We should have all learned by now that when we think we’ve heard all there is to hear about the Navy’s study to find a location for a new outlying landing field, there’s something else to be said.

U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes (R-4th) visited on Monday, meeting the members of the board of directors of the Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce and their counterparts from the Isle of Wight-Smithfield-Windsor Chamber. Also on hand were local government leaders to ask questions of the congressman.

In these parts, those questions start with placement of the OLF.

But Forbes tossed a curve ball: He said the Navy might not be able to afford building a new field and the auxiliary components that go along with it.

&uot;There’s a real question over whether the Navy will have the money to build an OLF,&uot; Forbes said.

That’s a new one on us. Opponents are gambling that saving the environment surrounding the site could stop the mighty Navy. Or perhaps old-fashioned lobbying could prevent the Navy from moving its loud jets here.

Few, we suspect, ever thought the Navy might not be able to foot the bill.