Topic: 177701 - Inaugural Flight

[Colin P]

Lucky bugger, would have been nice to see! 

[Baden Guy]

I am very disappointed with the media. I watched  CTV, CBC, Global, and all I got was pictures of the aircraft sitting on the ramp  or flying by in the circuit. O'Connor was filmed speaking from a prepared text over the sound of aircraft noise and wind. The  only person who spoke to the exciting new capability Canada has just acquired was a few sentences from Lt.Gen. Watt.  We had a brief clip of Ujjal Dosanjh with a smug smile making some meaningless smart remark. Oh and let's not forget reporters hollering at O'Connor about being shuffled in Cabinet.
What I wanted was some individual who could speak knowledgeably about what this aircraft can do,
"The strategic airlift capacity of the C-17 will ensure the Canadian Forces can quickly move heavy equipment, supplies or passengers over long distances, when and where needed in Canada or overseas." DND news release.

I did hear Globesmasher use the word "paradigm."
To bad the media hadn't allowed the Major to speak about the plane and what it can do!

[C1302C17 TECH]

I too am starved for all things Canada One.  Along with several of my colleagues here in Charleston we will make up 18 more technicians scheduled to work on our new fleet.  Our course has prompted us to miss all the great events in this process.  The standing up of our Squadron, and the delivery of our first aircraft.  We were counting on the news to cover it so we may feel the excitement.  Checking CTVNEWS.CA last night at 19h30 was a big disappointment, as they are focusing on the costs of the entire project, and had a picture of a US J-MODEL Herc standing in as a C-17.  The picture has since been replaced, however their story now focuses on how much more this is costing, besides the 4 new planes.  Come on!  Trenton was well due for a face lift, and I am sure that the Project Management Office realized all these costs well before signing the first contract.  Once again the firewords display was nothing more then a birthday candle.

[Baden Guy]

Okayyyyyyy...,  just watched CTV noon time news with reporting by David Atkin from the ramp in Trenton with the CC-177 in the background. Now this is what an informed reporter sounds like. Keep watching CTV news and I am sure they will replay the clip. David will also be doing a tour of the aircraft and I believe he said the media were getting a short hope in the aircraft this afternoon.

Now that's what I'm talking about. 

Edited to add link:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070812/military_planes_070812/20070812?hub=Canada

[milnews.ca [5]]

I did hear Globesmasher use the word "paradigm."
To bad the media hadn't allowed the Major to speak about the plane and what it can do!

Oh, I'm sure they let the good Major speak his piece about the plane and what it can do, they just chose not to INCLUDE it in the story!  MSM strikes again....

[krustyrl]

Well, it's 1 pm here at 8Wing during the height of the big show of the c17 and I am watching ctvnewsnet and the whole airplane thing didn't make the "hours top stories" but funny, the passing of Merv Griffin did.!! I guess by now it's "just another airplane".?

[Globesmasher]

I did hear Globesmasher use the word "paradigm."
To bad the media hadn't allowed the Major to speak about the plane and what it can do!

BG:

Funny you should mention that.
"paradigm" ..... that's my new word for the day!! 

I damned near talked myself hoarse with all the interviews I did with the MSM at Abbotsford.  I've got a sore throat.  And, after all that, approx 3 seconds of a sound bite makes it on National news?  After all the questions on the aircraft's capability and what it represents to Canadians and Canada ......... 3 seconds?

Too funny.
Never mind.
They're not important to me.

What was important was the fact that we managed to get the aircraft out on display to the Canadian public ... the taxpayer, and that is what I took great pride in on Saturday. It was a pleasure and an honor showing the new aircraft to the general public - those were the people I tried to focus my efforts at during the airshow.

My apologies to one and all that we could not open the interior of the aircraft to public touring, but since it was just a whirlwind stopover for 4 hours followed by another flight, we just didn't have time to open it up and then prep it for flight again.  Perhaps next year.

