Why Canada misfired on ballistic missile defence

Globe and Mail 
“Most military advisers find it a very odd stance that Canadian politicians have taken, that we don’t get on board with ballistic missile defence [BMD],” asserted retired chief of defence staff Tom Lawson in a recent interview. But the Canadian decision to remain outside the U.S. BMD system — a position that has transcended four successive governments — is odd only if you think of BMD in a military, national security and foreign policy context.  READ MORE

RCAF Golden Hawks celebrated in Miramichi

Skies 
At the 2017 induction dinner and ceremony for Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame, held in June at the Vancouver International Airport, the legendary Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Golden Hawks aerobatic team received the Belt of Orion Award for Excellence. The award is given “to honour organizations, groups, societies or associations who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of aviation in Canada.”  READ MORE

Defence Minister: Canada looked at Kuwaiti F-18s but Australian aircraft the ones being considered

Ottawa Citizen
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says Canada has examined the potential that Kuwait could have surplus F-18s for sale to fill the capability gap the RCAF is dealing with. But the main drawback is that the aircraft are not available at this time, he told journalists.  READ MORE

Siemens & Alstom merge rail business in setback for Bombardier

CBC News
Bombardier’s shares briefly surged more than 13 per cent Tuesday even though the transportation giant was facing bad news affecting both its commercial aircraft and railway businesses. The Montreal-based company’s shares touched an intraday high of $2.43 before losing some steam to reach $2.27, up six per cent on the day after dipping in early trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange,  READ MORE

100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force now includes a third airshow — the Shuttleworth Collection’s ‘military pageant’

Ian Allan Travel 
On Aug. 17, 1917, South African General Jan Smuts presented a report to the British government’s War Council setting out his ideas on the future of air power. The report was duly approved and led to the formation of the world’s first air force being born on the April 1, 1918. The Royal Air Force (RAF) was formed by the amalgamation of the squadrons and military personnel of the British Army’s “Royal Flying Corps” (RFC) with the Royal Navy’s “Royal Naval Air Service” (RNAS).  READ MORE

Air Cadet League of Canada Online Auction

Air Cadet League of Canada
RCAF Association members and especially those in support of Canada’s Air Cadet program, we encourage you to visit this website at this link, here, to view items and prizes that go up for auction beginning Sept. 23. Proceeds from the online auction will help fund the air cadet program. If you own a business, or know of a business, and would like to feature a product from the business, on the auction, please contact “Anthony” atcommunications@aircadetleague.com. Please help promote the online auction!

In the coming weeks, we ask that you pass this on to everyone in your network… it is all about getting lots of bidders to our site in order to achieve success! Email, Facebook, webpages…any avenue you have to help promote it to your network will be helpful!

We hope there might be a unique gift that fits your fancy. You can view the items now; if you see something you like, be sure to register as a bidder (it’s free to register). The bidding will start on Saturday Sept. 23 and run untilMonday Oct. 9. You will be notified throughout the auction if someone else has bid higher, but you can keep on bidding to make sure you win that special gift!

The RCAF Association mission is: “YOUTH-HERITAGE-ADVOCACY”

As you can see our kids are first in our thoughts! Help support the Air Cadet League Today!

427 Squadron Gathering of the Lions

RCAF
Tickets for the 75th Anniversary Gathering of the Lions Gala are now on sale! This all-ranks event will take placeSaturday, Oct. 14, 2017, to include a dinner catered by Ullrich’s on Main, live music from a selection of the Ottawa Valley’s best artists, and a chance for Lions, both current and former, to come together in celebration. READ MORE

426 Training and Transport Squadron 75th Anniversary

RCAF
Calling all Thunderbirds home to the nest! This year, we’re celebrating our 75th anniversary and are hoping to have the flock come home to help us remember our history and heritage. Please mark Oct. 20-22 in your calendar and join us for a huge party. If you have humorous stories or anecdotes to share, please send them to the following address:

MWO Christine Krueger
426 Sqn 8 Wing/CFB Trenton
PO Box 1000, Stn Forces
Astra, ON, Canada K0K 3W0
christine.krueger@forces.gc.ca

Birchall Leadership Awards Banquet

e-Veritas
On Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in collaboration with the Royal Military College, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is honoured to present the Birchall Leadership Award to Colonel (Retired) Chris Hadfield, OC, OOnt, MSC, CD. Colonel Hadfield was the first Canadian to walk in space. A Royal Military College graduate, an engineer, and former Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) fighter pilot, Colonel Hadfield has flown two space shuttle missions and served as Commander of the International Space Station.

For more information about the Birchall Leadership Awards Banquet: http://everitas.rmcclub.ca/birchall-leadership-award-dinner-28-oct/

AIAC Summit

Aerospace Industries Association of Canada
The Aerospace Industries Association of Canada event brings together Canadian and international companies of all sizes, government, and academia for two days in the nation’s capital. More than 1,200 participants — primarily C-suite executives and government officials — are expected to attend.  READ MORE

Sea King Retirement

Sea King Retirement Committee
After more than 50 years of service, the Sea King will be retired December 2018 at 443MH Victoria. Advance planning is underway. Visit www.skr18.ca for updates.

‘I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t been an Air Cadet’

Air Cadet League of Canada 
Were you an Air Cadet? The Air Cadet League wants to know where being an Air Cadet has taken you; join the Air Cadet Alumni and share your “Cadet Story” with us.  READ MORE