Dimsum said:Edmonton would make more sense, since it's closer to the range and any NORAD commitment up that way. But they tore up the old runways on base, so unless EIA is willing to let the sqns use their infrastructure, good luck.
Re: Range access - the Australians don't base their aircraft near their big ranges. In the diagram below, they TD them up for exercises in the ranges (blue circles) as needed, but generally they're near the major cities (red circles) with the exception of RAAF Tindal up north. RAAF Pierce in Western Australia is essentially their Portage/Moose Jaw, while RAAF East Sale is their 1CFFTS equivalent - no combat aircraft are there. The RAAF also tend to base all of one type of aircraft in one place (C-17s, Super Hornets, A330s, and Growlers at RAAF Amberley near Brisbane, Hercs and C-27s at RAAF Richmond near Sydney, P-8s at RAAF Edinburgh near Adelaide, etc) except for the fighters, and even then that's only because the Classic Hornets (and soon F-35s) will be at both Tindal and Williamtown.
All this to say that aside from political reasons, I don't understand why we are so tied to being close to CLAWR.
Sorry. I'm following this thread with interest, but what does CLAWR stand for??