USAF CV-22 Squadron commander relieved over aircraft mishap

Via Inside Defense (subscription):

Squadron Commander Relieved Of Duties After CV-22 Osprey Crash

The Air Force has removed the commander of the 8th Special Operations Squadron, citing a lack of confidence in his leadership following last week's crash of a CV-22 Osprey.

AOL Defense has confirmed that the pilot-in-command of the June CV-22 crash in Florida that injured 5 people was also the co-pilot of the 2010 CV-22 crash in Afghanistan that killed 2 people.

Recent analysis of USAF budgets shows that the CV-22 costs $73,000 per flying hour in 2011 and $80,000 per flying hour in 2010 (exceeding the troubled F-22 for that year). This also exceeds the hourly cost of much heavier and larger aircraft such as the C-5 transport, B-1 and B-52 bombers.

While the CV-22 offers some niche capability, one has to wonder about the value at any cost.