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Author Topic: Why are they so expensive  (Read 572 times)

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Offline Conan The Librarian

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Why are they so expensive
« on: June 14, 2012, 03:21:06 AM »
There was a news story today about an Air Force plane that crashed. It was an Osprey. This is a "tilt rotor" plane that takes off and lands like a helicopter but can tilt the propellers forward like a prop plane for greater speed. Anyway, they cost 70 million dollars each. How? Why?
 
Likewise, a new 747 freighter costs about 225 million.
 
These two examples have been in production for a long time, so they should have it down to a factory process now. Why do they cost so much?
 
I can see why a 747 would at least justify a higher cost because it gets used a lot during a long service life.
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Offline crustylicious

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Re: Why are they so expensive
« Reply #1 on: June 14, 2012, 05:21:10 AM »
Boeing is union!
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Offline magooch

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Re: Why are they so expensive
« Reply #2 on: June 14, 2012, 05:25:39 AM »
At some point, an evaluation needs to be done of all military equipment and government purchases to determine whether it is absolutely essential, or if it is just spend, spend, spend. 
 
Those Ospreys look dangerous to me and I don't think our troops should have to fly on that kind of contraption.  Of course I feel the same way about helicopters and almost all airplanes. 
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Offline Rex in OTZ

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Re: Why are they so expensive
« Reply #3 on: June 14, 2012, 05:50:52 AM »
Your talking Aircraft, aircraft have never followed the way of common sense, the Ford 12 volt alternator for a car is expensive, that same alternator with a FAA/PMA stamp costs tripple the auto part.
 
I can tell you prices of stuff from 7 years ago for common civilian aircraft, I'd worked on a Cessna 206, had worked off some discrepancies to make it airworthy, I'd replaced the Pilots door hinges the most expensive hinge half was the bottom aft hinge was $730, the missing Nav lamp lens was darn near $80 for a small colored glass cup that coverd the lamp (smaller than a shot glass)
 
facter in how the govt does purchaseing, those aircraft are built by lowest bidder to do the job (only bidder to do the job?), the parts are also mfg by the lowest bid supplyer.
 
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuAUE58MQt4
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Offline Swampman

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Re: Why are they so expensive
« Reply #4 on: June 14, 2012, 06:25:04 AM »
The Osprey crashed very near my house.  They are a piece of junk.
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Offline lakota

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Re: Re: Why are they so expensive
« Reply #5 on: June 14, 2012, 08:10:45 AM »
Quote from: Swampman on June 14, 2012, 06:25:04 AM
The Osprey crashed very near my house.  They are a piece of junk.
Haven't there been a lot of Osprey crashes over the years? I thought those things had a pretty lousy safety record.

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Offline gypsyman

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Re: Why are they so expensive
« Reply #6 on: June 14, 2012, 08:52:02 AM »
No doubt there are several reasons their so expensive. Designed by engineers that are paid a good wage. Built by workers that are paid a good wage. All paid for by a govt. that doesn't think $300 or $400 for a hammer, or $800 for a toilet seat is to much. Wonder how much the kick backs costs us? gypsyman
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Offline Swampman

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Re: Why are they so expensive
« Reply #7 on: June 14, 2012, 09:57:11 AM »
There are good reasons for the hammer and toliet seat being expensive.  The each require a boxcar load of paperwork that says they meet government specs.
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"Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agreed, as you can all read the Book?" Sogoyewapha, "Red Jacket" - Senaca

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Offline Conan The Librarian

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Re: Why are they so expensive
« Reply #8 on: June 14, 2012, 01:31:01 PM »
Swampman is right. They also require an engineer onsite to interpret the specs. No kidding. And believe it or not, many maintenance positions do allow the man to go to a hardware store for supplies but the organization tries to stamp that sort of thing out. Corp of engineers is a good example of that.
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Offline Swampman

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Re: Why are they so expensive
« Reply #9 on: June 14, 2012, 01:59:07 PM »
Thankfully it sounds like the crew is ok.  These guys are from my old outfit the 1st SOW.  I worry about these crews no matter where they are.
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"Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agreed, as you can all read the Book?" Sogoyewapha, "Red Jacket" - Senaca

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Offline northkid

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Re: Why are they so expensive
« Reply #10 on: June 14, 2012, 03:26:53 PM »
Quote from: gypsyman on June 14, 2012, 08:52:02 AM
No doubt there are several reasons their so expensive. Designed by engineers that are paid a good wage. Built by workers that are paid a good wage. All paid for by a govt. that doesn't think $300 or $400 for a hammer, or $800 for a toilet seat is to much. Wonder how much the kick backs costs us? gypsyman
Them $400 hammer heads are used to flatten rivets. I have made my share over the years. They have to be polished to a certain micro and they have be + or - 1gram, dipped in anti .mil spec anti rust crap and packaged in .mil packaging. They could go to sears and buy a $15.00 hammer and polish it.
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