...I don't think we are in disagreement. I said I supported procurement of the Comanche.

However, my point was not that these are inferior to larger helicopters but that we are entering an era where a half dozen promising technologies can take the men out of the machine on the battlefront and put them at a control terminal. It will still require pilots - but the new pilots may be safely operating their crafts from remote locations.

Take a look at this.

This one is also trying to make the Comanche obsolete.

Again, a bird in the hand is worth a dozen UCARs on the drawing boards. And I personally support manned craft and do not think anything will ever replace the nuances of the human touch and "being there". I just know that it may help marketability to offer an urban-warrior "Blue Thunder" edition of the Comanche for well-heeled states, cities and even other federal agencies.

I say this for two reasons -
#1) I would like to see certain agencies have them.

#2) It will keep the technology, support and parts viable longer than if it were purely a military craft.

When cost comes down on bug-free UCARs and they can buy ten of them for each Comanche - you and I both know the bean-counters which proliferate in the acquisition departments will lean towards the UCARs.

By the way, I was wondering if this is planned to be a part of your comprehensive space-awareness architecture?

Take care Larry and keep warm ;-) .

From Hell's waiting room,

SDAI-Tech1