[Jabberwalker]

Helmets, goggles, bandages, tents, condoms ...

[PostFactum]

[DrCaleb]

Looks like the Ukrainian Army are making progress! Donetsk is almost surrounded. Cut off that little finger to the north, and hopefully supplies form Russia will cease.

[PostFactum]

Well, if it was so easy.

[PostFactum]

Plane from Canada arrived 20 minutes ago.

[Jabberwalker]

PostFactum PostFactum:

Plane from Canada arrived 20 minutes ago.

It's not much (yet) but it's the thought that counts.

[DrCaleb]

PostFactum PostFactum:

Plane from Canada arrived 20 minutes ago.

I thought we were sending 20 CF-18's. Hope you like them.

[PostFactum]

Thank you guys

[PostFactum]

[Gunnair]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

PostFactum PostFactum:

Plane from Canada arrived 20 minutes ago.

I thought we were sending 20 CF-18's. Hope you like them.

That's what Pravda reported...

[Jabberwalker]

Do we have 20 airworthy CF-18s at any given time?

[Canadian_Mind]

Jabberwalker Jabberwalker:

Do we have 20 airworthy CF-18s at any given time?

I think we have 20 in mothballs. Those may have been what the original article referred to.

[Jabberwalker]

Here is the article:

"Canada to supply decommissioned fighter aircraft to Ukraine

The Ukrainian combat aviation received reinforcements from Canada. The Canadian government proposes to deliver nearly 20 combat aircraft CF-18A to the Ukrainian military.

The information appeared on social networks. Russian English-language television channel Russia Today reported the same.

These 20 aircraft can be delivered to the Ukrainian side for free, as they had been written off from service at the Air Forces of Canada in connection with the purchase of new aircraft. In addition, Canada offers to send a dozen experts to Ukraine to train Ukrainian pilots and perform aircraft maintenance, the Press of Ukraine reports.

McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet is a multirole fighter of the Royal Canadian Air Force, developed on the basis of US fighter bomber F/A-18 Hornet. The plane was produced by McDonnell Douglas in 1982-88 years; 138 aircraft had been produced in total. The aircraft had taken part in combat operations during the Gulf War, the bombing of Yugoslavia and the international military operation in Libya.

The Canadian Air Force had lost the total of 18 CF-18 Hornet during operation, although there were no combat losses incurred."

http://english.pravda.ru/news/world/16- ... -ZR89h0zDc

I like that ... "written off from service at the Air Forces of Canada in connection with the purchase of new aircraft"

That must refer to our contract with Imaginistan to purchase their CF-25.4 fighter as a replacement for the CF-18s.

[Winnipegger]

Canada purchased 98 single-seat CF-18A aircraft, and 40 dual-seat CF-18B aircraft. We lost 18 aircraft due to accidents, no combat losses. Currently we have 72 CF-18As and 31 CF-18Bs in inventory, of which 79 are in operational use. Doing the math, that leaves 17 aircraft that have been written off. The Pravda article says 20. According to Wikipedia...

$1:

19 June 2004: Aircraft from CFB Cold Lake lost when it skidded off the runway during landing at Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Aircraft was salvaged and is back in service. Pilot ejected but was injured.

But that aircraft is back in service, so not one of the 18 lost. So first of all, 17 were written off, not 20. And the aircraft written off have been scavenged for parts, so don't expect they'll ever fly again. I wish they could be repaired, upgraded, and put back in inventory; but have no idea what that would take. They've been used as a source of spare parts so long that I expect they all are sad relics that can't fly.

[Winnipegger]

CBC: Ukraine crisis: Rebel leader open to a ceasefire as forces advance

$1:

Ukraine's rebels are surrounded and ready to agree to a ceasefire to prevent a "humanitarian catastrophe," the insurgents' new leader said Saturday as conditions deteriorated in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk, artillery thundering through deserted streets.

There was no immediate government response to the ceasefire statement. The government has made steady advances against the rebels in recent weeks.