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Canada Jets Turn Back Russian Aircraft in the Arctic

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Canadian air force jets turned back two Russian Tupolev TU-95 bombers close to Canada’s northern border yesterday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office said in a statement. The encounter with the bombers underscores the need for Canada to buy F-35 fighter jets, Harper's spokesperson said in an email, while a liberal lawmaker said Canada should avoid chastising Russia over the flights to maintain a good relationship. (www.businessweek.com) More...

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SabreHog
Kevin Kuhn 0
how is this still newsworthy?
karl
Well, it's timely (it happened yesterday). That they are still occurring signals that Russia is still committed to maintaining a strike capability. Yes it has been occurring for years but I think it does bear some continued attention as probing flights by nuclear-capable aircraft are one of the more real world-harbingers of nuclear apocalypse.

The decision of whether or not to purchase US$8.5 billion dollars worth of F-35s has relevance to the aerospace industry, of which the site is a part.

Finally, a Canadian lawmaker put the question on the table as to whether Canada might stop attempting to intercept the flights.

For these reasons, to me, and hopefully others, this is newsworthy.
buckeem
Joe Daniel 0
Not to mention that the US, Canada, and the Russians are doing Joint Exercises in Alaska. So not only are they probing, but the Russians are sitting in our cockpits observing HOW we intercept. Here is a link to the AP coverage. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ivDU2zp9y1X0g3Ud91KaG40WXZggD9HE8BKO0
PeteDiddy4142
Peter Wine 0
I would like to know if these Russian aircraft are outfitted with nuclear payloads at the times of these flights.

If the extremely poor luck that one of these aircraft in Canadian airspace has a mechanical problem and say, crashes on Canadian Soil, there's more than just an investigation and clean-up. There would be the issue of a radiological response to this disaster.

I'm less worried about a "soviet strike" as it were back in the 80's, but more worried about an aerospace disaster that could be of epic proportions.
corvinho
John Andre 0
I'm with Peter. What were these Russian bombers (emphasis on bombers) carrying? Probably well-equipped. Give these guys an inch and...
gkrat02
Kevin, don't be a moron about this. Russia has, is and always will be concerned with first strike capabilities on the US. With their current ties to Iran and supplying them with nuclear fuel for their power plant, they are more likely to take action against us should something go wrong there. This is interesting news, never-the-less.
AdamFrench13
Adam French 0
I think that the U.S. needs to stay out let canada and russia blow each other up and then claim the countries as our own.
PeteDiddy4142
Peter Wine 0
Lets give a hand for Dr. French, rocket scientist, everybody! Woooo!!! /endsarcasm
AdamFrench13
Adam French 0
Well Mr. Dr. Profesor Wine when you think my plan through and chill out with YOURE FREAKIN SARCASM mabey just mabey youll see were im coming from untill then you can shut your mouth
PeteDiddy4142
Peter Wine 0
Okay.. thought your plan through. Still don't like it. How about Plan B. You put the keyboard down until you can type without anger. Or seek professional help. Either one will do.
jaypek
Phil Knox 0
1. This type of "near encounter" happens quite frequently over the past 2 or 3 decades.

2. This "news" item is media manipulation on the part of the Cdn gov't...prepping the Cdn people for the imminent purchase of the new interceptor jets.

3. If the CF-18 aircraft managed to intercept the Russian bombers...why do we need NEW aircraft?
jaypek
Phil Knox 0
1. This type of "near encounter" happens quite frequently over the past 2 or 3 decades.

2. This "news" item is media manipulation on the part of the Cdn gov't...prepping the Cdn people for the imminent purchase of the new interceptor jets.

3. If the CF-18 aircraft managed to intercept the Russian bombers...why do we need NEW aircraft?
AdamFrench13
Adam French 0
allrite peter i still dont like you. but whenever you think about commenting about me don't i dnt put up with wanabees
jaypek
Phil Knox 0
pls excuse the dbl post above...
B4vols
Robert Yeiser 0
Is there any new info regarding the cirrus SR22 crash Aug 4 at the deer valley airport crash?
chalet
chalet 0
I would not be a bit surprised if Lockheed, the F-135 contractor is spreading these "news", after all the unit cost of these aircraft went from $ 60-70 million a piece to about $ 130 million. Question: does a $ 130 million aircraft is going to be more efficient at intercepting 50s era, lumbering, slow-flying Russian TU-95s than say a Lockhedd F-16, or a Northrop CF-18 or a Boeing F-15. Hell no, we won't go!!!
giviner
Jude Tulla 0
I agree with you, Chalet......Lockheed would probably do just about any underhanded thing to get the contract. It sure seems somewhat hazardous for Canada to tag along too close behind the American forces, especially when they have shown poor judgment in the recent years. Canada's reputation as a peaceful, fair country could easily be jeopardized by a U.S. misstep that is also blamed on our country.
energy
RE: Cirrus:
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20100804X02630&key=1
Link at bottom of page to main NTSB data base.
fkd111
Wow. The fact that people still surprise me, after all these years, is a blow to my psyche. This forum, like many others, is a source of delight, amazement and sheer befuddlement. The range of opinions, the knowledge sets, or lack thereof, and most of all, absence of civility, is astounding. I find it a great way to keep a pulse on the "posters," no matter what the topic.

