Note from the President: China

AFA members, Congressional staff members, civic leaders, DOCA members, in a note I sent you yesterday [ http://www.afa.org/PresidentsCorner/Notes/Notes_8-29-11.pdf ], there was a typo in it.  Operation Allied Force averaged 800 sorties per day as compared to Unified Protector’s 150.  Thankfully, Generals Jumper and Short were not the first to notice the error.  In the past week, there have been lots of news about China.  First, the DOD annual report to Congress on Military and Security Developments in the PRC was released.  There have been news stories about the document, but I thought you’d like to see it … and make up your mind on it.  I sought some experts’ opinion on it; and they thought it parsed the real threat China poses.  One made the point that military doctrine measure threats as:  capability + intent.  PRC capability is … without a doubt … growing.  It just announced it will increase its defense budget by 12.5%; it has two new fighters in development – the J-20 and the J-15.  It has three carriers on the drawing boards, with one undergoing sea trials [and their state media has announced it will be used for “scientific research and training”]; it is building a new ICBM and increasing its nuclear stockpile; it is building counter-carrier ballistic missiles; it continues it efforts to put a man on the moon; it continues to refine its counter space capabilities; and it conducts cyber attacks on the US.  We know the People’s Republic activities worries its neighbors … as Viet Nam has taken delivery of a guided missile frigate and ordered six Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines as well as 12 Sukhoi Su-30MK2 warplanes from Russia.  The Philippines has also purchased a retired US Coast Guard Cutter that has been converted to a surface warship that is being deployed to the Spratley islands -- where they are in a dispute with China over claims.  What the experts noted was that the report down-played China’s intent. You can find the report at:  http://www.defense.gov/pubs/pdfs/2011_CMPR_Final.pdf For a good article on the report see Bill Gertz’s piece in the Washington Times:  http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/25/beijing-to-expand-its-nuclear-stockpile/?page=all#pagebreak And … for an extraordinary piece on Chinese cyber attacks, the link below describes a show that appeared on Chinese TV … with B-roll appearing behind it showing a People’s Liberation Army software attack on dissidents through a web site in the US.  See:  http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=60619&pop=1&page=0&Itemid Many of you have been following the development of the J-20 … but few have noticed much about the J-15.  A good story appeared on it in the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/26/world/asia/26fighter.html?ref=china Finally, a good number of you wrote me regarding China’s refusal to pay on the debt owed to US citizens (See:  http://www.afa.org/PresidentsCorner/Notes/Notes_8-23-11.pdf)  Now some news agencies have picked up the story.  For example here is one report:  http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/08/26/its-time-for-china-to-pay-its-debts-to-united-states/ For your consideration. Mike Michael M. Dunn President/CEO Air Force Association

September Session of AFA's Air Force Breakfast Series Welcomes Lt. Gen. Carlisle

AFA is pleased to announce Lieutenant General Herbert J. “Hawk” Carlisle, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, as the guest speaker for the September session of the AFA Air Force Breakfast Program. This session will be held on Thursday, September 29, 2011, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.

Lt. Gen. Carlisle is responsible to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff for formulating policy supporting air, space, irregular warfare, counterproliferation, homeland security, weather and cyber operations. As the Air Force Operations Deputy to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he determines operational requirements, capabilities and training necessary to support national security objectives and military strategy.

The general is a command pilot with more than 3,600 flying hours. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Deputy Director, and later, Director of Legislative Liaison at the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force and the Commander of 13th Air Force at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. He has also participated in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia as the Chief of Air Operations of U.S. Central Command Forward; Operation Provide Comfort in Turkey as Commander of the 54th Fighter Squadron; and Operation Noble Eagle as the 33rd Fighter Wing Commander.

The AFA Air Force Breakfast Program is a monthly series that provides a venue for senior Air Force and Department of Defense leaders to communicate directly with the public and the press. Past speakers include Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, Gen. Gary L. North, Commander of Pacific Air Forces, and Gen. Donald J. Hoffman, Commander of Air Force Materiel Command.

Don't forget to register online at http://septafabreakfast2011.eventbrite.com!

