How did this thread go from Spey Phantoms to CF5s? Is there a Spey Phantom version of the CF5 that I don't know about?
Didn't the Spey modifications massively increase the cost of the F-4Ks in comparison to the regular US variants? I'm just wondering if without the need to help prop up domestic companies or take off from shorter carriers whether the changes merit the costs.
Didn't the Spey modifications massively increase the cost of the F-4Ks in comparison to the regular US variants? I'm just wondering if without the need to help prop up domestic companies or take off from shorter carriers whether the changes merit the costs.
Pearson and Wilson were in negotiation over co-production of Spey-Phantom. On the advice of one Paul Hellyer, negotiations were terminated. Production of CF-5 was the fault of Paul Hellyer, who was also responsible for their lack of certain capability specifications. That only two squadrons served with the CF-5, the remainder in storage, for this, we call upon PET. It's complicated, and disgusting...
OK, so we butterfly the fruitcake Paul Hellyer away (and he really is a fruitcake these days....) and Canadair gets the approval for McDonnell Douglas to make the RCAF's Spey Phantoms, with both them and BAC being the partners to make the fighter for both sides. With the price and capability for the F-4M (I'm assuming Canada gets the land-based variant as they have no need for the carrier-based one) but with the stronger landing gear from the F-4K, with an internal gun fitted to the fleet via a longer F-4E style nose in the late 1960s. The F-4M was meant more as air-to-air fighter and interceptor, so it would then retire the CF-100 and CF-101 as I said before, and maybe retire the CF-104, though the Starfighter is less than a decade old at this point.
As the Canadian Phantoms are likely to be deployed to the RCAF's squadrons in Europe and send the Starfighters back to North America, though the fast Starfighters would probably have a squadron or two based in Europe for the nuclear strike role the RCAF had at the time.
Assuming this comes with a stronger defense commitment between Canada and the UK, then it raises the possibility of the Conservatives' plans for a stronger Canadian armed forces in the 1970s, which included a large number of shore-based strike aircraft, more likely, and if that goes in the 1970s, then it may result in the Buccaneer for the RCN or RCAF.
You have to butterfly Trudeau as well, because he pulled the plug on full deployment of CF-5 and he would pull the plug on the vastly more expensive Spey/F4. The only decent defense minister was Barney Danson in 1976, but Trudeau was still boss. I also recall waiting with anticipation as a succession of Conservative defense ministers let me down.