As a former military pilot, a present airline pilot, and (if so honoured), a future Conservative member of Parliament for Guelph, I feel obliged to respond to Geoffrey Stevens’ recent column on the F-35. Stevens seems concerned the F-35 has only one engine-like the 1950’s vintage CF-104 Starfighter he calls the “widowmaker.” I ask, what is more reliable — a ’55 Chevy or a 2011 Honda? It’s been 60 years since the CF-104. There have been enormous technological advances over that period, and the aviation world has made huge advancements in technology and reliability. Aero engines today are designed better,...