HINDSIGHT 2020: LESSONS LEARNED
Welcome to Hindsight 2020! For this series we will be taking a look at Canada's past fighter purchases and asking a simple question: "Did we make the right decision?" We will look at the aircraft itself, compare it to the alternatives available at the time, and determine whether or not Canada picked the right aircraft. Canada's history of fighter selection has been a bit of a mixed bag. While there have been nothing that can be classified as a dismal failure, there are a few instances where we simply could have done better. In some instances, better options were available. In other cases, we picked a decent fighter, but placed it into the wrong role. The Winners: The CF-18 Hornet, CF-100 Canuck, and CL-13 (F-86) Sabre all stand out as excellent fighters. Not just for Canada, but all around. Each one has earned their place in history. The CF-18 earns it place thanks to its workhorse nature. As it nears...