$16 million pricetag: It’s all in a name

[nhboy]

"Bravo or Juliet?

That’s the $16 million question facing Pentagon officials currently debating what to designate the Joint Cargo Aircraft, according to a report in The Hill newspaper.

The C-27J Spartan, made by Alenia, was chosen last June to serve as the Joint Cargo Aircraft, an intra-theater airlifter to be used by the Air Force and Army. The Army will receive 54 of the 78 JCAs slated to be purchased through 2013.

A Hill report on Friday said that Army and Air Force officials are at odds over whether to designate the American planes the C-27J or C-27B, which the Air Force supports. The Air Force previously operated a small fleet of C-27As, also produced by Alenia, before retiring the fleet in 1999."

$16 million pricetag: It’s all in a name - Air Force News, news from Iraq - Air Force Times

Air Force Technology - C-27J Spartan - Tactical Transport Aircraft

 

[ylexot]

This sounds like an easy one and it sounds like the Air Force would like to cause a lot of confusion. Does a C-27B exist? I'm guessing it does. Redesignating an aircraft that already has the designation of C-27J as C-27B is going to cause confusion.

 

[Lenny]

This sounds like an easy one and it sounds like the Air Force would like to cause a lot of confusion. Does a C-27B exist? I'm guessing it does. Redesignating an aircraft that already has the designation of C-27J as C-27B is going to cause confusion.

And, of course, that confusion is all W's fault. O/W Annoyboy wouldn't have posted this one.

 

[glhs837]

This sounds like an easy one and it sounds like the Air Force would like to cause a lot of confusion. Does a C-27B exist? I'm guessing it does. Redesignating an aircraft that already has the designation of C-27J as C-27B is going to cause confusion.

No, it's not that, its just that the manufacturer already has the books and such done with the J designation. Air Force just likes order, is all. And jumping from A to J offends thier sense of order. Nice sentiment, but it shouldnt cost millions. Why did they jump from A to J? My supposition is that they were trying to hook this things image with the J model C-130, with which it shares at least the engines, a nice logistical touch.