Canadian Chinook turns the tables, carries U.S. troops to battle

What a refreshing change for our troops. I well remember the news stories when the US had to ferry our troops around. The cheap Liberal government of the day decimated the defense budget to the shame of themselves and our country. Thank you Conservatives for giving the military the tools they need. It is long past time.

Little by little our military is being upgraded. Hopefully this trend will continue and not downsize.

We can't be too hard on the Liberals. I think Mulroney got rid of our chinooks the first time.

About time.
The next mission for Air Command should be deploying F18s to the Stan.
Our guys deserve our own aircraft doing CAPs.
The approaches to Quebec are very well defended by CF18's from CFB Bagotville.
Its time they stopped defending New France and provided close support for our infantry.

flying from egypt or italy every time our infantry goes on patrol is a little ridiculous, don't you think?

Huh? What would stp them from using air bases in A'stan?

Don't we have a major base at an airport?

Im kind of wondering the same thing.... since we have two that I know of we could use

Er if the French and Dutch can put fast jets in the air support role in Khandahar why can't we?

Per Ardua ad Astra.

there's no room for canadian equipment. canadian jets means canadian crews, both ground and air. this also means increasing air traffic controllers, which at the moment are belgian, i believe.
the government isn't about to increase troop counts in afghanistan when we're about to leave in under 2 years.

Really? If there is enough room for French Mirages that are doing sweet FA there is room for CF18s. They don't take up too much space you know. Two kites would do the job.
Are you Air Command or ex RCAF?

currently employed as an ATC officer. you're missing the point. the french dedicated air elements to the effort, canada hasn't (really). sending cf-18's to afghanistan would drastically increase our committment in the area. it's not just planes, it's personnel and support equipment, too. the only way our planes are going to afghanistan is if they fly out of egypt, we've already got people and equipment there.

Why fly out of Eygpt? I spent ten years deploying various air elements around the world.
Do you think the Brits would ever send a battalion overseas without air support?

Why should we?

Air Command needs to get off it's arse and realise that it's actually a combat arm.
You guys should be out there flying over our infantry.

Oh and shave the moustaches please!