Note from the President: Operation Unified Protector

AFA members, this week I was interviewed on NPR about Operation Unified Protector (OUP) [Libya].  Here were my main points : Airpower played a significant role in any success the rebels may have had  Was I surprised?  Ans. No.  In modern warfare, no Army has ever won without control of the skies The rebels would never have been able to advance into Tripoli without Airpower The war is not over … despite what the press is reporting. NATO deserves credit for the operation (and remember, the US is part of NATO … ) Things that went well:  political resolve, sustained operation, small loss of life Things that could have been done better:  sortie rate (150 per day) was too low to have a more devastating effect; costly effort by using TLAMs in the opening days I emphasized that it was a war … despite the Administration saying it was not; it would have been better if the Administration had gone to Congress to seek the people’s support; that the US was indeed flying strike sorties; that all indications are that our ISR assets were critical to strike successes When asked what would have been the result if the US were in the lead – a much more intense air battle and a very shortened war with many more sorties per day.  How much shorter?  I don’t know.  I would need to get briefed on the details … [See comment below] Were there (allied/US) people on the ground?  Yes, British, French, and probably Dutch … and perhaps a 3 letter US agency What do you think about the allies running short of munitions?  It should have been a wake-up call for them.  They need to spend more on defense. Things I wish I had mentioned: The potential for WMD use  … or WMD/MANPADs (Man-portable air defenses of the stinger-type) proliferation to Al Qaeda.  Libya has significant quantities of Sarin nerve agent The $900M cost for the operation was about the same as 3 days in Afghanistan.  This shows that projecting vulnerability is costly. Airpower has the potential to keep us out of long and bloody occupations. The real challenge begins now. Khadaffy, a Bedouin, may be able to last for months. Rebuilding Libya, with our and Europe’s present economic conditions, will be challenging. The question of the length of a US-led operation caused me to pause … and then to do some analysis. The only comparable air operation in recent times was Operation Allied Force during (OAF) the Kosovo War.  A comparison of the two operations:  # of Aircraft in the operation:  OUP – 250; OAF – 1200 # of sorties per day:  OUP – 150; OAF – 80 Length of the operation:  OUP – almost 6 months and continuing; OAF – 78 days This makes a very important point:  Mass and numbers matter in an Air Campaign.  The more aircraft in an operation, the more likely it is to finish quickly … and the less loss of life.  Most air campaigns conduct attacks against 15,000+ aim points.  In OAF, 23,000 bombs and missiles were launched. So, as the Pentagon looks to cut its budget, it should remember our experience with the past.  A former boss of mine liked to quote George Santayana:  “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” For your consideration. Mike Michael M. Dunn President/CEO Air Force Association

2011 Air & Space Highlights: USAF Contingency Panel

Another great panel to catch at AFA’s 2011 Air & Space Conference would be “USAF Contingency Operations Tomodachi & Odyssey Dawn.”

Though U.S. troops have been continuously engaged in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq in the past decade, the U.S. Air Force has been called upon several times to support additional contingency operations. In just the past two years, we’ve had airmen in Haiti after a major earthquake struck, initially displacing more than a million people and leaving behind heavy damage. In March of 2011, we were in Japan, providing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance after several areas were devastated by an earthquake and tsunami. Also in March, the U.S. participated in a no-fly zone to prevent attacks against Libyan civilians. The USAF Total Force demonstrated tremendous flexibility across the full range of military operations. 

On this panel will be Gen. Gilmary M. Hostage III, Commander of Air Combat Command, with headquarters at Langley Air Force Base, Va., and Air Component Commander for U.S. Joint Forces Command. As the commander, he is responsible for organizing, training, equipping and maintaining combat-ready forces for rapid deployment and employment while ensuring strategic air defense forces are ready to meet the challenges of peacetime air sovereignty and wartime defense. 

Lt. Gen. Burton M. Field is the Commander of U.S. Forces Japan, and Commander of 5th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Yokota Air Base, Japan. He is the senior U.S. military representative in Japan and Commander of U.S. Air Force units in Japan.

Maj. Gen. Margaret H. Woodward is Commander of 17th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The command serves as the Air Component for U.S. Africa Command and has responsibility for all Air Force activities in the Africa theater spanning 53 countries, 11 million square miles and more than 900 million people.
 

