European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 21, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 6 the stars and stripes . Thursday april 21,1994 \ probation period urged for c-17 Washington a the future of the c-17 transport plane rests on whether its manufacturers prove it can live up to expectations Deputy defens Secretary John Deutch said tuesday. Deutch in testimony before a Senate armed services committee panel said he had recommended to Secretary of de sense William Perry that the program continue for a two year interim probation period at a production rate of six aircraft year. " .-.-/. Its performance in that period will help the Pentagon decide whether to go ahead with a full c-17 Fleet or to consider a mix of c-17s Andl commercial wide body aircraft a general accounting office report prepared for the hearing wednesday said the Pentagon made a bad Deal when it agreed to share disputed costs with the builder of the c-17. The study said Mcdonnell Douglas corp. Will Bear far less financial Burden than its agreement with the department of defense implies. But Deutch said Pentagon studies concluded that the c-17, if operating to Burrest expectations was still More Cost effective than any combination of c-17s, commercial aircraft c-5bs or c-141s. He said a mix of.c-.17f and other air Craft May be an acceptable alternative to a pure c-17 Fleet but this depends largely on the performance capability that the c-17 actually the Gao report said Dod has pro posed a settlement with Mcdonnell Douglas that in Pur opinion is not in the Best interest of the it also said that in an overriding Effort to eliminate the contentious relationship Between the government and the contractor the Pentagon agreed to waive All it potential financial claims against the air Craft maker and to lower some performance standards on the plane. The settlement reached earlier this year requires the government to pay $348 million in disputed costs and Mcdonnell Douglas to cover $454 million. Mcdon Nell Douglas also agreed to Correct management and technical problems. But the Gao report concluded that the actual out of pocket Cost to Mcdon Nell Douglas is Only $46 million one tenth of the figure reached in the settlement. The Gao said some of the costs assumed by Mcdonnell Douglas rep resented funds already spent or costs it would have borne in any Case. The Pentagon expects to pay $213 Bil lion for 40 c-17s. That would consume about half of what the Pentagon had planned to spend on 120 of the aircraft. The plane is designed to supplement and eventually replace the Fleet of c-130s, c-141s and c-5s. In the stars and stripes 10 years ago april 21,1984 As police beefed up barricades around the libyan embassy in London in expectation of a lengthy standoff British Ambas Sador Oliver Miles had what he called a constructive meeting with the libyan foreign minister. 20 years ago april 21,1974 a Texas attorney sent word to watergate prosecutors that he is prepared to testify that for Mer Treasury Secretary John con Nally took $10,000 for helping a giant Dairy cooperative a source said. -.-. 30 years ago april 21,1964 the United states and the soviet Union have agreed to Cut Back production of nuclear explosive materials president Johnson said in new York. 40 year Sago april 21,1954 Evodkia Petrov joined her former Diplomat husband As a refugee from soviet communism after australian police officers jerked loaded pistols from two Kremlin aides escorting her in tears Back to Moscow. 50 years ago april 21,1944 Adolf Hitler s at lactic Wall took its heaviest Pound ing of the War As the Allied invasion command sent More than 2,000 planes across the English Channel in an afternoon Blitz of a precedent a strength. World War ii 50 years ago today april 21 warplanes from 12 . Aircraft carriers bomb Jap Anere forces at Hollandia Sawar Sari and Wake to prepare for a . Invasion Fleet closing in on Hollandia new Guinea. American and chinese troops in Northeast Burma regroup for an attack toward my Itkina a key position on the old Burma Road Supply route from India to nationalist chinese forces
