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