From the news wires:
MacKay questions value of air force fetching vintage plane for private group
Defence Minister Peter MacKay is asking the military for a full accounting of why the head of the air force authorized a C-17 transport plane to fly to New Zealand to pick up a vintage aircraft for a private organization in Gatineau.
Lt.-Gen. Angus Watt OK'd the recent flight of the C-17 to New Zealand to collect a P-40 Kittyhawk aircraft for Vintage Wings of Canada and then transport it back to Canada, MacKay said.
Vintage Wings is a not-for-profit foundation conceived by well-known Ottawa high-tech businessman Michael Potter. Although its facilities are not open to the general public, it has a range of vintage aircraft and operates those at various air shows as a tribute to the country's veterans and aviation pioneers.
MacKay said dispatching a C-17 to pick up the plane for a private organization was not a proper use of tax dollars or military resources.
"I want to get a full reporting on what exactly happened and how this decision was taken because, in my view in this difficult economic time, in any time, quite frankly, I don't think it was appropriate," he said Friday.
MacKay said he only found out about the flight on Thursday, shortly after it had taken place. He noted that military leaders run day-to-day operations, but had he known about Watt's decision to authorize the C-17 flight, he wouldn't have allowed it to proceed.
According to the air force, there were no incremental costs to taxpayers, as the C-17 was returning from a mission to Afghanistan.
The air force did not respond to questions about why a C-17 returning to Canada would have to travel through New Zealand.
The military also did not respond to questions about the cost of the flight or how much it costs to operate the C-17 on an hourly basis...
In previous cases where there have been questions about the use of air force resources, officers have noted that pilots are required to maintain a certain amount of flying hours.
MacKay did not discuss the costs involved with the flight to New Zealand, but noted "our office, when we learned of this, got in touch with the air force. We expressed displeasure." Photos of the P-40 Kittyhawk being loaded into an empty Canadian C-17 in New Zealand were posted on a webpage for aviation enthusiasts. At least one of those posting at the site raised the question about who paid for the transport. The photos of the P-40 being loaded into the C-17 have since been removed from the site. In a recent strategic assessment, Watt noted that the air force is dealing with ongoing financial pressures.
In response to a Defence Department request to reduce five per cent of his budget, Watt responded with options ranging from shutting down the Snowbirds aerobatic team to reducing the amount of time C-17s would be available to support military units.
Potter of Vintage Wings said the aircraft will benefit Canadians as it will be used to highlight the contributions of the country's pilots, including veteran ace "Stocky" Edwards, who flew the same type of aircraft during the Second World War. More than $1 million has been spent restoring the plane, he added.
"It's a matter of striking a balance," Potter said. "Surely no one would argue that we shouldn't do these things, that people who are doing these things with private- sector funding shouldn't be given support where it's possible to do so?" He said it was decided to use an aircraft to transport the P-40, rather than putting it on a ship, to ensure that the rare aviation artifact wasn't damaged in transit.
"If people are to suggest this was not good use of DND funds, I would challenge you not to mention that this relieved Mike Potter, who is a well-known wealthy guy, of some costs," Potter noted. "They're going to connect the costs and I dare say you will make it easier for them to do that. That's why these stories get legs that they don't deserve to have." Vintage Wings highlights Canada's aviation heritage by acquiring, restoring, maintaining and flying classic aircraft. It will have an open house on June 6 at which it hopes to display the P-40 Kittyhawk. Pre-organized group tours can also be arranged.
Potter said a significant amount of Vintage Wings funding is spent on support for Canadian Forces events such as flying historical aircraft over various military ceremonies. It also offers at no charge tours for Canadian Forces personnel, such as engineers from the Royal Military College.
"The air force just loves to death the thought that people are doing this kind of thing," Potter added. "It's a fundamental part of ensuring morale, unit pride and efficiency of the modern air force." "We don't demand anything back," he added.
MacKay said preserving Canadian heritage of all types is important. "But you have to balance that with the cost associated," he noted. "And I think the average taxpayer, the average Canadian looking at this on balance would say that's not what military resources should be used for." Potter also noted that Vintage Wings plans to send the P-40 and other planes down to the Oshkosh air show in the U.S. The P-40 would not have made that event if it had to come from New Zealand by ship, he added. At that event, thousands of Americans will see the aircraft and hear from Canadian veteran pilot Stocky Edwards about Canadian contributions to the Second World War, he said.
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