Review: New Army helicopter has flaws

This really is a big deal, but compounded by the story below.

The Army is spending $2.6 billion on hundreds of European-designed helicopters for homeland security and disaster relief that turn out to have a crucial flaw: They aren’t safe to fly on hot days, according to an internal report obtained by The Associated Press.

While the Army scrambles to fix the problem — potentially adding millions to the taxpayer cost — at least one high-ranking lawmaker is calling for the whole deal to be scrapped.

The story below which involves the V-22 Osprey. Hmmm.

The military is investigating an engine fire aboard a MV-22 tilt-rotor Osprey this week, but said on Friday it was too soon to discuss any possible impact on V-22s deployed in Iraq.

"We're not at this point drawing any conclusions one way or another. It hasn't therefore led to any fleetwide action," said U.S. Navy spokesman James Darcy.

The V-22 takes off and lands like a helicopter, but flies like an airplane. It is built by Boeing Co and Bell Helicopter, a unit of Textron Inc.

That fire occurred on 11/09/07. Lately?

Design flaws still make tilt-rotor aircraft unacceptable for imminent Iraq deployment. There's so much to admire about the Marine Corps. The fighting quality and spirit of the combat Marines who go into harm's way are second to none. For more than two centuries Marines have fought hard for this country, often with horrific death tolls, such as during the bloody Pacific Islands campaign during World War II.

I agree about the author's assessment of the marines. They are tough, courageous and patriotic, but giving them inferior equipment is a fucking joke. And it ain't a funny joke.

Via NewsTin.