To the Editor,
Stephen Harper pretty much had my family’s vote tied up until recently when I read about our government’s purchase of U.S. F-35 fighters without engines.
I just cannot believe that our representatives could be so easily conned by the Americans.
This would be an absolute joke if it were not so serious.
So what’s next? Do we have to provide engines for all future purchases of aircraft, vehicles and tools down to a chainsaw?
What government in its right mind would agree to such a purchase? We would have been better off to purchase 40-year-old Harriers from Britain, which the U.S. Marine Corps is still using.
The extra cost of the engines is just part of the problem.
Does the government not understand that these engines not only have to be purchased and installed, but also flight tested?
Who buys an aircraft – or even a car for that matter – without a road test? As a former RAF officer I can tell you that flight testing involves a lot more than a trip around the block.
To purchase an unflyable airplane to defend our country is an omission for which there can be no excuse.
And why do we need these anyway? Are we still afraid that Russia or China may try to bomb us?
If so, that just shows a lack of knowledge and foreign expertise by the people who are supposed to be running this country.
To say these aircraft may be used for search and rescue just shows the ignorance of those in charge. You don’t do searches at supersonic speeds nor with single- or two-seat aircraft.
I am disgusted by this news and after other recent shenanigans by the Harper government, I don’t think I’ll even waste my time going to the polls.
Jim Wilcox
Nanaimo