Brigadier General Roy E. Uptegraff III is Commander of 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. As Commander, he administers and supervises the wing and its subordinate units; ensures combat readiness in the mobilization missions of units under his command; and is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Air National Guard base at the Pittsburgh International Airport.

This panel of experts will discuss their first-hand knowledge of the challenges, innovations, successes, and lessons learned from Operation Tomodachi and Operation Odyssey Dawn/Unified Protector. 

 Click here for the full agenda >>

CyberPatriot IV - Don't forget to register!

Is your local high school participating in CyberPatriot? Do they have what it takes? Because we think they do! 

Don't forget to register for CyberPatriot IV -- the premier national cyber defense competition for high school students!

From smart phones and emails to online banking and shopping, so many of our daily activities involve access to the cyber world. The nation’s dependency on cyber networks continues to increase and with it the potential for cyber threats. This is why CyberPatriot was created!

Open to all high school students, CyberPatriot is the ultimate cyber game! Competitors get to control computer networks, learning to defend and protect computer systems from cyber threats and potential hackers. Established by the AFA, this program provides students hands-on learning about technology, emphasizing teamwork and leadership, and exercising critical-thinking skills.

Find out if your area is being represented in CyberPatriot.Help spread the word across the country to all 50 states! Registration ends October 8th. 

For more information on CyberPatriot, go to www.uscyberpatriot.org.

AFA supports restoration of veterans cemetery in Philippines

AFA is an association that doesn't just invest in the future of aerospace and the Air Force, but honors and commemorates the history and heritage as well. 

We proudly join several organizations as Allies of the Clark Veterans Cemetery Restoration Association (CVCRA), an organization that dedicates itself to helping transform the Clark Veterans Cemetery, located in Pampanga, Philippines, from its present neglected status to one properly supported by the U.S. Government. 

Clark Veterans Cemetery is the final resting place of 8,600 men and women – both Americans and allied Philippine Scouts – who were involved in conflicts from the early 1900s to World War II.  The 17-acre cemetery lies outside of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, what used to be a military facility, Clark Air Force Base, from 1903 to 1991. It served as a key location for U.S. forces during Korean and Vietnam wars.

According to an AP story back in July, the cemetery relies on retired U.S. soldiers, Marines and sailors who volunteer to keep watch and runs on donations to maintain the grounds. Washington, however, is unwilling to help.The Air Force maintained the cemetery from 1947 to 1991, when Mount Pinatubo’s eruption forced the U.S. to abandon the area. But by 1994, it had become neglected, overwhelmed with weeds, overgrown grass and debris.

 
Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Norton Schwartz and his wife visited the grounds on Thursday, along with the former American military base, paying respect to fallen Airmen who have been laid to rest.

AFA supports the efforts carried out by the CVCRA as they work to maintain this cemetery that holds the remains of thousands of individuals who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country. Its a place of history that commemorates the sacrifices of many individuals. 

Click here for more information about CVCRA >>

2011 Air & Space Highlights: Head of NASA Joins Line-Up

AFA is pleased to announce Charles Bolden, the current Administrator of NASA, has joined the line-up of speakers at AFA’s 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition, to be held September 19 - 21, 2011, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, just across the river from Alexandria and minutes from downtown Washington, DC. 

 

AFA’s annual Air & Space Conference brings together senior Air Force leadership, industry experts, academia and current aerospace specialists from around the world to discuss the current issues and challenges facing America and the aerospace community.

 

Bolden had a 34-year career with the Marine Corps, which includes his 14 years as a member of NASA's Astronaut Office. As a naval aviator, Bolden flew more than 100 combat missions in North and South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, while stationed in Namphong, Thailand, from 1972-1973. As an astronaut, he has traveled to orbit four times aboard the space shuttle from 1986-1994, commanding two of the missions. His flights included deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope and the first joint U.S.-Russian shuttle mission.

Bolden was appointed as the twelfth Administrator of NASA on July 17, 2009. As the highest-ranked official of the U.S.’s space agency, he leads the NASA team and manages its resources to advance the agency's missions and goals. 

This year’s Air & Space Conference boasts more than 50 sessions and an expo floor displaying the latest advancements in air and space technology. Other guest speakers will include the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. 

For a full list of speakers, go here.

Be a part of AFA’s premier national forum for aerospace professionals. Registration details can be found at here!

