An F-16 readies for takeoff.
Last week, Battleland bemoaned the increasing difficulty finding cost-per-flight-hour data for U.S. military aircraft.
In a flash, longtime defense watcher – from a perch on Capitol Hill, as well as a stint at the Government Accountability Office – Winslow Wheeler piped up to say he recently sought, and got, such data from the Air Force comptroller’s office.
He adds that he has tried to get similar data from the Navy, without luck. What’s up with that, Admiral Kirby?
The Air Force provided Wheeler with cost-per-flight-hour for dozens of aircraft.
Here’s a sample of what it costs to keep these Air Force aircraft airborne for one hour last year (the so-called “ownership” cost-per-flight-hour, which includes modifications):
A-10C Warthog Attack Plane — $17,716
AC-130U Spooky Gunship — $45,986
B-1B Lancer Bomber — $57,807
B-2A Spirit Stealth Bomber — $169,313
B-52H Stratofortress Bomber — $69,708
C-130J Hercules Cargo Plane — $14,014
C-17 Globemaster Cargo Plane — $23,811
C-20B VIP Plane (Senior Pentagon Officials) — $32,212
C-32A VIP Plane (Vice President, Cabinet Officers) — $42,936
C-5B Galaxy Cargo Plane — $78,817
CV-22B Osprey Tilt-Rotor — $83,256
E-3B Sentry AWACS Radar Plane — $39,587
E-4B Flying Headquarters — $163,485
F-15C Eagle Fighter — $41,921
F-16C Viper Fighter — $22,514
F-22A Raptor Fighter — $68,362
HH-60G Pave Hawk Helicopter — $24,475
KC-10A Extender Tanker — $21,170
MC-130H Combat Talon II Special Operations Plane — $32,752
MQ-1B Predator Drone — $3,679
MQ-9A Reaper Drone — $4,762
RQ-4B Global Hawk Drone — $49,089
T-38C Talon Jet Trainer — $9,355
T-6A Texan II Turboprop Trainer — $2,235
U-2 Dragon Lady Spy Plane — $30,813
UH-1N Huey Helicopter — $13,634
VC-25A Air Force One — $161,591
