Texas' Bell Helicopter Is Flying High

A few years ago, Bell Helicopter's Osprey was the victim of a few crashes and the government was not happy. Congress even tried to cut off funds for the Osprey, but somehow it survived. Now, in 2006, the Osprey is the star of the Farnborough International Airshow in England. People at the air show were lining up in large numbers to ride on the Osprey [V-22].

The Osprey is a fixed wing aircraft with wingtip rotors that can be adjusted to let it fly like a helicopter or like an airplane. It currently costs $69.2 million, but they are trying to get the cost down to $58 million within three years. The Marines are going to buy 360 Ospreys, while the Army wants 50 of them. The Navy is also considering a purchase of 48 Ospreys. Britain, Australia, and Japan are also considering purchasing some Ospreys.

But Bell is not resting on its laurels. They have just announced a relationship with an Israeli company, Urban Aeronautics, to build a new urban attack aircraft - the X-Hawk. The craft could hold a pilot and 11 soldiers, and could navigate urban areas by flying above the streets and between the buildings. It will be able to fly in spaces a regular helicopter cannot go. They hope to start building a prototype by 2010.

I guess I should be pleased. I just live a couple of miles from the Bell Helicopter plant in Hurst. It looks like Bell won't be doing a layoff anytime soon, so many of my neighbors have a little more job security.

But I can't help thinking. We seem to always find the money when we want a new military toy, but we're always short of having enough money to actually help Americans with their problems. I don't ever remember discussing whether we had enough money for new weapons, but that's all I hear when it's time to spend on social programs. Isn't this backwards? Shouldn't the needs of the American people come first? I guess the corporations can't make as much money on social programs as it can building new weapons, and of course, the corporate dollar comes first with our current government. We have got to get rid of Georgie and his friends as soon as possible. Impeachment anyone?