The Department of Defense and U.S. Naval Air Systems Command announced the official cancellation of the VH-71 Presidential Helicopter program late Monday.
Navy Officially Terminates VH-71 | AVIATION WEEK
Last year I had mentioned the subject of defense spending and waste especially when it came to this program, and the fact that this program suplanted Sikorsky a company that had been making the presidential helicopter for over 40 years. The VH-71 made by an Italian company meant the loss of several American jobs. So now we are at the point in a new administration where the decision has been made to cut the program after several billion dollars has already been spent of the taxpayers money. Not only that, it will take several billion more to close out the program and dispose of the airframes that have already been produced. This is a prime example of why we as citizens do not want the US Govt. invloved in any business venture, as they have proved over and over again an inability to manage the money that you and I send them. I do commend President Obama for his comments about not needing a new helicopter a little while back, however I think had he done his homework he would have seen this as DoD's example of business management and perhaps rather than spend additional close out costs just kept the program open long enough so that the money the american taxpayers have spent on it would not have been wasted.
Navy Officially Terminates VH-71 | AVIATION WEEK
Last year I had mentioned the subject of defense spending and waste especially when it came to this program, and the fact that this program suplanted Sikorsky a company that had been making the presidential helicopter for over 40 years. The VH-71 made by an Italian company meant the loss of several American jobs. So now we are at the point in a new administration where the decision has been made to cut the program after several billion dollars has already been spent of the taxpayers money. Not only that, it will take several billion more to close out the program and dispose of the airframes that have already been produced. This is a prime example of why we as citizens do not want the US Govt. invloved in any business venture, as they have proved over and over again an inability to manage the money that you and I send them. I do commend President Obama for his comments about not needing a new helicopter a little while back, however I think had he done his homework he would have seen this as DoD's example of business management and perhaps rather than spend additional close out costs just kept the program open long enough so that the money the american taxpayers have spent on it would not have been wasted.
