News Stories

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by 0utf0xZer0

What other use would we have for those F-35s we ordered?

Deliver Canadian maple syrup to Russia so they have a new condiment for their Blintz.

Special Report: Myanmar declares war on opium

Thank you, Myanmar, thank you. Now I don't have to feel guilty about killing people, directly or indirectly, on my next reservist duty.

[flying ^]

Originally Posted by Endless Soul

Interracial marriages reach a new record in the USA



Growing up in Southern California, and going to a school where the student population was half East Asian, I never really noticed. Mixed couples were everywhere.

Endless "Merely Unusual" Soul

here's the most unlikely mix i've seen so far...

Armenian x Chinese

it's so rare it's like winning a jackpot

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Deliver Canadian maple syrup to Russia so they have a new condiment for their Blintz.

I thought than it was the job of the 4 C-17 .

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by ganbaru

I thought than it was the job of the 4 C-17 .

Eh no. The FSB forbids Canadian maplesyrup with their Blintz, only liquid vodka. They need stealth aircraft to deliver the goods.

[konart]

It's Maslenitsa here btw.

Eat ALL THE BLINTZ!!! Drink ALL THE VODKA!!!

PS: funny thing is - I've got maplesyrup at home, though only used it 2-3 times, like 5 year ago. D:

[Ithekro]

Well maybe because the F-35 is the result of the Joint Strike Fighter program. And Cananda spent money on that program to find a replacement for their old CF-18s, the last of those was delivered in 1988.

It isn't like they bought F-22s.

[monsta666]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

It isn't like they bought F-22s.

I didn't think Lockheed Martin were allowed to export F-22 Raptors to another nation but at about $150 million dollars per unit that is probably a moot question! I doubt the Canadians would be too keen in making many orders of this aircraft at those prices...

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by konart

It's Maslenitsa here btw.

Eat ALL THE BLINTZ!!! Drink ALL THE VODKA!!!

PS: funny thing is - I've got maplesyrup at home, though only used it 2-3 times, like 5 year ago. D:

Try thinning an extra thick/heavy version of the syrup with vodka.

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

Well maybe because the F-35 is the result of the Joint Strike Fighter program. And Cananda spent money on that program to find a replacement for their old CF-18s, the last of those was delivered in 1988.

To be honest, the economical factor might be the only good reason for us to buy the f-35 because of the money already spent on the program by us and the fact than some of the components are Made in Canada, a argument than the others possible fighter ( the Eurofighter for example ) didn't have.

Otherwise, others options would had been better for our regular operation and strike on protected targets isn't what it's most likely to be mostly used.

[AnimeFan188]

Originally Posted by ganbaru

Otherwise, others options would had been better for our regular operation and strike on protected targets isn't what it's most likely to be mostly used.

But that's what the CF-18s were used for in Libya:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1949210/

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/a...munition-depot

If the NATO countries get into another fracas, it'll be good to have a multi-role
aircraft in the inventory.

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

If the NATO countries get into another fracas, it'll be good to have a multi-role aircraft in the inventory.

True, but it isn't what thoses fighters will be used for most of their service time, Arctic sovereignty and over-the-water patrols missions will. The F-35 is supposed to have less range than the cf18 and don't have the right communication equipement for Artic operation.

[AnimeFan188]

Originally Posted by ganbaru

True, but it isn't what thoses fighters will be used for most of their service time, Arctic sovereignty and over-the-water patrols missions will. The F-35 is supposed to have less range than the cf18 and don't have the right communication equipement for Artic operation.

Really? I thought the F-35's internal weapon bays made it sleek enough to out-range the F/A-18,
as well as competing European fighters; who have to use draggy external storage.

Also, a "CF-35" would probably be configured for Canadian needs, as far as communications are
concerned.

[Kamui4356]

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

Really? I thought the F-35's internal weapon bays made it sleek enough to out-range the F/A-18,
as well as competing European fighters; who have to use draggy external storage.

Also, a "CF-35" would probably be configured for Canadian needs, as far as communications are
concerned.

