alibaz
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I can try... the problem is, do we fold in everything, including the pay to the pilot, the mechanics? Do we add in the cost of parts that will eventually be replaced, divided by the number of sorties before that component needs replacement?
See, it can become very convoluted. But a basic cost for fuel is simple enough. Working with pounds and gallons, a typical F-15 sortie consists of internal fuel, plus one external tank, total fuel weight 13,400 + 4,000 = 17,000 pounds. We'd land with fuel remaining, so assume 14,000 pounds of fuel burnt. At 6 pounds per gallon, that is 2,333 gallons used.
If that fuel was purchased at a typical FBO, it'd cost $3 or more per gallon, so that would be perhaps $7,000 for fuel alone. But governments buy in bulk, no taxes, probably less than $1 per gallon.
I would guess $30 worth of oil is burnt each sortie. If you fire 20mm shells, that can add up quickly, at a few dollars per shot. If you add the cost of pilot pay, I'd calculate that by the pilot's annual salary divided by the number of sorties he flies per year. I won't even touch maintenance.
See how quickly it can become complex? I vaguely remember from my time active duty that each training sortie in an F-15C was calculated at something like $24,000 U.S. total cost. A T-38 would be much less, a B-1 much more.
Just after estimation of fuel costs only am feeling myself sitting between blocks of ice. Thand Par gai hai
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