 

Also, don’t forget to join in on the discussion online! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Make sure to include the hashtag #afaairspace.

China, Length of Wars

AFA members, Congressional staff members, civic leaders, DOCA members, on a note last week, my fingers got too fast for me. I called the TACC the Tactical Airlift Control Center – when it is really the Tanker Airlift Control Center. Several of you pointed this out … but, thankfully, Generals McNabb and Johns held their fire. See: http://www.afa.org/PresidentsCorner/Notes/Notes_8-19-11.pdf

Vice President Biden has just left the People’s Republic of China. While there, he told the Chinese not to worry about the US paying its debts to the country -- their investments in the US were safe. I was struck with the fact that the PRC, however, does not pay its debts to the US. Several decades ago, China sold sovereign bonds worldwide to investors in many nations. They sold tens of thousands of these bonds on U.S. soil to American citizens on the recommendation of our government, indicating it was a solid investment. Over the last sixty years, China has refused to pay to these bondholders either the principal or interest on these full faith and credit sovereign bonds. In 1987, threatened with being kept out of the British financial markets, China acknowledged the debt by paying British citizens who owned these same bonds. By paying the British bondholders, but no other owners worldwide (including U.S. bondholders), China “selectively defaulted” on these bonds. Currently, the People's Republic of China owes a debt of over $750 billion to American citizens who are holding full faith and credit sovereign bonds sold to them by the Republic of China. Worldwide, the debt China owes to all bondholders is estimated to be several trillion dollars. It seems to me that something could be done about the debt held by US citizens. For more information on this, see: http://americanbondholdersfoundation.com/ and http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/110/bia071708.pdf.

Earlier this year, the USA Today headlined that Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan was now the longest war in US history. The paper said it surpassed the length of the Viet Nam War. Leaving aside the fact that the Cold War (which DOD recognizes as a war) and the Korean War (which is still underway, despite the Armistice Agreement) were both longer, I wondered about the length of the Viet Nam War. Thanks to articles in the VFW magazine, the end date is generally assumed to be 29 Mar 73 – when the last US troops left Viet Nam. However, the start date considered by USA Today was assumed to be the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution on 29 Mar 64. Others list it as 14 Feb 62 (when US troops were officially authorized to return fire). The Army and Navy lists 15 Mar 62 as the official start date (the day the Advisory Campaign officially began). Air Force uses 15 Nov 61 as a start day. “It was essentially an advisers and aviators war in the early years, but a war nonetheless.” According to Richard Kolb and Kelly Von Lunen. In fact, the first US aircraft downed by enemy fire in South Vietnam was on 2 Feb 62 when a C-123 was shot down between Bien Hoa and Vung Tao, killing three. Checking the Viet Nam Memorial produces an even earlier … and later set of dates. According to the Memorial, the first American soldier killed in the Vietnam War was Air Force T-Sgt. Richard B. Fitzgibbon Jr. He is listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having a casualty date of June 8, 1956. His name was added to the Wall on Memorial Day 1999. First battlefield fatality was Specialist 4 James T. Davis who was killed on December 22, 1961.

The last American soldier killed in the Vietnam War was Kelton Rena Turner, an 18-year old Marine. He was killed in action on May 15, 1975, two weeks after the evacuation of Saigon, in what became known as the Mayaguez incident. Others list Gary L. Hall, Joseph N. Hargrove and Danny G. Marshall as the last to die in Vietnam. These three US Marines Corps veterans were mistakenly left behind on Koh Tang Island during the Mayaguez incident. They were last seen together but unfortunately to date, their fate is unknown. They are located on the wall on panel 1W, lines 130 - 131.

So it turns out OEF is not our longest war … and even the proclamation that the VN War is the “longest war” in US history is off base. As Richard Kolb points out in the VFW Magazine, “Far and away, the longest American war was … fought between American Indians and combined forces of English colonists, American settlers and US soldiers, extending from April 26, 1607 to Oct 5, 1898: 291 years. (The Apache campaigns alone last more than 25 years.)”

This brings us to today – when many are proclaiming Operation Unified Protector in Libya is over. While there is reason for optimism, I believe this operation … and this war has many months left to run. And … if one assumes the purpose of war is a better state of peace, then it may be years before a government and the necessary legal, financial, and other institutions are formed in Libya to bring it to that better state.

