Good news! I am hopeful that we move quickly on this & FFLIT as it is such an important element to the jet training pipeline.
One has to wonder though... If Canada is far from the only one struggling with capacity... Does something have to change? What is wrong with NATO jet/pilot training programs tuat we all struggle to maintain enough fighter pilots? In peacetime! What happens when we fight & attrition happens?
Maybe it is time to look at Ukraine for tricks to speed up the process & gain much needed capacity (& expand the #s of planes all through the pipeline). Maybe not a program as drastic as BCATP... But we need to look at something to increase our throughput now, & hedge against attrition/expansion later...
It comes down to a staggering price difference for Canadian taxpayers. Here is the estimated cost breakdown to equip a full 15-plane fleet for the Snowbirds:
Pilatus PC-21 (The Propeller Option): Roughly $375 million to $525 million CAD total. The base price is only about $12M–$15M per plane, and Canada can piggyback on its existing training infrastructure to keep support costs incredibly low.
Leonardo T-346 PAN (The Jet Option): Roughly $1.92 billion CAD total. Based on Italy's recent contract for the Frecce Tricolori, the specialized military package share surges to about $127.8M per aircraft because of complex jet maintenance, custom engineering, and massive lifecycle support costs.
People are calling the jet option unlikely because it costs nearly four times more to buy and operate than the turboprop, making it a nearly impossible sell.
Good news! I am hopeful that we move quickly on this & FFLIT as it is such an important element to the jet training pipeline.
One has to wonder though... If Canada is far from the only one struggling with capacity... Does something have to change? What is wrong with NATO jet/pilot training programs tuat we all struggle to maintain enough fighter pilots? In peacetime! What happens when we fight & attrition happens?
Maybe it is time to look at Ukraine for tricks to speed up the process & gain much needed capacity (& expand the #s of planes all through the pipeline). Maybe not a program as drastic as BCATP... But we need to look at something to increase our throughput now, & hedge against attrition/expansion later...
An order has been placed for the snowbirds replacement aircraft the PC-21. So unlikely is the point is mute.
I don’t understand why everyone is saying it’s unlikely the snowbirds will get these. Like why not ?
It comes down to a staggering price difference for Canadian taxpayers. Here is the estimated cost breakdown to equip a full 15-plane fleet for the Snowbirds:
Pilatus PC-21 (The Propeller Option): Roughly $375 million to $525 million CAD total. The base price is only about $12M–$15M per plane, and Canada can piggyback on its existing training infrastructure to keep support costs incredibly low.
Leonardo T-346 PAN (The Jet Option): Roughly $1.92 billion CAD total. Based on Italy's recent contract for the Frecce Tricolori, the specialized military package share surges to about $127.8M per aircraft because of complex jet maintenance, custom engineering, and massive lifecycle support costs.
People are calling the jet option unlikely because it costs nearly four times more to buy and operate than the turboprop, making it a nearly impossible sell.
snowbirds?