The Afterburn Podcast

The Afterburn Podcast

One of the consistently most fun aviation podcasts is hosted by John ‘Rain’ Waters on the Afterburn Podcast.  We talked about airshows since Rain had been the USAF F-16 demo pilot for years, then how F-35 matters in our future and what Interoperability...
Top 10 Reasons Why Canada Needs the F-35: #6: Cost

Top 10 Reasons Why Canada Needs the F-35: #6: Cost

What does a fighter jet cost?  A lot.  How much is a lot?  As much as it takes to defend a country and have the capability and capacity to fight and win a war. And as much as it costs to ensure that our men and women come home safely every time they fly. How much is...
F-35 in Canada…Done Deal…Move On

F-35 in Canada…Done Deal…Move On

Does anyone on God’s green earth think that after 20 years of this Canada F-35 saga, spending millions upon millions of dollars and dedicating enormous manpower, establishing all the manufacturing subcontractors for the F-35 Enterprise, Lockheed Martin and the US government won’t do everything in their power to complete the deal for Canada’s next fighter? 

This is not F-35’s first rodeo!

F-35 in Canada…Finally…Are You F’ing Kidding Me?

F-35 in Canada…Finally…Are You F’ing Kidding Me?

This decision eclipses just buying a new fighter. So many times, over so many years, the Canadian government procurement system has failed the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces. All of us veterans know the tales of bad decisions, political interference and substandard kit given to men and women who have to make it work while other countries were smart enough to buy the equipment needed to do their missions. Seldom has Canada bought the right equipment at the right time.

Top 10 Reasons Why Canada Needs the F-35: #8: Interoperability

Top 10 Reasons Why Canada Needs the F-35: #8: Interoperability

The globalization of F-35 brings 5th Gen capabilities and a new level of interoperability not imagined with legacy 4/4.5 Gen platforms.  F-35 users share knowledge not just data.  The many dimensions of F-35 drives integration into all elements of military services, leveraging what the F-35 is capable.  Imagine the shield of deterrence in Europe and Asia from the non-US services matching the USAF/USMC/USN fleets. 

Top 10 Reasons Why Canada Needs the F-35: #9: Range and Persistence

Top 10 Reasons Why Canada Needs the F-35: #9: Range and Persistence

Tyranny of Distance is the term that best describes flying over the barren land of Canada.  The range to travel from one place to the next is always significant, the number of runways that are available to military aircraft is limited and there are few options to divert if unable to land at the intended destination.  This is a problem set uniquely Canadian.  Persistence, meaning how long that aircraft can stay in the air to do its patrol or surveillance mission, is essential to ensuring that the fighter’s sensors and capabilities are being used to guard Canadian territory. F-35 brings both for Canada’s interests in the arctic and abroad.