Serious question

Costs.....

There are so many ways to parse the numbers (just like how many ways to
serve potatoes)....

If numbers are to be used, they all need to be based on same premise....
For example, total life cycle cost (your $2b figure????). Not to say the
B-2 program is cheap, but you can get some pretty 'flashy' numbers if you
look at total life cycle costs per aircraft/ship/tank (initial R&D,
procurement, O&M, system upgrades/enhancements, etc etc for ENTIRE life of
system -- divided by numbers procured). A single nuclear powered aircraft
carrier (sans aircraft) TRC is reported to run at $8b. Found numbers for
KC-135 fleet detailing a TRC of $76b. So whatever is used to compare costs
(acquisition, life cycle, etc ....) they all need to be off the same
accountants page.

Mark

"BackToNormal" wrote in message
p.nnz...
Is the following accurate?

"The U.S. Air Force's most expensive bomber is the B-2. It is a stealth
bomber built by Northrop Grumman. Its price tag was near $2 billion per
aircraft. This plane is capable of flying to any target in the world
from its base in the center of the United States and back without
stopping anywhere by means of midair refueling".

Costs for a start. AND, isn't a B52 also capable of flying non stop from
US to anywhere in world and return courtesy of midair refuelling. B1?
Others?

ronh

--
"People do not make decisions on facts, rather,
how they feel about the facts" Robert Consedine