Air Services
Canada
Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)
Founded 1st April 1924, the Royal Canadian Air Force is the aviation branch of the Canadian Armed Forces.
It defends and protects Canadian and North American airspace in partnership with the United States.
COMBAT
CF-188 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet is the RCAF version of the US F/A-18 Hornet, which began service in 1982
CF-188 (F/A-18A)
CF-188B (F/A-18B)
TRANSPORT
CC-130E Hercules (L-382)
CC-130J Super Hercules (C-130J-30)
CC-144A (CL-600S) Challenger
CC-150 Polaris (A310-304MRTT)
CC-177 Globemaster III
CC-295 Kingfisher (C295MPA-W)
also
CC-138 Twin Otter
CC-330 Husky (Airbus A330-200)
MARITIME PATROL
CP-140 Aurora
The Lockheed CP-140 Aurora is a maritime patrol aircraft, operated by the RCAF, based on the Lockheed P-3 Orion airframe
RECONNAISSANCE
CE-145C Vigilance (Beechcraft King Air 350ER)
ROTARY
CH-146 Griffon (Bell 412CF)
CH-147F Chinook
CH-148 Cyclone (H-92)
CH-149 Cormorant
also
CH-139 Jet Ranger
TRAINERS
CT-114 Tutor
Designed and built by Canadair in 1960, the CT-114 Tutor was a standard jet trainer for the RCAF, and later with the Canadian Forces as their primary jet trainer until it was replaced by the CT-155 Hawk and CT-156 Harvard II in 2000. The CL-41G model supplied to Malaysia was built as a ground-attack aircraft. The Tutor is currently used by the Snowbirds aerobatics team.
de Havilland Canada CT-142 Dash 8 'Gonzo' (DHC-8-102)
Military navigation training version of the regional Dash 8 airliner for the Canadian Forces
Raytheon CT-156 Harvard II
Owned by Bombardier Aerospace Defence Services, leased to the Canadian Forces Flying Training School at CFB Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
also
Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet Type A
Grob G 120
DEMONSTRATION TEAM
431 Air Demonstration Squadron / the 'Snowbirds'
Originally founded on 25th June 1971, the Snowbirds are the Canadian Forces Air Demonstration Team flying CT-114 Tutors and are based at 15 Wing, near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The team became the first Canadian air demonstration team to be designated as a squadron on 1st April 1978. Their official name is the 431 Air Demonstration Squadron.
Previous Canadian air force demonstration teams include:
the SISKINS
Formed in 1929, the Siskins were the RCAF's first official demonstration team, flying 3 x Armstrong Whitworth Siskin biplanes and based at Camp Borden, Ontario. They flew more than 100 air shows over 3 years before being disbanded in 1932 when the Great Depression forced the RCAF to reduce operations.
the BLUE DEVILS
The Blue Devils (or the 410 (F) Squadron Aerobatic Team) was the RCAF's first postwar demonstration team flying the de Havilland Vampire between 1949 to 1951.
the GOLDEN HAWKS
The Golden Hawks were established in 1959 to celebrate the RCAF's 35th anniversary and the 50th 'Golden' anniversary of Canadian flight. The team were disbanded in 1964.
RETIRED
Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter
Retired 1986
CH-124A (S-61A) Sea King
Retired December 2018
12417 & 12405 @ Abbotsford Airshow 2018
CC-115 de Havilland Canada DHC-5A Buffalo
Retired 15th January 2022
CT-155 Hawk
Retired March 2024
Conair Group Inc.
Established in 1969 in Canada, Conair is now a world leader in specialty aircraft operations delivering a comprehensive range of purpose-engineered services worldwide. Conair is the world’s most experienced aerial firefighting operator modifying aircraft into aerial firefighting aircraft as well as multi-role configurations suitable for passenger, cargo flight missions. Conair averages 6,000 to 10,000 aerial firefighting flight hours each year and has operations in Canada, USA, France, and Australia. They provide aircraft for purchase, lease or under contract and offers specialised services including aeronautical engineering design, flight operations and aircraft maintenance related to any aerial firefighting mission.
Conair France has supported France’s Sécurité Civile for over 30 years (seen here)
Airtankers
Avro RJ85 AT
Air Tractor AT 802
Convair CV580
L-188C Electra
Conair Firecat
Also
Bombardier Dash 8 Q400-MR, Canadair CL-215T, Air Tractor AT802 Amphib
Air Attack
All airtanker actions on wildfires in Canada, come under the command and control of an Air Attack Team, comprising an experienced pilot and an experienced fire fighter. Developing strategy and tactics for aerial attacks on forest fires, the team remains in communication with the aircraft inbound to the fire and the onsite ground crews as well as their command center during operations.
Cessna C525 Citation Jet CJ1
Turbo Commander TC-690A
also