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September 23, 2022

RCAF Snowbirds Team Returns To Duty, But No Shows ‘Til 2023

Following Forced Landing in August, Tutor Fleet Paused for Inspection and Cleared for Duty

The Royal Canadian Air Force has cleared its demonstration team for flight once again, but air show fans will be disappointed that they will miss the rest of the 2022 season. The pause followed a failed takeoff that occurred in Fort St. John in early August that brought the fleet to a stop while investigators began to cast a critical eye at the aging, haggard Canadair CT-114 Tutors in use with the team. While no injuries were sustained in the accident, the near 63-year old aircraft has been a frequent topic of concern for those in the RCAF hoping to speed up the plane’s leisurely replacement schedule.

Plans for Food Plant Could Allow For Electronic Warfare, Intelligence Gathering, and Spying, Says Manufacturer

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is sounding the alarm on a Chinese agricultural development set to break ground near Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The defense manufacturer is urging the government to shut down the project due to national security concerns, saying that the large-scale corn milling plant will be far too close for comfort to a sensitive location for the industry. The proposed location lies on 370 acres in Grand Forks, only 15 miles from the air base. The location is home to a number of American defense industry entities and General Atomics fears that the proximity places some of their most cutting

Next-Gen Tanker Enters the Real World Despite Minor Issues

The US Air Force has cleared the KC-46 Pegasus tanker for worldwide deployment, passing a milestone for the Boeing project. Air Mobility Command has cleared the tanker for all deployments and taskings, opening the way for the service to use its 60-strong fleet of KC-46s. General Mike Minihan, commander, approved the aircraft while saying "We are ready to use this aircraft globally in any fight, without hesitation," despite some long standing issues and headaches with some systems of the next-generation tanker.