http://www.military.com/features/0,1...ESRC=dod-bz.nl

How were they able to design and bring the P-51 into production within one
year
back during WW2? Why is it so expensive and take so long now?

You didn't really just ask that question, did you?
Ah maybe b/c they did not deal with highly complex technology that has
thousands of ways of failing and a few critical failures of very tiny
parts that don't even move can cause the plane to crash into the
ground. With WWII era planes about the most complex things were the big
ol' piston engines, retractable landing gear, bomb sights...etc...today
a few whiz kids could probably develop a WWII era technology fighter
plane better than any seen in WWII. All you need is metal workers,
engine mechanics/builders, and some pretty solid aerodynamic students.
If it was so easy now then the U.S. would not make everyone else's air
force into target practice.







"If you beat your swords into plowshares, you'll be plowing for those who
didn't."