http://www.aolnews.com/nation/articl...attle/19694120
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Sad, but true.. Everyone is doing more with less and all aircraft in the inventory are getting abused and used way more than ever forecast. The C17 is a great aeromedical platform, namely bc it's very spacious, bright and doesn't require a k-loader or lift to get up to it like the 135 does. The article ripped pretty hard on the 135 although a lot of the points are valid (not to mention no one really likes the 135 for much. It does highlight the need to quickly secure the bid for the new tanker and start getting them in production. It's unfortunate we (the Kc10) is so "overtapped" right now or we could be a very suitable evac platform - extremely roomy, well lit, separate area for passengers, quiet and much like a normal airliner in terms of pressurization and temperature control. Our biggest limfac would obviously be the need for a k-loader or raisable breadtruck...
the time has come for everyone involved to pull thier heads out of thier a$$e$ and get the product to the warfighter! at the beginning of the space race it was said that getting a man to the moon would take a "concerted, national effort." too bad soemthing like that can't be repeated in this day and age. colombia just picked up thier first of to IAI-converted 767 Tankers. japan flies them, italy flies them and hopefully soon the USAF will fly them as well.
It uis really sad how politics get in the way of EVERYTHING. Yes sure the C-17 is outdated but it is in production and can be made quicker then waiting however many years for the replacement to go through testing and production. Just extend C-17 production through 2013 to cover untill the replacements arrive. Its a logical answer. Put in a small order to cover for a bit so you arent short handed. Even these guys have to see that if they wait any longer they might be so short on transports/tankers that our injured troops could die from waiting around for a aircraft that you can have plenty of. Yes use what you got, in this case you have the C-17 already in production. Get past the politics game and do something right like making sure our injured troops get back to the US for medical care so they dont die waiting.