USCG to bid on AF C-27J

[Victory103]

Well I hope someone will get to use them. Makes sense after reading the HC-144 are being slowly delivered at 2 per year, and the HU-25 (Falcons) are just about gone. The MKAI Spartan might have a US presence after all.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/ ... j-042012w/

[andrea81]

How many C27s did USA order for Us Army?

[Victory103]

Initially the US was to get 78, then that went down to 54, then down to 38 planned. 21 are on contract now with 13 delivered.

[andrea81]

I see, thank you! Will they used by USAF or US Army? I think c27 is not the best aircraft for USCG, it's a STOL airplane for tactical transports, i don't know how USCG can use that

[Victory103]

They were supposed to be used by the USAF and our National Guard to replace our C-23 Sherpas, for theater tactical transport, controlled but the Army ground commander. Right now, the USAF control where/when all our C-130's go, and the Army commanders needs more support.

Our USAF has decided to cut the program all together, but will not let the Army take over (politics). So, we now have 21 C-27J's delivered and need a new home. From what I have gathered from the USCG guys, these will be used in conjunction with the HC-130's and are available now, the USCG HC-144's are taking too long to deliver and our HU-25 Falcons are getting older. I realize what the G222/C-27 was designed for, but the USCG can use the cargo much like the HC-130's. I'm sure they will at least put some form of EO/FLIR onboard.

[andrea81]

Thank ya victory, so USAF controls USnavy, USMC and USCG c130s, well we'll see about c27's future

[phantomfreak]

No the Air Force just wants to get rid of the C-27J.

[ronniegj]

The AF wants to rid itself of any a/c that does not fit it's image of itself. In other words, it only wants big ass bombers, big ass strategic transports and fast fighters. Oh, and of course a few rotor-wings, mainly to fulfill it's own missions. It will lower itself to sort of meet the needs of the other services with "multi-purpose" adapted a/c to the extent possible with such a/c. It continues to have little interest, despite protestations to the contrary, to do anything other than air-force style missions.

Yesterday, during Senate Armed Services hearings, it was let slip that AF wants to dump all remaining A-10's in favor of F-16s tasked with multipurpose configurations to meet Army support needs. I personally don't think that the F-16 can ever equal the A-10 in close ground support missions, and I don't believe that the C-130 can offer the same support abilities as the C-27J for the Army. They state that they are now using the C-130 to do the mission, utilizing currently available airfields, and while the C-130 has some ability to operate on off-field locations, the area has to be big enough for the C-130 to get in and out. The Army often operates far from such locations, and rotor wings can't meet all of the needs due to speed and distance and weight vs altitude/heat considerations. The AF tried to make the C-130 capable by playing around with RATO packs, but it turned out to be too dangerous, and tries to avoid such situations.

I would like to see all C-27Js+ and A-10s and pilots, along w/all support be transferred to the Army. There still would be plenty of mission left for the AF, and I doubt that there would be any danger to the growth/prestige of the AF. Of course this will never ever happen. The AF lost me when they demanded the Caribou's and the promptly junked them all. No gain for the AF and a serious hampering to the Army.

Just sayin'.

Ron

[phantomfreak]

Apparently the Air Force has failed at learning from history. In the late 80's they tested the CAS mission with some Euro 1 painted F-16s. If I am correct they couldn't perform as well as the A-10. The A-10's main problem is that it's not sexy. It's not sleek and doesn't go mach 2. I seem to remember an episode on Discovery Wings about the A-10, where Gen Chuck Horner was commented that when his son decided to fly A-10's in the Air Force he (his son) was brain dead. The Air Force has been wanting to rid it self of the A-10 for the past 25 years. They were going to the boneyard before Desert Storm, which save some of them from that fate. And I believe there was talk at that time of the A-10 going to the Army.

[andrea81]

I think it's the same story of marine one helicopter!