New military cargo planes

There was a large news story recently about the delivery of the first of four new jets for the Canadian Air Force. When it arrived in Trenton, the first thing they did was show it off to the media, saying what it will mean to the Canadian Armed Services. The behemoth can be configured to carry hundreds of troops, a few heavy vehicles, or be used as an airborne hospital. It has been touted as a very versatile craft.

The complaint made by some is that we were better off renting such heavy lifting equipment. Whenever we need to get Canadian Personnel anywhere, we have always had to rent large aircraft from the United States, or another ally. Some people apparently think that is the way to spend tax dollars, with the billions for the latest planes going on smaller ordinance.

I personally think that we should have ordered two more of the Starlifters. My reasoning is as follows.

Canada has made a habit of going into countries far out there to pull everyone else's chestnuts out of the fire. In an environmental disaster, we are often the first on the ground actually doing something. By having to rent the planes to get us there, we are at the mercy of the prices that the United States feels like charging us.

What happens on that day when we feel the obligation to help those from nations that our allies find objectionable? We aren't in a position to get aid or military personnel anywhere in a hurry. Renting is only a bargain when you aren't constantly in need of the equipment. Would you rent a refrigerator? If the world expects us to be there when political or natural disaster strikes, we have to be able to move a lot of stuff fast, and at our discretion.

In response to those who feel the money would have been better spent on smaller planes, I would simply say that the large cargo planes fulfill more of the missions Canada does best. Flexibility is a key in the world these days. We don't know where we are going to have to put people and equipment. Let's invest in the means of getting the most in one place as quickly as possible. Manpower will trump air power in the long run anyway.

I said that we needed to order two more planes. History shows that the reconstruction and peace keeping work that Canadians do is long term. It would be best of we could keep four planes air ready at any given time, with two undergoing regular maintenance. If you're going to do the job, do it right.

I think even those opposed to the purchase of the planes are going to wake up one day and realize just how important the mobility of the Canadian Armed Forces truly is. All it will take is for one natural disaster to hit on our own soil and one of these planes to handle the evacuation.