You can't make this stuff up

Just a few years ago, there was an aircraft acquisition program run by the Department of Defense.   They were looking for a small cargo aircraft able to operate in harsh environments like Afghanistan.  The C-27J Spartan was selected.

The first aircraft were delivered in 2008.

Fast forward to 2013.  The Air Force has spent $567 million on 21 C-27J aircraft since 2007, according to Air Force officials.  Sixteen had been delivered by the end of September, 2013.

It’s seen service in Afghanistan, provided support to disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, and deliveries of new aircraft have continued.  

Yet, because of the continuing budget compressions in Washington, a dozen of the nearly new C-27J Spartans have been taken out of service and shipped to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson.

Five more on order for the US military, currently under construction, will be delivered directly to the boneyard because the military cannot afford to maintain or fly them.

Yup, things are getting really ugly.