I hear ya. We finally recaptilized our entire active duty USMC KC-130 fleet (majority were early 60s "F" models) with the new "J" model. I could write a book on the battles I fought as a young requirements officer while assigned to the Pentagon (Budgets, Congress, GAO, Navair, OPNAV staff, Washington Post, politicians, Defense Contractors etc.) It helped to have truly tired iron (115 percent fatigue life expended) and a good, consistent story to tell. Unfortunately, the lack of night vision equipped aircraft in our legacy fleet contributed to a deadly mishap in Afghanistan despite years of warning from the warfighters. Amazing how an accident and a couple of wars can accelerate funding and reshape priorities.