Well at least we aren't arguing the number of years now and are down to seeking excuses. That at least is progress of a sort.
Now....as the 22 was going to replace the 53D.....just how is it going to do that when the 53D could haul up to 55 passengers with center row seating?
Was not the USMC going to move to 53E's or K's before the 22 Mafia got in power?
It also begs the question why the USAF CSAR contract went to Boeing for the Chinook and not the V-22 which is already in production in an "MH" version (as in MH-47, MH-53)?
The 22 has some very special capabilities that surpass regular helicopters but the question has got to be at what COST?