It does out range the F-18, on paper. It remains to be seen how that works in practice though. Combat radius of 590nmi vs 400nmi. Note that's for internal fuel. Add external tanks to either and you can extend that range.

[ganbaru]

But adding external fuel tank on a furtif plane isn't such great idea unless the ''furtif'' element of the plane isn't required. But them, why spending so much on a furtif plane ?

[0utf0xZer0]

Main issue with the F-35 for Canada is the cost and that it's a single engine design. Canadian fighters frequently fly sovereignty patrol missions over the arctic ocean, you don't want to just bail out if an engine goes - that's actually why we choose the F/A-18 as our last gen fighter.

Not that we don't lose CF-18s to engine trouble on occasion too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4yMVM2Vxas

I personally think it would have been sensible to buy something cheaper like the Super Hornet for the arctic patrol stuff (the CF-18 is perfectly fine for this, the airframes are just getting worn) and keep a smaller F-35 force for actual "hot" deployments. We only deployed 6-7 fighters to Kosovo and Libya - I suspect the main reason the rest of NATO cares if we show up is so that they can say "This guy is so bad even Canada wants to bomb him".

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by 0utf0xZer0

Main issue with the F-35 for Canada is the cost and that it's a single engine design. Canadian fighters frequently fly sovereignty patrol missions over the arctic ocean, you don't want to just bail out if an engine goes - that's actually why we choose the F/A-18 as our last gen fighter.

Not that we don't lose CF-18s to engine trouble on occasion too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4yMVM2Vxas

I personally think it would have been sensible to buy something cheaper like the Super Hornet for the arctic patrol stuff (the CF-18 is perfectly fine for this, the airframes are just getting worn) and keep a smaller F-35 force for actual "hot" deployments. We only deployed 6-7 fighters to Kosovo and Libya - I suspect the main reason the rest of NATO cares if we show up is so that they can say "This guy is so bad even Canada wants to bomb him".

I thought under the Westminister Statute you guys are still considered to be under Queen Liz as a constitutional monarchy, so you guys only do so when the Brits asked.

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

I thought under the Westminister Statute you guys are still considered to be under Queen Liz as a constitutional monarchy, so you guys only do so when the Brits asked.

In fact ye we are a constitutional monarchy but the ''monarchy'' part is mostly symbolic. we don't ask the British about what to do.

[Vexx]

As to the oil/gas prices fueled by risky futures speculators - here's a guy who's trying to do something to put legal brakes on it with a large ban-hammer: Heatin oil dealer Sean Cota

http://www.cotaoil.com/news.html

April 1, 2011
Last week, we reported on Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy's endorsement of heating oil dealer Sean Cota for appointment to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) this summer. Shortly thereafter, HeatingOil.com contacted Cota, who granted us his final interview before the president announces his official choice. In the interview, Cota discusses how his experiences as a businessman in the heating oil industry and a player in commodity markets led him to realize that the markets heating oil dealers throughout the country use to hedge their risk are in dire need of reform. He also gives a basic idea of the reforms he favors that would help give heating oil dealers a fighting chance against inflated prices and extreme price volatility. Of course, Obama's appointment of the next CFTC commissioner is months away, but the fact that a heating oil professional is even being considered is exciting news, and if he were appointed, it would be a huge boon to the industry.

Washington, June 15 – Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) today introduced legislation, to make federal commodity regulators halt excessive oil speculation that has driven up gasoline prices.

Naturally, no Republican senators anywhere to be seen... I suppose the GOP is doing their best to pretend it has nothing to do with their master's reckless behaviors.

[Ithekro]

Considering that heating oil prices in New York drive up the cost of gasoline in California....sigh. It has been like that since at least the days of John D. Rockefeller (Sr), who wanted to be able to know the price of oil no matter which location he was in, New York offices or California offices. (and we learned that in college history courses).

[MeoTwister5]

Ah speculative economics. As my dad and brother say, too much prediction that messes up too many lives based on too many "what ifs?"