An Aging Air Force

Canada.com has an article about how age is becoming a problem for the Canadian Air Force. While the average age of aircraft is down to 26 years, the average age of personnel is now 36.

Germans won't fly at night

According to this article in the Times, German helicopter pilots in Afghanistan won't fly at night. They leave the operating area so that they will be back at their base on time.

First World War Helmets

Danger Room has a link to a video about experimental American First World War helmets. It was interesting how many of the helmets ended up looking like the German helmet - and were consequently rejected. Remember that when the modern day American helmet was adopted its similarity to Second World War German helmets was a common complaint.

Obit: RCAF pilot who bombed bridge over River Kwai

The Globe and Mail has an obituary for Roy Borthwick. He was the RCAF pilot who bombed the railway bridge built by prisoners of war over the River Kwai in Thailand. The bridge was part of the "Death Railway".

USMC basic training

The LA Times has an article about US Marine Corps basic training. It follows four recruits through the grueling 13 week course.

Blackwater rents out spies

The Washington Post has a story about Blackwater's for hire intelligence agency. The company, Total Intelligence Solutions, employs a large number of former US intelligence personnel and is headed by a former CIA associate deputy director of operations.

Obit: RAF Doctor who tested first rocket ejection seat

The Guardian has an obituary for Air Vice Marshal Peter Howard. He was a Royal Air Force doctor who was involved in aircraft testing. He tested the first rocket powered ejection seat in 1962.

The Times also has an obituary.

CF National Fitness Test Results

The Toronto Star has a report on the results of the Canadian Forces first national fitness test. Apparently 1,000 failed the test as compared to 47,000 "enlisted men" (I'm not sure what happened to all the officers) who passed.

The failure rates were higher in the Navy, which I think you would expect given that sailors spend so much of there time on ships. Of course this doesn't explain why sailors in Halifax did better than those in BC.

Followup: Canoe also has a similar story about the test. This one mentions that no officers over the rank of Colonel (ie Generals and Admirals) failed the test.

Nowhere to park CC-177s

The Toronto Star reports that the Canadian Forces new CC-177 (aka C-17) strategic transport aircraft arrived so quickly that there are no hangers large enough to hold it. Consequently it has to park outside.