Canola fields are in full bloom. Just snapped this today.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ENDB6g...=1h8clgoq1dh77
Canola fields are in full bloom. Just snapped this today.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ENDB6g...=1h8clgoq1dh77
Another from arrivals today. These guys had to make multiple hops to make it across Europe from Romania for the show. Left early this morning and were one of the last arrivals of the day at after 6pm.
Romanian Mig 21 Arrival by Steven Szabo, on Flickr
Originally posted by HeavyD
you know you are making the right decision if Toma opposes it.
Awesome video. Great editing. The wing? mounted footage looks like a RC plane, pretty awesome.This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
Originally posted by SEANBANERJEE
I have gone above and beyond what I should rightfully have to do to protect my good name
Swiss Hornet Takeoff by Steven Szabo, on Flickr
Originally posted by HeavyD
you know you are making the right decision if Toma opposes it.
Yeah thanks! The video guy we have is pretty damn good. The camera is mounted on the tail.This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
Another GoPro shot from this morning, heading into Pearson with the little 206 lol.
Red Arrows With BA by Steven Szabo, on Flickr
Originally posted by HeavyD
you know you are making the right decision if Toma opposes it.
Taken with my S9 a few blocks south of the south hospital, just a prairie sky full of puffy clouds that brought back some childhood memories...
Will fuck off, again.
Mig 21 LanceR Takeoff by Steven Szabo, on Flickr
Originally posted by HeavyD
you know you are making the right decision if Toma opposes it.
Beautiful shot Steve!
Ultracrepidarian
Thanks guys...
still have a ton to go through from the show...just starting the trip back today.
A400M Arrival by Steven Szabo, on Flickr
Belgian D-Day F-16 by Steven Szabo, on Flickr
Swedish Gripen Demo by Steven Szabo, on Flickr
Originally posted by HeavyD
you know you are making the right decision if Toma opposes it.
Armada Harrier Blast Off by Steven Szabo, on Flickr
Originally posted by HeavyD
you know you are making the right decision if Toma opposes it.
Finnish Hornet Vapour by Steven Szabo, on Flickr
Finnish Hornet Vapour - 2 by Steven Szabo, on Flickr
Last edited by Go4Long; 07-25-2019 at 05:58 AM.
Originally posted by HeavyD
you know you are making the right decision if Toma opposes it.
Brings back memories. Saw this type a lot growing up close to an airbase.This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
I’m very against the gripen for many reasons...I’ll have to wait and see if they get an E off the ground any time soon since they’re still not even in production yet, but my main issue is that they don’t do anything better than an F-35 that we actually need, and the only export purchase signed for them so far was for $150 million each, making them over 50% more than the last order for F-35’s. They’re not as fast, don’t have the range, don’t have the payload, and don’t have the modern EW abilities of an F-35.This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
That aside, it’s a cool airframe that the Swedes and Czechs do some cool stuff with. Both have tested them off roads. They both claim the ability to rearm and refuel and get back in the air in 10 minutes, which is bad ass. Obviously if Sweden is operating them there’s no issue with cold weather ops. Etc.
have you ever seen a gripen in person? I just ask because most people that are in favour of it don’t realize that it’s TINY.
Originally posted by HeavyD
you know you are making the right decision if Toma opposes it.
Haven’t seen one in person, but yeah they are damn small. Just like the Mirage 2000 and Rafale. They’re smaller than an F-16 it’s incredible.This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
I think the F-35 is Canada’s next jet, but I bet politics get in the way. It’ll be a clusterfuck in any way
Honestly it’s a cool airplane, and of the current participants it would be a solid second to the F-35. It’s a distant second that gets more distant every day the f-35 spends in development though. If Boeing weren’t trying to hard to pawn off the super hornet and pushed the F-15X instead I’d probably have to move the gripen down to third.
Originally posted by HeavyD
you know you are making the right decision if Toma opposes it.
What would you say to a multi-tiered Air Force? Canada has had that before.
Also, F-35 reliability has been horrendous, with 50% of the fleet not flying and spare parts taking forever. It’s an interesting scenario.
I don't think Canada will ever go to a multi-type fleet again. And if we did then it pushes the Gripen further down and a choice like the F-15X further up the ranks. Something like an F-35A/C for combat scenarios into high threat environments with an F-15X for arctic defense and long range strike capability mix would make a lot of sense...but I don't see it happening as going multi type dramatically increases budgetary constraints, and we've got a LOT of capital expenditures that are due to be on the books in the next decade or so (hawks and texans are both almost 20 years into their leases, tutors are almost 60 years old...etc)This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
I don't know what source you're seeing that's claiming only 50% flying rate...the A models worst estimate at the moment is 61% (and that's not just flying...that's ready for deployment), the Navy is claiming 84% MC rate with the C model so far (which is higher than an F-16). They were originally targeting 80% by September for all 3 variants, but have pushed that back to end of the year.
No matter how we size it up, we're only really looking at half the information as members of the public. I prefer to look at what forces at similar points in their fighter life cycles are doing around the world in terms of new fighter procurement, and that should overwhelmingly tell you that the F-35 is the best choice. They've only lost out on 2 purchases in the last 5 years...one to Brazil which went Gripen E under some interesting circumstances (not a bad choice for them anyway), and Qatar which is going with a crazy mix of basically everything else by signing on to purchase Rafales (my second choice for us before they dropped out), Typhoons, and Supers (at almost $160 million a piece).
Regardless of all that...the longer we wait, the better the F-35 gets as a package, and the sillier we look for not pulling the trigger sooner. 3 years ago at Red Flag they were getting a 17-1 kill ratio with the F-35's. Last year they were at 20-1. This year they were 25-1. That's unheard of...even the F-22 has been schooled by Typhoons at Red Flags in the past.
Royal Jordanian Air Force C-130H by Steven Szabo, on Flickr
Last edited by Go4Long; 07-25-2019 at 01:47 PM.
Originally posted by HeavyD
you know you are making the right decision if Toma opposes it.