On an aviation note, I saw a short program on the finding of Steve Fossett's final craft. There was a computer graphic of the various winds and altitudes therein of the exact day and estimated time of his crash. Fascinating, and a lesson never to be forgotten. Before you go, know. As good as he was, he didn't.
amello
amello 0
I read the report on the Cirrus and all I have to say is ....
I AM SO ANGRY TO READ ABOUT ANOTHER PILOT THAT DIED BECAUSE HE FORGOT THAT HIS
FIRST PRIORTY IS TO FLY THE DAMN AIRPLANE - **** THE DOOR!

How do you explain to someone's children that there father will never come home because he forgot to close a door. USE THE DAMN CHECKLIST PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!! IT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE !
tginmn
Gregg Harcus 0
I would not be surprised to find Lockheed pilots flying the Tu-95 that they bought from a 3rd world country just to make a case for the F-35.
ou42football
Tim Hopper 0
Sounds as if "karl" (real name, eh, komrade?) is no real friend of civil aviation... "Old Soviets"... "New Russians"... All still controlled by the Fourth Directorate... Which translates into... "Your ticket is pulled"! But, then again, Ottawa has a LO-O-O-O-ONG history of being on the front lines with the КГБ.
ou42football
Tim Hopper 0
PS... Hey "karl"... This incident didn't happen "yesterday"... It actually happened back in mid-July... Sure hope you fly better than you read!
slater71
Gerald Walter 0
There are so many people who forgets history.no one can trust a country with the history they have. Everyone should be On Guard against any aggression from them or China. Just Love the current gesture from Russia to be Friends with Afghanistan Now after the U.S.& NATO forces spilled their blood to get this place under control.
Dannoga
Dan Ciavardini 0
Right after 9-11 I asked a friend who works in US agency "what do you guys fear the most?' he said : One day the USA is so finabcially weakened it is a security threat, also that in ONE DAY N. Korea attacks S.Korea, China goes for Taiwan, the Russians go for the oil in Persian gulf and the mideast expldes into war...all within 24 hrs" that he said is their biggest fear, as he said what do we do then? Nuke everyone? Cant trust the Russians, by nature they are aggressive, even though the Bear bombers are old, its the pattern of response they are looking for,what happens when they send in the Black Jack Supersonic bombers? 1700 MPH vs 400Kts? They are measuring measuring measuring....
tginmn
Gregg Harcus 0
More reasons to seek alternative fuel to cut our needs for oil and end stop never ending wars that don't improve our security. We spend more money on our military than the rest of the world combined and look how poorly we performed on 9/11 with all our planes in the wrong place to intercept.
B4vols
Robert Yeiser 0
Thanks Mr. Larwence, Be safe. R Yeiser.
amello
amello 0
Gregg,
Intercept... what?
frank1969
frank lewis 0
Hey Kevin Kuhn,

And what do you suppose is newsworthy? Lindsey Lohan or American Idol? It's newsworthy because it has to do with our national security. If you can pull your head out of your ass long enough, you might see that the world is more dangerous now than ever before in history. If you can't figure out why, then do some studying.
karl
Hey Tim, "karl" here... pretty sure I'm real and "Lehenbauer" isn't the kind of name I'd make up, anyway. :-) In any case I think I have reasonably good reading comprehension... 'didn't see your message until today but now that I have, on your assertion that the reported incident was in July, I went back and read the article and this is the lede:

Aug. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Canadian air force jets turned back two Russian bombers close to Canada’s northern border yesterday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office said in a statement.

Yes there is a part in there about an intercept in July, but when on August 25th Bloomberg reports that two bombers were turned back "yesterday", I'm going to assume the space-time continuum is intact and "yesterday" in that context means August 24th. Just sayin'...

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