Another fantastic clip Steve and Bones. Just when we think we have heard all there is to hear about combat flying, another interview comes along with more amazing stories and new viewpoints. Fantastic. Cheers gents.
After a lifetime of trying to envision how the RCAF could have been supported to live up to the potential of its people and proud history, I've sadly come to the conclusion that there was no optimal solution possible, as the constraints imposed by the politicians, senior defence staff and the Canadian people were simply too great to overcome. This clip was particularly infuriating, as it is Canada's default position to try to scramble a week before war to get up to a capability that should be there by default- like a kid trying to do a school term paper on the last night before it's due. Sadly, things have only gotten worse since. So might I suggest Canada stop wasting time and money on something it is not serious about and follow New Zealand's lead and remove it's fighter fleet entirely. Become just a surveillance air patrol and call it a day. If anything comes up, just give the Americans a call like they had to with the spy balloon(s). Let them send us a bill for services rendered.
@@Connor_G21A Can you imagine trying to put Maverick missiles on fast jets a week before a conflict like they are pieces of Lego? Then essentially telling the air and ground crew to figure it out, just make sure you don't hit any civilians when you shoot them off next week. Good luck! Or you can't get time on the 8 targeting pods we bought last month. Again, when we do give you a few hours make sure to study hard because we can't have you blowing up the wrong spot. Pathetic! He didn't even mention we didn't have secure radios or any updates since the jet was bought in 1982. Meanwhile, Spain, which bought their Hornets AFTER Canada, had continually upgraded their fleet up to US 'C' standard and not only could shoot HARMS but had them in their inventory - for more than a week!!! And to send a person into combat with zero night refuelling experience is criminal. None of these stories made it out to the general Canadian population, and while I'm sure there'd be momentary 'oootrage', it wouldn't actually change anything because no Canadian politician is losing their job over this. That is why I don't blame any member of the current mass exodus. Plus, the fact that Canadian Forces members pulled off the miracles they did was part of the problem. It papered over critical flaws in the system. Those flaws can no longer be hidden. Notice how they couldn't even generate a single Hornet flight for Remembrance Day this year? No Hornets at a special sporting even in Alberta either. They sent Hawk trainers to that one. No Hornets in Germany for the largest air defence exercise in NATO history. And on and on. So I say just stop the charade. There's no national shame as it is, so why worry about making the embarrassment permanent. Otherwise, we're gonna have 88 (I'll believe it when I see it) brand spanking new F-35s and nobody left to fly them. It's a complete joke at this point.
@@djsmith2871 I thought I was up to date with CF-18 and RCAF stuff, but I am ashamed to say it, I had no idea they were sent to war with only a week with the pods or the weapons. This clip was a revelation for me, and I am really looking to hear more.
Halfway there with the private Alpha jet red force and privatized training in Moose Jaw and Portage..... might as well contract the fighting too a la Blackwater or Wagner group.
![Night Air Refuelling in Combat. "Bones" Ledsham [Clip]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
