Reply #8: I usta think these things cost $70 million - not so.

[unhappycamper]

The good old Air Force Times accidentally let the cat out of the bag:

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/04/ap_osprey_crash_040910/

Osprey crashes in Afghanistan, killing 4

By Noor Khan - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Apr 9, 2010 10:24:30 EDT

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — An Air Force Osprey aircraft crashed in southeastern Afghanistan, killing three service members and one government contractor, NATO said Friday. It was the first crash of the costly, tilt-rotor aircraft in a combat zone.

The CV-22 Osprey went down about 7 miles from Qalat, the capital of Zabul province, NATO said. The cause of the crash was under investigation. Other personnel aboard were injured and were taken to a military base for treatment, NATO said.

~snip~

The original program, a $40 billion joint venture of Boeing Co. and Textron Inc.'s Bell Helicopter unit, was beset by delays and plagued by design flaws and other problems.

It was nearly canceled several times due to cost overruns — which pushed the bill to over $100 million per aircraft — and a series of fatal crashes and other incidents. In 2000, a crash in Arizona killed all 19 Marines aboard and a separate crash killed four Marines in Florida.