US Army Helicopter Plan

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/88xx/doc8865/11-30-Helicopters.pdf

“Toward the end of the Cold War, the Army’s helicopter,
or rotary-wing, fleet consisted of nearly 9,000 aircraft.
Over the past 20 years, however, the fleet has contracted
to its current strength of about 3,500 aircraft.”

Sometimes I dont think we appreciate how much the US military has contracted over the last two decades.

Plus the USN and USAF continue to contract. And w/o a doubt the recent increases in the USArmy and USMC will be short-lived.

Although its unlikely the US armed forces will ever fall below 1.3m** personnel barring a total retreat form the world stage. .43 or 1/2 of 1% approx.

**October 31st 1,377,474
http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/MILITARY/ms0.pdf

UK: April 1, 2007 190.4
http://www.dasa.mod.uk/natstats/ukds/2007/c2/table207.html

And for a country of approx. 300m people and growing thats not really a very huge #: .46 or 1/2 of 1% approx. UK population is approx 60m: .31 or 1/3 of 1% approx.

The US has a population approx. five times larger than the UK.

The USN being approx. ten times larger in personnel than the RN is a bit strange for an island nation.

Without even mentioning the approx 42,000 strong US Coast Guard.

The USMC is approx 25 times larger than the Royal Marines.

The USAF is 7 times larger than the RAF approx. The USArmy is 5 times larger than the British Army approx.

Overall approx 7 times larger.

Hope this is as interesting for you as for me.

And not too wildly off topic.

Statistically Im approx 1/2 Scottish, Irish, English exactly what proportion of each is a closely guarded family secret recipe.

And 1/2 German. Although one of my GrandPa’s claimed Polish blood but then you could never tell if he was pulling your leg or serious. And was just trying to start sh-t with his family.

A pretty strange mix to be sure.