http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/07/b...-NYT-MOD-MOD-M218-ROS-0911-HDR&WT.mc_ev=click
Also in yesterday's e-bird, I believe.
Also in yesterday's e-bird, I believe.
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Used King Airs repurposed as MC-12's
- Thread starter mmx1
- Start date
I'd fly it.
But I'd really like to hop in that GIII. before all the gucci appointments get removed.
But I'd really like to hop in that GIII. before all the gucci appointments get removed.
Just wire it to carry hellfires and we can get rid of predators.
phrogpilot73
Well-Known Member
The article makes it sound like it's never been done before. The RU-8D was pretty much the same idea, take a twin Bonanza and slap a bunch of gear on it and get it airborne. Of course, they were ordered brand new by the Army, vice stealing them from Doctors...
http://www.combatairmuseum.org/aircraft/beechbonanza.html
http://www.combatairmuseum.org/aircraft/beechbonanza.html
Agreed. There's actually a plethora of platforms in various theatres that are doing the ISR missions right now that don't and haven't ever worn stars and bars.
And their pilots make $200k a year without any military bullshit to deal with, right?
I thought it was interesting that they aren't really super cheap at $20.5 million apiece.
"Hawker Beechcraft and L-3 see an export market for the planes, and other contractors are also pitching civilian planes as spycraft. Lockheed Martin has taken a wet bar out of a used Gulfstream III business jet and turned the plane into a laboratory for such conversions. The former owner? The Jack Daniels liquor distillery. "
...a damned crying shame.
...a damned crying shame.
$44M for a P-3
$50M for an EP-3
$54M for an F-18 (camera pod not included)
Seems like a pretty good deal to me, if you know that's the only mission you want and you're planning on putting the birds on the used market when you get defunded next fiscal year. . .
Not from what I've gathered in talking with guys I work with. Sure, there's the odd Phrog job where you can make it rain, but the slightly more home-stable jobs aren't doling out the mad cash when you start. And you still have to pay your taxes.
That is true if you are trying to just fly, but if you can/will take on some management responsibility as well you can still make good money. But like others, I think that well is going to start running dry soon.
The real savings that gets people's attention are the order of magnitude reduction in costs per flight hour (direct costs of fuel and indirect cost to maintain aircraft) and the vastly reduced mx required (both in time and personnel required).
MasterBates
Well-Known Member
What HJ said.
Also much cheaper manpower cost when the pilots are on contract, and your expense for them ends when the contract ends.
(yes, I've looked into this sort of work)
Also much cheaper manpower cost when the pilots are on contract, and your expense for them ends when the contract ends.
(yes, I've looked into this sort of work)
That's a good point, although one particular company I was thinking about (and know two guys who work there), getting management responsibility right away isn't necessarily "the way" they do things. Those first 2 years or so are busy upgrading, often during your "off" time. That same company apparently had something like 6 spots to fill, as of a month or two ago.
MasterBates
Well-Known Member
Tried that. Was a no go. Going the Civ route for now.