House says no to second engine

The House on Wednesday approved an amendment that would eliminate funding for a second engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a move that would contribute an additional $450 million to the estimated $61 billion in federal spending cuts that House Republicans have proposed for the rest of the current fiscal year. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates criticized the alternative engine as unnecessary and wasteful. The second F-35 engine was to be built by General Electric and Rolls Royce. The primary engine is built by Pratt & Whitney. (Sources: Multiple, including Washington Post, AFP, 02/16/11) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 training center.