US Air Force buys 19 DG-1000 trainiers

At 02:57 24 March 2011, Bruce Hoult wrote:
On Mar 24, 3:49=A0am, Ian Cant wrote:
As a taxpayer, I want to see value for my money.
I don't know the current list prices, let alone what the USAF is
paying, but when my club bought two DG1000 CLubs several years ago it
was 60k EUR for an ASK-21 or 70K EUR for the DG1000.


At $5 million for 19, that's about quarter of a million each. Expensive
for air experience.

I agree, as we all do, that soaring exposure for cadets is highly
desirable. But would not even a 'slightly' less expensive aircraft do
this job just as well ? And maybe for more cadets if the total budget
stays the same ?

As to the value for Predator operators, I doubt if it is significant. The
pilots' union will keep the job designated for rated pilots as long as
possible, but sitting in front of a screen is NOT equivalent to flying in
combat, nor does it demand the same skills set.

Ian

On Mar 24, 7:21*pm, Ian Cant wrote:
At 02:57 24 March 2011, Bruce Hoult wrote:

On Mar 24, 3:49=A0am, Ian Cant *wrote:
As a taxpayer, I want to see value for my money.
I don't know the current list prices, let alone what the USAF is
paying, but when my club bought two DG1000 CLubs several years ago it
was 60k EUR for an ASK-21 or 70K EUR for the DG1000.

At $5 million for 19, that's about quarter of a million each. *Expensive
for air experience.

I agree, as we all do, that soaring exposure for cadets is highly
desirable. *But would not even a 'slightly' less expensive aircraft do
this job just as well ? *And maybe for more cadets if the total budget
stays the same ?

As to the value for Predator operators, I doubt if it is significant. *The
pilots' union will keep the job designated for rated pilots as long as
possible, but sitting in front of a screen is NOT equivalent to flying in
combat, nor does it demand the same skills set.

Ian

They are already tapping aviators without Air Force pilot wings to
pilot UAVs. Navigators that have civil commercial licenses have been
getting Predator piloting assignments.

Considering the debacle concerning the $32M acquisition and eventual
disposal (at a total loss since the airplanes were eventually
shredded) of the T-3 Firefly that General McPeak was responsible for,
a couple mil for modern, supportable, off the shelf sailplanes is a
vast improvement. Many of these cadets are studying aeronautical
engineering and will go on to fly aircraft costing well over $100M
each. Giving them a good foundation in airmanship is an investment.