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This page features snippets of RCAF history, Canadian-designed and produced military aircraft, links to Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Navy aviation, and some unique civil aviation endeavours and achievements.
This page features snippets of RCAF history, Canadian-designed and produced military aircraft, links to Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Navy aviation, and some unique civil aviation endeavours and achievements.
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1914, with the formation of the Canadian Aviation Corps (CAC) that was attached to the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. It consisted of one aircraft that was never called into service. In 1918, a wing of two Canadian squadrons called the Canadian Air Force (CAF) was formed in England and attached to the Royal Air Force, but it also would never see wartime service. Postwar, an air militia also known as the Canadian Air Force was formed in Canada in 1920. In 1924 (April 1st) the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) when it was granted the royal title by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968.[1][2]
The modern Royal Canadian Air Force, formerly known as Canadian Forces Air Command, traces its history to the unification of Canada's armed services in 1968, and is one of three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces. The Royal Canadian Air Force has served in the Second World War, the Korean War, and several United Nations peacekeeping missions and NATO operations. The force maintained a presence in Europe through the second half of the 20th century. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
The Royal Canadian Air Force is now in its second century of service to Canadians and the world.
Only about five production military aircraft have been designed and built in Canada. These are the Avro Canada CF-100 CANUK fighter, the Canadair CT--14 Tutor trainer, the de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk, the de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou, and the de Havilland Canada CC-115 Buffalo. Our most advanced design, the Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow fighter aircraft, was scrapped before going into production.
During World War II, and since then, other domestically built aircraft were manufactured under licence from British and American companies incorporating uniquely Canadian design improvements. https://www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca/s,canadawaraircraftmanufacture.pdf
The Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck (affectionately known as the "Clunk") is a Canadian twinjet interceptor/fighter designed and produced by aircraft manufacturer Avro Canada. It has the distinction of being the only Canadian-designed fighter to enter mass production.
Two Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Mk. 4B CF-100s of No. 423 Squadron in 1962. Aircraft 18364 with F/O Saunders and F/O Maltais breaks away from #18330 with F/O Stanners and F/L Mack. Photo was taken while the aircraft were participating in training at the Air Weapons (training) Unit in Sardinia. These CF-100s were based at RCAF Station Grostenquin (No. 2 Fighter Wing) France. Front-line CF-100s were used by the RCAF in Europe from 1956 to 1962. The "Clunk", designed and produced by AVRO Canada was the only fighter designed and built in Canada for the RCAF. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Canada_CF-100_Canuck
CT--114 Tutor. was designed in the late 1950s and produced in the 1960s as a jet trainer by Canadair. Today it is flown by 431 Air Demonstration Squadron known as the "Snowbirds" since 1971. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadair_CT-114_Tutor
DHC -4 Carribou. Designed and produced by DeHavilland Canada as a light transport aircraft and sold to several militaries around the world including the USA and Australia. (Image by Dr. John Blatherwick 1967) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Canada_DHC-4_Caribou
CC-115 Buffalo. designed and produced by DeHavilland Canada in the 1960's for the RCAF and Canadian Army as a search and rescue and light transport aircraft. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Canada_DHC-5_Buffalo
CF-105 Arrow. Designed as a front-line fighter for the RCAF by AVRO Canada. After entering the flight testing phase the government of Canada canceled further development and, in 1959, ordered the destruction of completed airframes and plans. The cancellation of the Avro Arrow project to this day is a matter of strong debate in the aviation world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Canada_CF-105_Arrow
CC-138 Twin Otter. Designed and initially built by DeHavilland Canada in the 1960's, four Twin Otters have been flown by the RCAF since 1971 as the CC-138 Twin Otter in transport and support roles in northern operations as well as search and rescue missions. All four aircraft are currently with 440 Transport Squadron in Yellowknife, NWT. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Canada_DHC-6_Twin_Otter
The deHavilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk was first test flown in 1946 and in 1948 was adopted by the Canadian Army for elementary flying training and for artillery support. The RCAF procured the type in 1952 for elementary flying training until 1971. The "Chippie" is a fully aerobatic aircraft Several vairants were also manufactured in the United Kingdom and in Portugal and were exported to a number of military and civil operators in several countries. As of 2018 the Portugese Air Force (FAP) continued to operatie six of the aircraft in a training role. https://www.warplane.com/aircraft/collection/details.aspx?aircraftId=13#:~:text=The%20RCAF%20ordered%20its%20first,in%20the%20fall%20of%201956.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Canada_DHC-1_Chipmunk
The CC-144 Challenger is used to transport government officials and foreign dignitaries. It also supports military operations in Canada and around the world. Canadair developed the design in cooperation with Learjet before it was taken over by Bombardier in the 1980's.
The Maple Leaf II trainer was designed at Canadian Car and Foundry by Elsie McGill in 1938. in 1939 RCAF test pilots decided that the stable and docile handling of the aircraft was not challenging enough for basic flying training. Two partially assembled examples were sold to the Fuerza Aérea Mexicana (Mexican Air Force) and ten more were built in Mexico.
Royal Canadian Naval Air Branch
1945 - 1968)
Royal Canadian Naval Air Service
(Formed in 1918 and disbanded at the end of WW1)
CIVIL AVIATION
CIVIL AVIATION
International Test Pilots School
London, Ontario is home to the International Test Pilots School,. one of eight such schools recognized globally by the International Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the Society of Flight Test Engineers.
Elsie McGill, OC
"Queen of the Hurricanes"
Chief aeronautical engineer at Canadian Car and Foundry (CC&F) in Fort William, Ontario
During World War II Elsie McGill oversaw CC&F's production of over 1,400 Hawker Hurricane fighters for the RAF and RCAF and over 800 examples of the Curtis Helldiver for the United States Navy.
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