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

Note from AFA President -- Guard/Reserves, Fighters

AFA members, Congressional staff members, civic leaders, DOCA members, most of us are aware of our absolute dependence on the Guard and Reserves – as we enter our 10th year of combat.  [Note:  I hope all of you paused a bit with the 10th year comment … because our Air Force is entering into its 22nd straight year of combat … to include Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Deliberate Force, Southern and Northern Watch.  As we approach the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I want every one of you to be on the lookout for editors and others who proclaim we’ve only been at war for 10 years – because that’s not the case.]  Most Americans, however, do not really understand the sacrifices our citizen-Airmen/soldiers.  One of our staff members [thank you Merri] found this piece … which tells of loss of a job … and starting over.  Read it and give me your comments on it.  You can find it at:  http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/wanted-a-good-job-and-some-understanding/ Secondly, an excellent editorial by Gen (Ret) John Michael Loh appeared in the Fort Worth Star Telegram.  In it, Gen Loh points to the many advantages of Airpower and posits that the DOD must maintain air dominance and a strong industrial base.  The two go together, and both are national treasures.  You can find the piece at:  http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/08/16/3294724/loh-the-future-of-the-american.html  A couple of quotes from the piece to interest you:  “The American public expects our forces to dominate adversaries quickly. Air warfare is not a sporting event. It is not acceptable to win by small or even large margins. The U.S. must win 99-0, not 99-98 in double overtime. The new standard demands this level of dominance.” “Every time American fighter pilots climb into their cockpits, they know they are strapping into the best fighter planes in the world. That gives them the confidence they need to perform any mission successfully. Airmen have always had the upper hand against any adversary because the U.S. defense industry has been able to develop and produce the world's best fighters, for our forces and allies. Today, the F-22 and the F-35 fighters give fighter pilots the ability to dominate in a multitude of missions.” For your consideration. Mike Michael M. Dunn President/CEO Air Force Association

Happy Aviation Day!

National Aviation Day is celebrated on August 19 every year, commemorating the development of aviation! This day of observation was established in 1939 by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who issued a presidential proclamation designating the anniversary of Orville Wright's birthday to be National Aviation Day (Mr. Wright, born in 1871, was still alive when the proclamation was first issued). 

First flight of the Wright Flyer I, December 17, 1903, 

Orville piloting, Wilbur running at wingtip.

Looking for a place to celebrate? If you're in the DC area, definitely check out the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of historic air and spacecraft. Check here for four other locations in the country. 

Not located near one of these museums? Historynet.com has a list of the top 10 best (and worst) aviation films!

