Stealth Helicopter w/ Ejection Seat... Simply Not To Be

After two decades of development and 8 billion dollars spent, the Pentagon has decided to cancel the Comanche Stealth Helicopter Development Program. This project has been drug out for what seems like forever. The Comanche was never good enough for production. Several documentaries on the aircraft's develpment have pointed out the numerous blunders of the program including out-of-control rotors and endangered test pilots.

The subject of a series of video games, I always did wonder if that damn thing would ever make it into service. I was certain that I would hear more about its testing than its performance in combat. I guess the closest any servicemen are going to get to the Comanche's cockpit is on their home PC.

This is a smart move by the Pentagon to curb spending in a time of immense national dept (thank you Mr. Bush). I wish we could spend more military money domestically, but we're stuck with an administration that would prefer to see it spent in an effort to end the lives of our enemies, or at least the lives of those caught in the crossfire. Anyone who has, to any extent, followed the Comanche program, knew that this Helicopter wasn't going anywhere very fast... if at all. (Literally)

Hopefully some of the research will be salvaged through contributions to the (active) Apache program, which is another Boeing contract. Boeing's stock dropped today, along with United Technologies (co-contractor on Comanche). I await the fate of the Osprey (another radical military aircraft that has been in development FOREVER by Boeing).

Comments

[Wheel Alignment Equipment]

Logically, ejector seat on helicopters is like a suicidal device.
Imagine your body be shredded on those primary propellers.