While Lockheed Martin’s VH-71, the new Presidential chopper, is the latest greatest thing floating on five blades, Obama couldn’t be less enthusiastic about the .5 billion+ “Oval Office of the sky.” From a recent Q&A:

The helicopter I have now seems perfectly adequate to me. (Laughter.) Of course, I’ve never had a helicopter before — (laughter) — maybe I’ve been deprived and I didn’t know it. (Laughter.) But I think it is a — it is a — an example of the procurement process gone amuck. And we’re going to have to fix it.

Of course, since the Pentagon already made the arrangements, Obama will still be riding in a helicopter that costs as much as Air Force One. To me, the only fair solution would be to offer taxpayers the occasional opportunity to “bum a ride.” [The White House and The Register via CrunchGear]