It would appear the USAF is not having a good week. Over at the Small Wars Journal a lot of attention has been given to a “Dear Boss” letter penned by a fighter pilot. The comments there are certainly interesting with a majority believing he is in fact whining. Reminds me of the joke, how do you know a fighter pilot is coming your way—you can hear him whining.
The same letter is also discussed here. Read the comments at SWJ and at LG&M. If you believe the USAF is right, don’t bother reading it will just raise your blood pressure and give you high bile and spleenitis.
The “Dear Boss” letter is minor compared to this story. It would appear the F22 is taking some friendly flak from the Pentagon’s Top Leader. Fighter pilots are not known for being risk adverse, but when pilots say they don’t want to fly the F22 any longer because of its oxygen problems someone needs to pay attention. On top of that the cost overruns on the F35 Lightening may doom it.
Procurement by all the services, be it the Army (Comanche, Crusader, FCS), Navy (DD1000, LCS, Ford Class Carriers), USAF (F22, F35, C130J), or USMC (Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle) is broken. Whomever fixes it will deserve a Nobel Prize or the Medal of Honor or perhaps both.
The Air Force has already lost one pilot, and one aircraft to the problem, so this isn’t fictitious. Recommend we institute the ChiCom method of accountability.
Get the Generals and Contractors who approved the F-22, line ‘em up in the courtyard of the Pentagon, and execute them by firing squad. Ensure the JCS attends, and extend invitations to every CEO who does business with the Pentagon (and make it mandatory for them), along with Congressional Staff.
The only issue is the Air Force will need to borrow some marines or soldiers because the Air Force will miss unless they have laser-guided, $1 million/copy 5.56mm bullets.