MSM? ....... Ah, who cares about them ........ I just hope Joe Canuck Public enjoyed himself.
They are what airshows are all about.
I met some really nice people on Saturday who stopped by to come and see the jet.

And, thanks to all those who came out to see and meet the new aircraft. 
The aircraft belongs to you - the taxpayer. 
Don't let the MSM and hidden political agendas sully the importance of what your new aircraft represents in the big scheme of things for our Nation.

[Bandit1]

Got in a bit ago, here are some of the pictures from the ceremony and some from the inflight...I'd love to share more but I have to give some of the better ones to publications like Canadian Defence Review...once those have been decided I'll be sure to post some more ASAP.  FYI, these are from Sunday at 8 Wing.

[C1Dirty]

Wow, I'm still in awe of how quickly this all came together.  Well done to all those who helped to make it happen.

As an aside...from the previous page:

The growing threat posed by improvised explosive devices planted along road supply routes has also prompted calls for Canada to switch to air-drop resupply missions, but the military lacks the equipment to do so.

I sincerely hope that this was a poor assumption by the press.

[SFB]

Okayyyyyyy...,  just watched CTV noon time news with reporting by David Atkin from the ramp in Trenton with the CC-177 in the background. Now this is what an informed reporter sounds like. Keep watching CTV news and I am sure they will replay the clip. David will also be doing a tour of the aircraft and I believe he said the media were getting a short hope in the aircraft this afternoon.

Kudos to David Akin...I saw his reporting as well.

[Moody]

I wish I could have been there. Any chance of 701 replacing the C-17 demo from the Mississippi Air National Guard at CIAS (http://www.cias.org/lineup.html) in September?  

[Bandit1]

There's always a chance...time will tell though and I'm sure there'd be an announcement if it was arranged...

[Moody]

There's always a chance...time will tell though and I'm sure there'd be an announcement if it was arranged...

Thanks Bandit and thanks for sharing the pictures. If she doesn't make it to CIAS, hopefully I can catch a glimpse of her through the fences at 8 wing (I usually stop in for a double double on the way by).

[DavidAkin]

Just some general observations on the media coverage of the C-17 --
I get the sense that it was MND and political people handling media coverage for the C-17 in Abbotsford  -- hence the lack of coverage -- but it was Air Force and CFB Trenton Public Affairs helping us out on Sunday. That made a huge difference. It was a pretty packed media house. Both national networks (us and CBC were there) as well lots of other reporters.

For the record (for those complaining about our lack of coverage)
- I did a "live hit" at noon which was replayed at least once.
- We had a "live shot" of 701 as it took off (with us aboard) at 1430
- I did a "live hit" at 1630
- I did a "live hit" for CTV Toronto's 6 pm newscasts
- I did a "package" which aired on our National Newscast at 11.

Also: I can't say enough good things about how the public affairs personnel at CFB Trenton helped us out. They went above and beyond the call and were tremendously helpful with all  of our requests. Pluse we got a 45-minute ride in the plane -- and I even got time up in the cockpit in flight. Very cool.

And, as I said yesterday, it was nice to be at Trenton for a celebration. The last few trips I've made to the base have been a little more sombre...

Anyhow: I'm putting up pics I took with my little insta-cam at:
http://davidakin.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2007/8/13/3155511.html

Major Jean Maisonneuve in flight:
http://davidakin.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2007/8/13/3155501.html

Making a PW2040 look beautiful:
http://davidakin.blogware.com/blog/Broll/_archives/2007/8/13/3155498.html

A party for a plane:
http://davidakin.blogware.com/blog/Broll/_archives/2007/8/13/3155495.html

[Strike]

Hey Dave,

I saw your clip last night and was really impressed with it.

To everyone else,
I suspect that coverage in Abbotsford was a little more subdued so as not to take away from the official ceremonies in Trenton.

I've said it once and I'll say it again -- that is one keen aircraft.  Yes, a rotorhead likes a plank-winged aircraft.  What is the world coming to?