Looks like the time is near – local Ottawa media reporting that the order for 4 C-17s may be announced this week – along with an order for 16 (I believe) Chinooks… finally replacing the long-retired (and sold to KLu) A-models…

Goddam Canucks! Couldnt stand us aussies geting C-17’s so now you have to have em too! AND get more Chinooks than us AND get a a Buffalo/Caribou replacement before we do just to rub our noses in it 😡 Maybe South Park is right about Canadians… :p
(For those from other bits of the planet, dont mind me, just a little friendly ‘Commonwealth’ rivalry going on here)

Um eastern Canada would’ve looked like West Germany in the same period?

Good news! Although a formality given the 12 already ordered, the follow on order came sooner than i expected. The number sounds about right to me: 40 for the Army (24 at T’ville, 12 at Holswothy & 4 at Oakey with the Army Av School) + 6 for the RAN. More to come later for the Seahawk replacement?
Interesting about the ‘new’ C-17 airstrips. My understanding was Tindal, Curtin & Learmonth all were built with adequate length for big stuff (USAF C-5’s & C-141’s) & Darwin is an IAP so thats ok too (although none of this should be a C-17 issue). So the $64 question is where & what form will these strips be?

Target,
although my spanish is crap i like to keep up with happenings in the FAM, as i find it an interesting air arm. According to the the Scramble website, (http://www.scramble.nl) which i find reasonably accurate, the FAM has two VIP units, the Coordinacion General de Transportes Aereos Presidenciales and the Unidad Especial de Transporte Aéreo del Alto Mando. As to which one UTAPEF became (or was it disbanded?) its a guess but CGTAP is the unit listing the SA330J Pumas (8 purchased, 6? remaining) with two (including 1052) transferrred to EA101. Hope this helps

Puma ain’t with the Navy, just Armee de Terre.

Pardon? (in a french accent) What about the Armee de l’Air?

ps like the colour scheme on the Aeronavale NFH90

Ive got some RAAF C-17/C-130 info updates for those interesed (me, Ja & maybe contrail :p ) as reported in Aust Aviation magazine 06/06.

36SQ NOT to be combined C-17/C-130 unit, as previously reported. All C-130’s to be operated by 37SQ by the end of year, so 36 can prepare for C-17. The C-17’s to be delivered straight to Amberley AB not Richmond. Reasons given as Amberley’s longer runway allowing higher weight ops & Boeing Australia’s main support facility is also there. With 33SQ also moving to Amberley after delivery of Airbus tankers, 37SQ will be sole flying unit at Richmond by end of decade. Comments by Chief of Air Force, AM Shepard.
Not the way i would have done it (Caribous gone, 38SQ to operate C-130H’s) but i suppose it all comes back to operating budgets (a bit rude of AM Shepard not to ask me dont u think?)

One i’d love to see:

F-104M Starfighter II

F404/RM12 (ala Gripen)
Modified fueslage (F404 shorter & lighter than J79 although has a similar (smaller) diameter) with conformal carriage for BVR missiles (ala F/A-18) and some composites & RAM for good measure
APG-79 AESA
FBW
Full glass cockpit with Helmet mounted sight compatibility
AIM-9X, AIM-120C/D, M61A2 (not a pound for air to ground!)

wonder if the Navy MRH-90’s will be a version of the NFH NH-90, or just the same standards as those requested for the Army?

My guess is they would be the same as the army, both want them for the same mission, ie flying trucks that can get wet, also i was under the impression the NFH-90 was more a ASW/ASuW type? Maybe we’ll see those as a Seahawk replacement later?

Also it doesn’t say when these initial 12 helos are to be bought. We need them now, what is the delay?

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