I penned an Op Ed published in Skies Magazine linking the RCAF introduction of the F-35 to the CF-18 origins more than 40 years ago (https://lnkd.in/gH-ufnr3?; page 54).
There are so many comparisons that work in favor of the F-35 making sure that things are done right. What I omitted is the comparison of the strength of the fighter force back 4 decades ago versus the trul desperate state of today. 40 years ago, the fighter force planned to feed the new CF-18 fleet of experienced fighter pilots from a deep well. The new CF-18 squadrons were going to draft their experienced pilots from many squadrons of very capable, professional and talented aviators. There were so many pilots to choose from that the new CF-18 squadrons were populated with the very best fighter pilots of the day.
The present-day CF-18 squadrons are barely manned, grossly overworked, and without hope of gaining new talent in numbers that will stem the flow of pilots leaving to fly for airlines or seek other opportunities. There are barely 50 combat ready RCAF fighter pilots to fly the CF-18s to the end of their days and clearly not 88 to fill each of the F-35 fighters when they are to be delivered to Canada. Priority will be to focus on the future which means that bodies will be sent to the F-35 at the expense of manning the decaying CF-18 units. Today’s RCAF fighter pilots are no less professional, capable and motivated than any time in the past, but the numbers don’t lie. There is no gene pool to draft from…there is no one left.
There have been hard times over my career and post-military life for Canada’s air force. But there has never been a time as desperate as the one we are witnessing now. 2024 is the RCAF Centennial year; the fighter force has never been in such a mess, ever, in the past 100 years. I continue to try to put a positive spin on this but it’s a lot like arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. There will be better times perhaps after the F-35 is in Canada and the fighter force can attract and retain more personnel. Perhaps; but that won’t be anytime soon. Until then let’s hope that there is not a major world conflict that Canada would need to contribute to…like Ukraine…or the Middle East…or China…
What young prospective recruit would want to join the RCAF when after basic training they have nine months to prove fluency in the other official language (in reality, French)?If he or she does not pass the civil service fluency test they will not be allowed to proceed with pilot training.
Then even if they do pass, they must wait two years for Phase II pilot training. After several years to complete wings training, the candidate is faced with a maximum of seven to ten hours per month flying the F-35. What RCAF pilot wouldn’t want to get to airlines as soon as possible in that situation?
The CAF is a politically correct social experiment that is a waste of taxpayer money. There has been a complete failure of leadership not only in the Canadian government, but the spineless RCAF leadership for allowing the demise of a once proud fighting force.
Hi Billie. You are spot on. The present Gov’t is slowly deconstructing Canada, perhaps with the WEF direction. Nothing else explains the policies coming out of the CDN Kabinet. So, we need to go back in time to when it was the mission to maintain a cadre of highly qualified personnel in all the present aviation trades in order to provide the base for a rapid increase of combat capable fighters, fighter pilots, and supporters in all respects, pilots, and NCOs. In our present time, with whiz bang simulators, and handheld gizmos that could have handled the Apollo missions, we could produce a reserve force of weekend warriors that could be qualified to operate or maintain an F-35 or whatever follow on aircraft pertains. It works in the civil world when a pilot, newly fully licensed to fly a new to him/her, aircraft type, on a new transport aircraft, actually gets his/her first hands on experience with the machine, it is full of 386 passengers. Nobody tells the passengers or the world about this. Simulators work! This concept (The Reserve Cadres) worked prior to WWII and was the basis for the BCATP. We cannot afford a full time, full court press of fighter squadrons, so what could our fallback position be? Go into the corner and sulk, or try to salvage whatever we can to keep the present state of excellence we have alive, but in a library sort of training stance. We could have four or maybe six volunteer Sqn’s of 12 pilots in a reserve status, with very little actual flight time but with realistic sim training time, or nothing at all at the rate we are going. My thoughts. Billy Best.