Snowbird Future

[daftandbarmy]

Anyone hoping to see the end of the Snowbirds may be disappointed.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2053231205961593309

They need a stand in for the Blue Angels in the USA

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Anyone hoping to see the end of the Snowbirds may be disappointed.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2053231205961593309

This will be good, I am sure.

 

[Furniture]

This will be good, I am sure.

Maybe it means the RCAF is getting TF-50s?

The Snowbirds could have modern aircraft, and the RCAF could get back to training it's own fighter pilots.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Maybe it means the RCAF is getting TF-50s?

The Snowbirds could have modern aircraft, and the RCAF could get back to training it's own fighter pilots.

Who knows?

 

[Furniture]

Who knows?

 

[Retired AF Guy]

Maybe it means the RCAF is getting TF-50s?

The Snowbirds could have modern aircraft, and the RCAF could get back to training it's own fighter pilots.

Beat me to it! Interestingly, KAI produces the T-50B variant of the TF-50 that is specifically designed for aerobatic performances.

They also produce the FA-50 light-strike variant of the TF-50. Just saying..

Korean Aerospace

 

[GR66]

Maybe it means the RCAF is getting TF-50s?

The Snowbirds could have modern aircraft, and the RCAF could get back to training it's own fighter pilots.

Or maybe Boeing-Saab T7-A Redhawks? Do a deal with Saab to build them here instead of Gripens and get our full F-35 order?

Same advanced jet trainer as the USAF. Boeing aims to sell over 2,700 Redhawks globally so should be enough orders to keep the line going. Uses the same GE F404 engine as our Hornets so less training delta for our techs.

They are also looking at an F-7 armed version which could be used to supplement the F-35's in a Hi-Lo missile/drone defence mix:

By November 2023, the USAF was actively considering the possibility of turning the T-7 into an armed combat aircraft. Conceptually dubbed the F-7, such a jet could provide roughly the same capability as a fourth-generation fighter which could maintain force numbers as F-16s are retired. Boeing intends to offer an armed version of the T-7 to replace aging Northrop F-5 and Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet fleets around the world.

 

[suffolkowner]

Or maybe Boeing-Saab T7-A Redhawks? Do a deal with Saab to build them here instead of Gripens and get our full F-35 order?

Same advanced jet trainer as the USAF. Boeing aims to sell over 2,700 Redhawks globally so should be enough orders to keep the line going. Uses the same GE F404 engine as our Hornets so less training delta for our techs.

They are also looking at an F-7 armed version which could be used to supplement the F-35's in a Hi-Lo missile/drone defence mix:

T-50 uses the 404 as well?

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Whatever the MND announces on 19 May, I hope that it is not just a “buy 12 random aircraft so we can have display team”, but actually a larger strategy.

 

[GR66]

T-50 uses the 404 as well?

Yes. But the market for T-50's likely isn't as large as for the T-7A, so the opportunity to build a plant in Canada for Assembly in cooperation with Saab is better than the case for assembling T-50's with KAI.