Jim Ryun: “I would like to add some points with regard to national defense, offer an example of how our armed forces are…”

“I would like to add some points with regard to national defense, offer an example of how our armed forces are continuously being asked to do more with less. Within the district that I represent, which is the Second District of Kansas, resides the 190th Air Refueling Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard. Now, this Wing is responsible for a variety of support operations, including air refueling of operations worldwide, support of the no-fly zones in Iraq, organizing disaster and humanitarian relief and various other community outreach programs. In the past year, under the stress of continued deployments, the Wing has sent personnel and aircraft to various places such as Iceland, Germany, France, Turkey and to Alaska. However, Mr. Speaker, the newest KC-130 aircraft used by the 190th was built in 1963. The oldest aircraft was built in 1956. The President's budget forces this Wing that has extensive activities around the world to use these aircraft until the year 2040. That would make the existing aircraft 80 years old. Now, I have had the privilege of addressing a panel of experts during a hearing in the Committee on Armed Services, and I asked them the question then, would you feel comfortable flying an 80 year old aircraft? In fact, would you feel comfortable putting your son or daughter in that particular aircraft and asking them to fly? They gave me the same answer if I had put one of my sons or daughters in there. No, they did not feel comfortable with that.”