The Second Canadair Starfighter

Here is a neat set of photos of Canadair CF-104 Starfighter 104702.  Accepted by the RCAF in 1961 as 12702, the airplane spent its whole career flying with CEPE (Central Experimental and Proving Establishment), 448 (Test) Squadron, and their successors AETE (Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment).  It had a brush with fame when it flew as a chase plane for Lockheed built Starfighter 12700 piloted by Wing Commander Robert A. “Bud” White, who set the Canadian altitude record of 100,110 feet on December 14, 1967.

Renumbered as 104702 after unification in 1968, the X on the tail was AETE's "squadron" marking.  The aircraft was slightly bent during arrest hook trails, but the CO of AETE Col. Dave Wightman claimed that that the tail markings made it fly faster.  Looking at these photos, it is hard to disagree!

702 was struck off strength in 1983 and now spends it time sitting on a pole at Joe Hoffner Memorial Park at Grand Centre, Cold Lake, Alberta.

The photo above was adapted into a decorative metal pin.  In a fun twist of fate, my mother found my Dad's copy of this pin and gave it to me last week after I had started preparing this post.  It now has a prized position in my model display case.  I really need to build a CF-104 to park behind it.   (Photos courtesy of the Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada.)

Modeler's Note: There have been many Starfighter kits issued in 1/72 over the years.  Most modelers consider the Hasegawa kits issued in the late 1980s as the best kit of the type, but I would counter that the ESCI kit from the early 1980s (also issued by AMT/ERTL and Italeri) kit is well worth considering.  The Hasegawa kits strike me as overly complex and I enjoy the simple construction of the Italian company's Starfighter.

CAF Mi-17 Hips

A long while ago I mentioned the Mi-8 Hips leased by the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan. Recently, a newspaper article was publishing asking questions about the helos. Ok, Canada's military procurement and spending is always political, but what was really interesting was the quote "The Mi-17s operate in Canadian military markings and are flown by Canadian Forces pilots, said Rozenberg-Payne." Huh? I thought the Mi-8s were in civil markings with civil registrations. Turns out Canada has traded in the leased Mi-8s for leased Mi-17s and they are carrying CAF markings. See here for a picture. So the Mi-17s are designated CH-178 and the serials for the four aircraft are 178404 to 178407. (What happened to 178401 to 178403?) I understand these are Kazan Helicopters Mi-17-V5 versions of the Mi-17. Cool, eh.

Modeler's Note: Hobby Boss makes a very nice Mi-17, but it does not have the correct configuration to build the CAF variant. (What's new.) There was a conversion of the kit to the beaked nose/rear ramp Mi-8/Mi-17 in a recent Scale Aviation Modeller International.

Well, when you can't get spare parts...buy some pricey Marine Ones...

The Canadian EH-101 saga may take another strange twist...

F-35 for the CAF

It was announced today in Ottawa that Canadian Government had selected the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lighting II to be Canada's next jet fighter. (Some nice background PR fluff is here.) What is interesting about the selection is that it has been a sole source contract and there was no competition with other types. As expected this has already created political controversy with the Liberal minority, who promise to cancel the contract if elected. EH-101 anyone? I'll admit I'm a little disappointed in the selection of the F-35, as I was hoping for either the Typhoon Eurofighter or the Super Hornets. But being I'm no fighter pilot, so what do I know? Well I do know the name Lightning II is kinda dumb. Have all possible fighter names been used up? Do we need to resort to sequels both in movies and aviation? I just hope the aviation sequels aren't as bad as most movie sequels. (Photo courtesy of the Canada Department of National Defence.)

Modeler's Note: I think the only current F-35 option in 1/72 is the Italeri kit of the STOVL X-35 prototype. Hasegawa has announced the release of a 1/72 F-35 either later this year or in 2011.

The Times They Have a Changed!

As a child who grew up in Canada during the Cold War, this press release raised my eyebrow. Legal spy plane overflights of Canada by a Russia aircraft based out of a Canadian Forces Base? Open Skies indeed. I just wonder why Russia takes the time to overfly Canada. Are they scouting hockey talent for the KHL?

ADDENDUM: Turns out this is a common occurrence. Here is a pic of a TU-154 at Trenton last year. Kinda cool it is from the Cosmonaut Training Center. I understand Zvedza has a nice 1/144 kit of the TU-154 with Cosmonaut Training Center markings. That might make a neat little project.

New Aircraft for 8 Wing Trenton

Multi-Engine Utility Flight (MEUF) of 8 Wing Trenton has some new aircraft to play with. The CAF have leased two Beechcraft King Air B200 from Aero Support Canada Inc. of London, Ontario for light transport and training duties at CFB Trenton. Even though these are leased aircraft, they will be flown by CAF pilots. I would assume that these aircraft will be designated CC-145 or CT-145 King Airs. (Photos courtesy of the Canadian Department of National Defence.)

New Top Aces Alpha Jet Scheme

The reformation of 414 (EW) Squadron at Ottawa last week also brought the news that some of the Top Aces Alpha Jets are carrying a new "Aggressor" scheme. First pictures of the scheme were posted here at ARC. Another one for the to build pile...someday...

CTV Clip on the CAF Chinooks and CH-146s in Afghanistan

Watch at CTV.ca

CAF CH-147s in Kandahar

A few photos of the "new" CAF CH-147s in Afghanistan were posted on the ARC discussion board last night. Click here, eh. These are ex-U.S. Army aircraft on loan to the CAF until their new build Chinooks are ready. Also how to paint a 1:1 scale helo.

UPDATE: Sadly the pics on ARC have been taken down, but here are a couple courtesy of the Canadian Department of National Defence, including one of the CH-47 before the Canadian markings were added.

This Week in Canadian Aviation

It has been a good week for Canadian aviation fans. A few things of note:

1. The Canadian Forces got their leased Mi-8s to help transport supplies in Afghanistan. The lease will last a year until the CAF's new Chinooks are in service. I've always been a fan of Russian Cold War aircraft, so I'm glad to have a reason to add a Mi-8 to my Canadian collection. I hear the Hobby Boss Mi-8 is a really nice kit, so I look forward to building a replica of a Mi-8 leased by the CAF from Sky Link of Toronto. (Photo courtesy of the Canadian Department of National Defence.)

2. The first flight of the long awaited Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone took place last Saturday in Florida. The Cyclone will replace the CH-124 Sea King which has been in service with the Canadian military since 1963. Sadly, it is unlikely that the Cyclone will enter CAF service until at least 2010.

3. The Hawk One Sabre C-GSBR arrived at Cold Lake, Alberta, yesterday for its Golden Hawks paint job. It was met on-route by AETE's colourful CF-188 188907. (Photos courtesy of the Canadian Department of National Defence/AETE.)