs. the American Aviation Industry

Marine Sgt. Geoffrey Kohlmeyer (far right) poses with Sen. John McCain and an unidentified soldier in Al Asad, Iraq. They are standing on the loading ramp of a Boeing MV-22 in Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron VMM-263, known as "The Thunder Chickens".

From Forest Grove News-Times

Senator John McCain, a former Naval aviator who voted throughout the 1990's to continue funding for the MV-22 Osprey, often against Dick Cheneys wishes, just spent a week visting Iraq. During his time "in theatre", he was flow around in a Marine MV-22, a controversial aircraft that is now in its first time under combat conditions.

"Senator, while you were in Iraq, what was your general impression of the Boeing MV-22 Osprey. In your opinion, was the aircraft that you flew in worth the investment over the last two decades?..."

Wouldn't that make a set of interesting questions to pose to Senator McCain?

You should be aware that yesterday, the Defense Department awarded a 10.4 Billion dollar contract to Bell/Boeing to produce 167 new MV-22's.

Unlike the recent "Tanker Deal" that went badly for Boeing, there is no other aircraft in the world like the Osprey and as such, the vendor making it can be expected to get a little preference outside of the normal competitive needs of the marketplace. Detractors will say that there is no aircraft like the Osprey because its an awful idea. On the other hand, Boeing and the American Military might just have the right idea and this is an investment that may have paid off for our benefit.

My bias should be clear, Im not big on rotary wing aircraft since I prefer the confidence and mental calmness that a fixed wing pilot gets from having an actual glide ratio, but I have always wanted to see the MV-22 succeed.

Unlike a host of other candidates in the race for President, John McCain is someone who's opinion on the matter might be based on something other than who lives in his state or congressional district and who and who is not greasing his palm.

It might just be based on actually knowing how to fly and knowing what a combat aircraft must be capable of in that environment.

Posted @ March 29, 2008 11:02 AM | Current Affairs

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