Note from the AFA President: Afghanistan, PRC, TACC

AFA Members, Congressional staff members, Civic Leaders, and DOCA members, this week I ran across an interesting, but a bit long, piece on Afghanistan published in Armed Forces Journal.  It was written by MAJ William B. Taylor.  The thesis of the piece is the military has been asked to evaluate success in Afghanistan – tactically, operationally, and strategically – the latter in both the military, political, and economic areas – the latter two for which the military is not capable of doing.  (You can find the article at:  http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2011/08/7065554).  A quote to interest you in the piece: “Expecting the military to focus on political and economic spheres is unrealistic because the military still deems nonkinetic action as lesser work; doing so also makes it much harder to demonstrate progress and success because of the inherent slowness of political and economic development. Also, because of the traditional divorcing of politics from military action, the American military is simply uncomfortable and weak at linking political repercussions to military action. In stark contrast, the insurgents see military and political action as one in the same, and consequently, are quite effective in shaping their violence to send a message.” Secondly, a piece by Dr. Gordon G. Chang crossed my desk.  It cited People’s Republic of China threats to use US economic weakness to prevent arms sales to Taiwan.  The first sentence states:  “On Monday, People's Daily, China's leading newspaper, stated it was time for Beijing to consider using its "financial weapon" against the United States.”  The article further questions whether we should treat China more like an adversary that we have in the past.  (You can find the piece at:  http://www.pakalertpress.com/2011/08/17/china-threatens-to-use-financial-weapon-against-america/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+pakalert+%28Pak+Alert+Press%29).   A quote to interest you:  “Chinese officials, in recent days, have essentially declared an economic war on the United States. Perhaps it is time for us to think of China as a geopolitical adversary and not just a friendly trading partner. Beijing, by its own words, has revealed itself to be a foe. The question is whether we will recognize its hostile intent and respond.” Thirdly, I have pointed you several times to Second Line of Defense – a website that tries to look at security issues operationally … and holistically.  Several months ago, I recommended to one of the founders of the site (Dr. Robbin Laird) that he visit the Tactical Airlift Control Center (TACC) at Scott AFB.  In today’s world, key political leaders no longer ask the question:  “Where are the carriers?”  Instead, they want to know how fast we can get our forces to a hot-spot.  It is the TACC’s job to position our airlift and tankers to provide the global mobility our forces need.  In fact, sometimes even before major events occur, the TACC is already moving assets in anticipation of their need to respond.  It is largely out of sight from even the most professional military watchers.  The TACC is truly a national asset.  You can find an interview with TACC members, at:  http://www.sldinfo.com/global-airlift-tanking-and-medevac-missions/.  For a short interview with the TRANSCOM Commander on the complexities of the transportation network to Afghanistan, see: http://www.sldinfo.com/general-mcnabb-on-meeting-the-challenge-in-afghanistan/.  Finally, a quote from the first piece:  “… the demand for tankers is significantly greater than supply.  MSgt Jeremiah Love commented that: ‘We just don’t have the tankers we used to have at one point in time. Even in the couple of years that I’ve been here, our numbers of taskings have gone up that much.’ This is also due to the very different use of tankers in the battlespace.  Both lifters and tankers now enter the battlespace that was inconceivable twenty years ago.  As Col. Mintzlaff, a KC-10 pilot put it: ‘When I did Desert Storm, tankers were way in the rear.  When I was in Afghanistan, we were looking down on the battle. When you bring that many assets that much closer to the fight, you start opening up the door to other things that can go on an airplane to help the folks on the ground.  These are things like helping with the convoy and mitigation as well as communications. I think as you change the way you fight, you need to take full advantage of the assets that are there to be used and figure out how to use them.’ “ For your consideration. Mike Michael M. Dunn Lt General (Ret), USAF President/CEO Air Force Association

2011 Air & Space Highlights: V-22 Osprey

In July 1992, a leaking gearbox led to a fire in a pre-production V-22, causing the aircraft to drop into the Potomac River killing all seven on board and grounding the aircraft for 11 months.In April 2000, a V-22 filled with 19 Marines to simulate a rescue, attempted to land in Arizona, stalled when its right rotor entered vortex ring state, rolled over, crashed, and exploded, killing all on board. Then a malfunctions in December 2000 caused the V-22 to fall 1,600ft in North Carolina, killing all four aboard, raising the death toll to 30.

But the Marines still refused to abandon it. When they decided to buy a helicopter-airplane hybrid "tiltrotor," they saw it as their dream machine. Many predicted the tiltrotor would reshape civilian aviation and the Marines saw it as key to their very survival. 

Richard Whittle's enthralling narrative reveals how a venerable aviation dream transformed into a nightmare. Whittle began covering the V-22 Osprey program in 1984 as the Pentagon correspondent for The Dallas Morning News. Based on hundreds of interviews, extensive research, first hand flights, and an "embedding" on the first Osprey combat tour in Iraq, Whittle's book, The Dream Machine: The Untold History of the Notorious V-22 Osprey provides impressive insight into the story of the revolutionary tiltrotor troop transport flown by the Marines and Air Force Special Operations Command. 

A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 prepares
to land aboard USS Nassau in 2008.

The V-22 began as a multiservice project in 1982 but suffered a series of dramatic setbacks that nearly killed it. By the time the Osprey went into service, its development had taken 25 years and billions over budget. Whittle’s book, praised by military and other reviewers as a skillful depiction of the Osprey’s tortured journey through the labyrinthine defense acquisition process, is captivating narrative explaining how the Marine Corps defied a sitting defense secretary and shrill media coverage to keep the Osprey alive, and why the tiltrotor still might revolutionize civilian aviation. 

Books can be purchased when you register for the conference or on-site in AFA’s Booth on the exhibit floor during the conference! Whittle will be speaking Tuesday, September 20 at the 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition.