The state of USMC aviation

MikeD

MikeD

Administrator
Staff member
@///AMG , funny thing, we were just talking about this.

Same thing I've heard from my coworker Marine aviators, namely regarding the Hornet and CH-53 community. At least for the USMC, the VMGR units have fairly new J models, the -46s are replaced by -22s in the HMM/VMM units, and the HMLAs have new Y model Hueys and Z model Cobras. The F-35 is slowly replacing the AV-8s and F/A-18s, but the AV-8s at least have a hefty parts source of former RAF Harrier GR7s that the USMC purchased and are storing at the Tucson boneyard. In the VMAQ units, the old EA-6B Prowlers soldier on, but I don't believe they go to the boat anymore.

The Hornet VMFAs are where the big hurt is, as the legacy jets aren't made anymore and the USMC doesn't use the E/F Super Hornets. From what my coworkers were saying, some guys were getting ~80 or so hours last year of flight time.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...ine-corps-aircraft-grounded.html?intcmp=hpbt1
 
They were supposed to be getting the Navy's F/A-18C models. There's a • tone of them sitting around. The CH-53 guys just have to wait it out a bit longer till the CH-53K production starts.
 
H46Bubba said:
They were supposed to be getting the Navy's F/A-18C models. There's a tone of them sitting around. The CH-53 guys just have to wait it out a bit longer till the CH-53K production starts.
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Aren't the Navy's legacy Hornets nearly timed out?
 
There's something else going on here. You aren't going to convince me a CO of a squadron is going to go on national television and complain about the state of readiness of his unit without HQMC knowing about it. He'd be fired the next day.

Is this some kind of ploy by the Corps for more money? Welcome to The Marine Corps sir. We've been doing more with less since 1775.
 
Wardogg said:
There's something else going on here. You aren't going to convince me a CO of a squadron is going to go on national television and complain about the state of readiness of his unit without HQMC knowing about it. He'd be fired the next day.

Is this some kind of ploy by the Corps for more money? Welcome to The Marine Corps sir. We've been doing more with less since 1775.
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That's exactly what I thought. Saw news stories all day about this and am sure these interviews were sanctioned/encouraged/mandated.
 
Well yeah, it was sanctioned.

Some Fox News crew isn't just going to waltz onto an MCAS with a reporter and full camera team and no escort, and randomly wander the flightline and maintenance hangars, selecting random people in flightsuits to speak with.
 
Wardogg said:
Im just saying, the skipper of some 53 squadron didn't just call Fox news with a scoop.
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Agreed. Also agreed that the Corps wanted this out there. Kind of a gamble if being the one airing the dirty laundry on national TV though......
 
Regardless of who sanctioned or did not sanction the interview, I think it is a fair statement that they are going through tough times right now. It's been going on for a number of years as well.
 
This seems like the Marines have had enough of sequestration. It's finally catching up and is now affective mission readiness.
 
Man and i thought we had it bad during the Carter days, And we are still on a war time footing .............. this falls on the thin wimpy shoulders of ONE man and ONE man only !!!!!!!!!!!! What will happen is that there will be a Hull loss and some poor E3/4 will get the hot poker up the ASS !
 
queeno said:
Man and i thought we had it bad during the Carter days, And we are still on a war time footing .............. this falls on the thin wimpy shoulders of ONE man and ONE man only !!!!!!!!!!!! What will happen is that there will be a Hull loss and some poor E3/4 will get the hot poker up the ASS !
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An E3 is an acceptable sacrifice.
 
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