The Hill quotes Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), who supports buying additional F-22s (see above), that he is concerned that the F-22 costs about $50,000 per hour to fly, which makes it much more expensive than the F-15 it’s intended to replace. However, that dollar figure includes base standup and other one-time costs no longer applicable to the F-15, according to the Air Force. It also includes other costs solely related to a stealth aircraft. To get a more credible comparison between the F-22 and the F-15, the Air Force says to look at the variable cost per flying hour, which in 2008 for the F-15 was $17,000 per flying hour and for the F-22 was $19,000.
We looked back on the past 12 months to find the stories that resonated the most with you, our audience, and these 10 topped the list. Maybe you missed one the first time around, or perhaps you’d like to revisit a favorite.