[EyeBrock]

I spent time in Bardufoss where the Nazi's used slave labour to hollow out a mountain. We managed to get Harriers and Jaguars in the same spots that ME-109's and FW190's sat in.
Just think, 60 years ago ME-109's took off in blizzards with a -70 windchill with trucks ploughing the taxi-way, much like we do now.

The military has spent a lot of time in harsh climates ziggy. I have ten years of experience to prove it. Plus we had to carry weapons and make sure we were an effective fighting force despite crap climates.

[ziggy]

I tried both the Canadian and American extreme weather army gear up there and neither can hack it.
It's also pretty hard to plow a runway when you cant see it.
I used to lay on the floor of the hoe walking it back to camp just to get a glimpse of my tracks because you sure couldnt see well enough out the window.When it got bad you stopped,sometimes you were there all day,zero visibility,trust me if I could see good enough to move then I would have.
But thats a bit farther north then where your talking about so it's probably different alltogether.

[EyeBrock]

Alert can hack it. I know what you are saying. The high Arctic is problematic. But it is an environment that combat aircraft can function in. The gear has always been a problem but I found that most gear I was issued was good enough to see an aircraft off in.
You don't need to have gear to survive in when you are out there for 20 minutes. You need to stop thinking 'survival' and think about getting a kite up in the air in 20 minutes.

[ziggy]

I wouldnt leave my tent for a piss without my gear,all of it,just in case the rope outside broke.You could freeze to death 10 feet from your tent in minutes.
Most guys going up there for training trade their crap for fur.Some of the American gear was fake fur(mitts) and instructions inside on how to use your trigger finger.
Rubber boots with an air liner and pump(which promptly broke in the cold) and would freeze your feet in minutes,and other stuff that sure wasnt tested in the real environment.
I spose they could do like in the camps and string rope everywhere so you can find your way in zero visibility.
One to the shitter,one to the kitchen,one back to the tent,and one to the airstrip.

[EyeBrock]

That aside, it can and has been done. We can deploy combat aircraft in our own Arctic. Fur or no fur, we should be doing it instead of having CF18's and thir crews lounging around in Quebec.

[ziggy]

Those fighters came from Cold lake,that's why I was curious as to how long the flight was.

[EyeBrock]

That's a long slog from Cold Lake or Goose Bay. That's why I think CF18's, SAR aircraft and the odd Orion would be good at Alert 24/7/365. If Norway can do it so can we.

And by the way, the Brits always bought Norwegian cold weather gear, fur and all.

[herbie]

Sorry Gunnair, I meant to cut out the original post from your reply and forgot.
You seem to have one of the most rational responses to the incident. Just because the Russians didn't do this stuff for a few years doesn't make this a major diplomatic incident. Especially when anything 'war-like' is no longer part of the equation.
They're doing exactly what we are Hey! fucking notice us. So we both just accomplished a diplomatic "tail-wag" and both delivered a sword-shake for consumption by domestic hard-liners.

Why the hell aren't we sitting down with them? Canada an Russia ARE the two Arctic powers!

[RUEZ]

It's just a news story. I'm not sure why some of you think the world is making a big deal about this. Settle down.

[EyeBrock]

herbie herbie:

Sorry Gunnair, I meant to cut out the original post from your reply and forgot.
You seem to have one of the most rational responses to the incident. Just because the Russians didn't do this stuff for a few years doesn't make this a major diplomatic incident. Especially when anything 'war-like' is no longer part of the equation.
They're doing exactly what we are Hey! fucking notice us. So we both just accomplished a diplomatic "tail-wag" and both delivered a sword-shake for consumption by domestic hard-liners.

Why the hell aren't we sitting down with them? Canada an Russia ARE the two Arctic powers!

It was a TU-95 not an Airbus. It's a nuclear bomber that can carry cruise missiles, not a bunch of vacationers.
It's a threat and dismissing a threat does not diminish it.

History is full of aggressive nations signalling their intent prior to military or political aims being enacted.
I'm sure the Georgians thought Russia was just sabre rattling too. That ended when two armoured divisions rolled into their country last summer.

These are different and dangerous times and the Russians are up to no good.