oops – sorry

Sorry Ja,

didn’t mean to hijack the thread man, perhaps we can take our Canadian transport rants elsewhere

… far less than expected…

read as discounted/reduced to sell! It seems to me (and correct me if I’m wrong – I’m a big boy I can take it) that the UK has had a long-standing special relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

I personally would imagine that the package (its GOT to be a package) will also include updated Hawk trainers – most likely using the existing aircraft as ‘trade-ins’, and probably the IDS that remain is service as well. And, speaking of IDS, weren’t their purchase nicely subsidized? (insert correction here if necessary).

Now I’m not one to go for conspiracy theories, but I’ go so far as to say that I’d bet if one were to look deep enough, One would find that the Lightnings that went to Saudi and Kuwait were also nicely ‘marked down/reduced to sell’

Or maybe, just to stretch the imagination… There’s a three way contract in place which will see the Kingdon of Saudi Arabia receive discount Typhoons, in exchange for a long-term contract for pilot training in the NFTC program in Canada, whereby NFTC has then to acquire (lease – buit perhaps encourage the Gov’t of Canada to purchase) more Hawks in order to expand the training fleet as NFTC increases in size.

But then again… it IS business and you do what you have to in order to get that contract.

Oh, and where’s that black forest butterscotch cake??…

I have also seen a program on DISCOVERY on the greatest ever 10 fighter planes and helicopters – quite interesting and debatable

Most certainly debatable. A well-intentioned series but sometimes a wee bit biased (and boring once you’ve seen it twice) Discovery Channel airs them here in Canada and it seems the “10 best bombers” must have aired 20 times in the last 2 months (some days – if you catch it just right – you can see the same program 3 times). A lot of apples and oranges comparisons – unfortunately (or maybe it IS fortunate) no one will be able to truely, qualitatively, and unequivocably nail down a true 10 best (fighter, bomber, helo, etc.)

one of my personal altime favourites…

4400th Combat Crew Training Sqn (Jungle Jims – later Air Commandos) deployed 4 RB-26 to Bien Hoa, South Vietnam in ’61 (2 more RBs and 4 B-26B in ’62) to supply reconnaisance to RVN forces (also flying counter-insurgency strike ops) Wing spar failures forced the withdrawl in 64. Aircraft flew in bare metal (oxidized)/light grey finish with USAF ‘star n bars’ modified to South Viet Air Force markings.

On Mark Engineering developed the B-26K (later known again as A-26A) rebuild of old Invaders. This included resparred/strengthened wings, 165 gal tip tanks, 2500 hp R2800-52W engines with clipped broad chord props, broader chord rudder, deletion of the wing guns, 8 strengthened underwing pylons and removal of turrets, full dual controls. Later aircraft in the 40-ship order also has cowling intakes moved further aft.

These made their way to the 609th SOS based at Nakhom Phanom AB, Thailand flying ops from ’66 until ’69 primarily on the HCM Trail. The ‘B’ designation was changed to A-26A to conform to basing agreements. After ’69 most aircraft returned to the US but some reports state some were delivered to RVN SOC at Nha Trang.

The attached B-26K (A-26A) carries a glass nose, while most operations were undertaken with the solid 8-gun nose. The second pic depicts a B-26B of the earlier deployment and was taken at Danang. I found that pic on a US SOC website when I got back from Nha Trang 2 years ago – I wish I could find that site again, there was some very good reference material there.

P.S. Just found that website again… http://www.oldspooksandspies.org/Russo/russo.htm

or maybe the Canadiar North Star and Yukon… my uncle flew the North Star a lot back in the RCAF days eastward into Marville and on to Rabat and the other way into Japan. I think he even made a couple Congo runs.

Peter,

Here’s a more local one to start with.. http://www.restoblast.ca/

Sorry, Its Edmonton, but my Alberta geography just ain’t what she used to be..

James