Taxpayer Cost of Dornan Flight in Marine Jet Put at $4,000

Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove), grounded by voters in the November election, took one last flight on a military jet Monday--at a cost of thousands of dollars to taxpayers.

The congressman, known as “B-1 Bob” because of his unflagging support for the B-1 bomber, hopped into the back of a two-seater FA-18 jet at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station for a spin over the California desert that included simulated bombing attacks. He had requested the flight through the Pentagon’s Office of Legislative Affairs.

The Center for Defense Information, a public interest group, estimated that Dornan’s one-hour flight cost taxpayers approximately $4,000--the same as five one-way airline tickets from Orange County to London. That doesn’t include the cost of flying a second jet that accompanied Dornan on his flight.

A spokesman at the Marine base said the cost was half that amount, factoring in only the fuel and maintenance “turn-around” time for the jet. The center’s estimate accounted for fuel, maintenance time, spare parts usage and other items.

Maj. Charles Kelly, who flew in the second jet alongside Dornan’s plane, said the congressman was taken up “to show him what were the capabilities of the FA-18.”

El Toro spokesman Lt. Arnoux Abraham likened the demonstration to the Blue Angels precision flying team that takes reporters for rides “because of their positions in helping to tell the Marine Corps story.”

The explanations don’t carry much weight with Eugene Carroll, deputy director of the Center for Defense Information, who is also a retired admiral.

“It’s a little hard to see why Mr. Dornan, who is leaving office, is in need of orientation or exposure to the capabilities of the airplane,” Carroll said.

The public interest group doesn’t blame the Navy or other military services, which “bend over backwards to cater to the members of Congress.”

And until Rep.-elect Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) is sworn into office on Jan. 7 to take over Dornan’s seat, Dornan still holds rank. During the term just ending, he was the chairman of the military personnel subcommittee.

Prior to take-off, the 63-year-old congressman’s physical condition, including his heart rate, was checked, and he received a safety awareness briefing that included ejection from the jet in case of emergency.

During his own five-year career as an Air Force pilot and later as a reservist, Dornan survived two jet fighter emergency parachute ejections and forced landings of a jet and a helicopter, according to his resume.

The congressman could not be reached for comment, but Kelly said he watched Dornan enjoy the flight. “Yes he did, very much so,” Kelly said.