[Energy Alley]

This is a funny situation because the Canadian Military doesn't actually want the C-17. They want fifty C-130J's and more A310's freight and pax.

However, as it is in Canada no matter who is in power - the actual desires of the military always give way to those of politicians.

Realistically, Canada does not have a significant need for strategic airlift. But they have to replace the majority of their C-130 fleet yesterday and alot of their smaller aircraft too.

[Red6]

A C130 is a tactical lift asset, which is great inter-theater.

If Canada wants to lift a Leo (tank) to Timbuktu tomorrow, they will not do that with a A310. An A310 will not land on an unimproved surface in Afghanistan as the C17 TODAY is. He will not land in a NBC environment, he will not do short field landings using arrestor hooks, he does not have a comprehensive countermeasure suite........

An A310 is a stop gap measure even as the Germans and others use them. It is a mediocre interim solution until the A400 comes, where a civilian aircraft which lacks the ramp, has the wrong landing gear, can’t do airborne drops and and and is somewhat adapted to be a military transport. It can “kinda” does the job, but not really. Could a A310 open a rear ramp and drop pallets while in flight? Does it have the range of a C17? Is it designed to where the standard palletized loading system fits in perfectly stacked two high? An A310 is like a Chevrolet Cavalier on which you paint an Air Force decal and then call a “Jeep”. It can carry some guys to and from places, but it’s not really tailored to meet the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force requirements.

Do you know how some of those tanks in Northern Iraq got there during the war? They were flown in from Germany via? C-17.

[Jonah Hex]

You have to consider the loads to be transported. For example, the Canadian Army LAV-III exceeds the C-130 design envelope but is easily transported by the C-17.

[SkyPilot]

This is a funny situation because the Canadian Military doesn't actually want the C-17. They want fifty C-130J's and more A310's freight and pax.

Respectfully sir - the Candian Defence Ministry does not know squat about airlift.

C-130s (whether they be G or J models) can only haul standard cargo and 463L pallets. They cannot handle oversize and outsize cargo.

What is oversize and outsize cargo? Big stuff. Tanks. Heavy trucks. Other big items.

There are only three aircraft in the world that can haul oversize and outsize cargo: the C-17, the C-5, and the Antonov-124.

Who rescued the Russian sub that sunk last year?

ANS: The British and their RAF.

How? They used their C-17s (they own four) to bring the equipment to Russia. They got there first, before our C-5.

If you cannot haul oversize and outsize cargo, you are not a "player" on the international stage.

NATO now wants to purchase C-17s.

[NorthOf45]

Realistically, Canada does not have a significant need for strategic airlift. But they have to replace the majority of their C-130 fleet yesterday and alot of their smaller aircraft too.

Yeah, we do ... and it's not only to deliver military resources to a theatre. We also need them for relief flights. Our DART team needs them for their gear. The C-130s are not able to handle the containers. Anytime the DART team is deployed, they lease Russian Antanov (sp?) aircraft. This just isn't acceptable.