Russian bomber neared Canada before Obama visit

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian fighters scrambled to intercept an approaching Russian bomber less than 24 hours before U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Ottawa last week, Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay said on Friday.

The Bear bomber did not enter Canada's Arctic airspace but the Canadian fighters had to order the plane to turn back, MacKay said at a news conference.

Obama spent a few hours in the Canadian capital on February 19 on his first foreign trip since taking over at the White House.

"I'm not going to stand here and accuse the Russians of having deliberately done this during the presidential visit but it was a strong coincidence, which we met with the presence, as we always do, of F-18 fighter planes ... and sent a strong signal that they should back off and stay out of our air space," said MacKay.

He also said Russia had stepped up its bomber flights toward the Canadian Arctic in the last few years, reviving a practice that was common during the Cold War.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/i...0090227?sp=true

Edited February 27, 2009 by Mister_Bill

[Saddle Bronc 124]

They decided to purchase the CF-18's in 1982, when they could no longer keep their (by then aptly-named) CF-101 Voodoo airfleet running (in reduced-strength mode) through cannibalisation--and got them delivered (from Dallas) between 1984 and 1990.

[Nagishkaw 510]

The Royal Canadian Air Farce.

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

The Royal Canadian Air Farce.

i always thought it was composed of flying squirrels.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

The Royal Canadian Air Farce.

i always thought it was composed of flying squirrels.

Strange you didn't think of geese Charles--they are the national bird there (hint: why do you think the species is called Canada Goose?).

[scooter rider 0]

I thought they only had Canadian bacon.

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

The Royal Canadian Air Farce.

i always thought it was composed of flying squirrels.

Strange you didn't think of geese Charles--they are the national bird there (hint: why do you think the species is called Canada Goose?).

it can't be canadian geese because they all went to the usa, to ####### on everything

Edited February 27, 2009 by charles!

[Emancipation 2]

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

top one isn't the one that was in the story. look for a prop job that looks similar to our b-52, named a "bear"

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

This monster?

[MrsCat 6]

The Royal Canadian Air Farce.

i always thought it was composed of flying squirrels.

The flying squirrels were only lasted one year. Apparently they didn't survive the winter. We then moved to the geese. Like you mentioned, they moved south to ####### on things.

When I first met my husband, he said, I did a weather briefing for two pilots from Canada once while I was in Mountain Home, ID. They said they were the only two pilots in the Canadian military, and those were the only two planes Canada owned. That's wasn't true was it?

[yogib37 3]

top one isn't the one that was in the story. look for a prop job that looks similar to our b-52, named a "bear"

Yeah you may be right charles, but my Money is on the Bottom photo of the F-18 ;

:dance:

[Ban Hammer 13,332]

This monster?

that be it.

[NickD 202]

The Royal Canadian Air Farce.

i always thought it was composed of flying squirrels.

Strange you didn't think of geese Charles--they are the national bird there (hint: why do you think the species is called Canada Goose?).

If Canadian geese can take down an airliner, should have no problem with a Russian bomber, don't knock the geese.

Edited February 28, 2009 by NickD