• Thanks for stopping by. Logging in to a registered account will remove all generic ads. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

The RCAF's Next Generation Fighter (CF-188 Replacement)

Anita Anand announced in January that Pickering is dead.
I can’t ever see Borden being redeveloped into an airport. It was a mistake to rip out the runways.

If you want a base near civilization in Ontario then my first suggestion would be Hamilton, there are a number of airlines flying there. 10000 ft runway. Surrounded by plenty of farmland.
Similarly my 2nd suggestion is London; existing jet traffic, lots of farmland & 8800 ft runway.
Or Toronto Pearson.
 
Anita Anand announced in January that Pickering is dead.
I can’t ever see Borden being redeveloped into an airport. It was a mistake to rip out the runways.

If you want a base near civilization in Ontario then my first suggestion would be Hamilton, there are a number of airlines flying there. 10000 ft runway. Surrounded by plenty of farmland.
Similarly my 2nd suggestion is London; existing jet traffic, lots of farmland & 8800 ft runway.

Or Prince George...


Prince George making the case for a military base​

Intergovernmental affairs committee plans to discuss idea with Rocky Mountain Rangers commander

Is Prince George the right place to locate a military base?

City council wants to know and will be meeting with Lt.-Col. Torry White, commanding officer of the Rocky Mountain Rangers, next week to discuss whether there is any interest in the Canadian Armed Forces establishing a permanent base in the city.

Coun. Garth Frizzell thinks it’s a good idea.

“Picture the most strategic location in central BC,” said Frizzell.

“We’re not just the two rivers, the highways, the railroad, the airport, but we’ve also got incredible heavy industry and really widespread and diverse light industry. We’ve got a refinery, and a green refinery at that, two educational facilities with the college and university.

“This is an ideal place for support.”

White, who lives in Kelowna, is coming to Prince George for Monday’s Remembrance Day ceremonies and will remain in the city until Thursday.

The city’s standing committee on intergovernmental affairs was asked by council at its Oct. 1 meeting to discuss the army base proposal with White and try to gauge if there’s any interest from the federal government in making that happen.

Council and senior administrative staff are familiar with the Rocky Mountain Rangers locally and the Canadian Rangers nationally and have had conversations about the future of public buildings such as the Connaught Youth Centre, which houses several cadet organizations. The committee wants to hear White’s thoughts on where Prince George might fit in the Canadian Armed Forces’ plans.

Prince George Airport is home to the fourth-longest commercial airfield runway in Canada and having more substantial military operations in the city would finally allow the city to use that to its advantage. However, the 3,474-metre (11,400-foot) runway is nearing the end of its lifespan and within the next four years will have to be dug up and replaced. Having the Department of Defence establish a Prince George base might be a way to pay that repair bill.

“I know when we’ve had military air force aircraft at the airport they say this is ideal conditions for training,” said Sampson. “They can take off on Canada’s fourth-longest runway and be training in the middle of nowhere in minutes. It provides that connectivity to other parts of the world and that trans-Pacific flight time is lucrative to them.”

 
Or Toronto Pearson.

The issue with Pearson is that it’s already on a growth trajectory that will have it at capacity in its civilian role, in the near future. Currently over 50% of the aircraft flying in Canada each day go through Pearson.
There’s already some discussion about the GTA needing to establish a second airport for the region. Similar to how London, England has Gatwick and Heathrow, the GTA will likely need both Pearson and Hamilton as major international/domestic hubs.

Given that, I don’t think Pearson has room either on the ground or in the air for a RCAF base.

This is an interesting listen on the state of domestic air travel in Canada.

 
The jets are quieter than the prop planes currently operating there.
Quieter than new generation jet passenger aircraft but there are numerous media articles about the sound level of the F-35. Actually, probably any high performance jet.
 
The issue with Pearson is that it’s already on a growth trajectory that will have it at capacity in its civilian role, in the near future. Currently over 50% of the aircraft flying in Canada each day go through Pearson.
There’s already some discussion about the GTA needing to establish a second airport for the region. Similar to how London, England has Gatwick and Heathrow, the GTA will likely need both Pearson and Hamilton as major international/domestic hubs.

Given that, I don’t think Pearson has room either on the ground or in the air for a RCAF base.

This is an interesting listen on the state of domestic air travel in Canada.

If you're looking to give members better quality of life then for God's sake pleeeeezzzzz don't move an air base to Toronto!
 
Or Prince George...


Prince George making the case for a military base​

Intergovernmental affairs committee plans to discuss idea with Rocky Mountain Rangers commander

Is Prince George the right place to locate a military base?

City council wants to know and will be meeting with Lt.-Col. Torry White, commanding officer of the Rocky Mountain Rangers, next week to discuss whether there is any interest in the Canadian Armed Forces establishing a permanent base in the city.

Coun. Garth Frizzell thinks it’s a good idea.

“Picture the most strategic location in central BC,” said Frizzell.

“We’re not just the two rivers, the highways, the railroad, the airport, but we’ve also got incredible heavy industry and really widespread and diverse light industry. We’ve got a refinery, and a green refinery at that, two educational facilities with the college and university.

“This is an ideal place for support.”

White, who lives in Kelowna, is coming to Prince George for Monday’s Remembrance Day ceremonies and will remain in the city until Thursday.

The city’s standing committee on intergovernmental affairs was asked by council at its Oct. 1 meeting to discuss the army base proposal with White and try to gauge if there’s any interest from the federal government in making that happen.

Council and senior administrative staff are familiar with the Rocky Mountain Rangers locally and the Canadian Rangers nationally and have had conversations about the future of public buildings such as the Connaught Youth Centre, which houses several cadet organizations. The committee wants to hear White’s thoughts on where Prince George might fit in the Canadian Armed Forces’ plans.

Prince George Airport is home to the fourth-longest commercial airfield runway in Canada and having more substantial military operations in the city would finally allow the city to use that to its advantage. However, the 3,474-metre (11,400-foot) runway is nearing the end of its lifespan and within the next four years will have to be dug up and replaced. Having the Department of Defence establish a Prince George base might be a way to pay that repair bill.

“I know when we’ve had military air force aircraft at the airport they say this is ideal conditions for training,” said Sampson. “They can take off on Canada’s fourth-longest runway and be training in the middle of nowhere in minutes. It provides that connectivity to other parts of the world and that trans-Pacific flight time is lucrative to them.”

Yes just what we need, another base in the middle of friggin no where
 
1. Strategically located
2.Vibrant urban environment with a wide range of amenities and employment opportunities
3. Affordable

You get to pick two.
 
Prince George is a great place to live, play and raise a family. Lots of good civvy jobs too!

And, of course, Mr. PG ;)


View attachment 92438
Not to mention the FN and gang issues they have.

AS for the Where do we put this new air base I will give you the solution that any GoC would like:

Keep the status quo. "We can't afford the houses for these new toys so you'll stay where you are"

Or:

Move to Minister X's riding to make sure we get the votes next election.
 
Hamilton has got a large underused airfield
underused a little but certainly not abandoned. There are a few sched. flights plus several courier companies running there. Also the noise factor. There are a lot of voters in the area who hate the airport. They have been anti-development for at least 30 years
 
Back
Top