Royal Canadian Air Force

Royal Canadian Air Force

Last updated:
Operator Profile

History

Narrative Summary

A short-lived Canadian Air Force was established in November 1918 in Europe, but disbanded in February 1920. Back at home, a new Canadian Air Force was formed in the same month by the Army as an auxiliary reservist force. On 1 April 1924 the Canadian Air Force was granted the title ‘Royal’ and gained a permanent staff. On 19 November 1938 the RCAF became an independent service, separate from the Army. On 1 February 1968 it amalgamated with the Army and Navy into a single service – the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). In 1975, the various CAF aviation units were reorganised into a single Air Command. On 31 July 1997, the previous organisation of Air Transport Group, Fighter Group, Maritime Air Group and 10 Tactical Air Group was replaced by 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region (1 CAD/CANR). The word ‘Armed’ was dropped from the force title around the same time, resulting in the air force being known as the Canadian Forces Air Command. On 16 August 2011, the CAF Air Command was restored to its traditional title of Royal Canadian Air force.

Key Dates

18 February 1920 Canadian Air Force established.
1 April 1924 Royal prefix added – Royal Canadian Air Force.
1939-1945 RCAF units serve in Europe and the Mediterranean, as well as the Pacific during WW2.
1949 1st Air Division RCAF established in Europe as part of NATO.
1957 NORAD – North American Air Defence Command – established jointly with USA.
1 February 1968 Canadian Armed Forces formed from amalgamation of Air Force, Army and Navy.
1975 CAF aviation units reorganised into a single Air Command
16 August 2011 CAF renamed Royal Canadian Air Force.

Current Status

All RCAF aircraft and helicopters are currently active.

Future Plans

Take delivery of 65 Lockheed Martin F-35s – subject to final order confirmation.
Buy 18 F/A-18E Super Hornets to supplement the ageing CF-118 fleet – CANCELLED.
Obtain an unspecified number of F-18A/B Hornets from Australia to supplement the CF-118 fleet.
Select a new fighter to supplement or substitute for the F-35 – hopefully the Eurofighter Typhoon
Replace the CH-124 Sea King with 28 Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone helicopters.
Replace the CC-115 Buffalo with 16 CASA C-295 SAR aircraft from 2019.


Markings

National Insignia

National Insignia

Aircraft Serial Numbers

Aircraft operating with the RCAF carry numerical serial numbers. The numbers have been issued in four different series:

First Series (1922-1928)
RCAF aircraft initially carried civil registrations in the sequence G-CYAA to G-CYZZ, with only the last two letters actually displayed on the aircraft, e.g. Puss Moth UT.
Second Series (1928-1968)
In 1928 the military aircraft registration system was switched to a numerical sequence. This numerical sequence consisted of a three-digit number allocated in blocks by aircraft function: 1-300 for trainers, 301-400 for fighters, 401-600 for General Purpose, 601-700 for Transports, 701-800 for Bombers, 801-1000 for Flying Boats. As example is Douglas Digby 740.
Third Series (1939-1968)
By 1939 the available numbers in some blocks had been used up, and so a new sequence of four-digit serials was adopted. The numbers were allocated in blocks by aircraft type, with spaces left for future procurement, e.g. Cessna Crane 8000. In 1942 the system was extended to five-digit numbers.
Fourth Series (1968-Present)
For the merger of Air Force, Navy and Army into the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), the Canadian military serial numbering system was changed to a six digit number. The first three numbers replicate the aircraft designation number and identify the aircraft type. The last three numbers are the individual airframe identity, and count from x00 or x01 for each type. An example is CF-101B Voodoo 101033. Newly procured aircraft adopted the revised system immediately, but existing aircraft were only renumbered in the period 1970 to 1973. This system was retained when the CAF reverted to its traditional title of Royal Canadian Air Force,
RAF Aircraft
Aircraft operated by 400-series Squadrons in Europe, North Africa and the Far East often used RAF-supplied aircraft, which retained their RAF serials.
Instructional Airframes
Unflyable aircraft used for ground training purposes were allocated a number in the range 1-1000 with a letter prefix of A, B or C, e.g. Harvard A175. After unification in 1968 the prefix was generally replaced by a suffix, e.g. Canadair CF-116 906B.

Unit/Base Codes

A Royal Air Force-style unit coding system was used 1939-1945. Details to be added.


Aircraft

Aircraft Designations

Canadian Military Aircraft Designations.

Current Aircraft Inventory

Table of Current Service Aircraft

All-Time Aircraft Used List

All-Time Table of Aircraft Used

Aircraft NOT Used

False reports of aircraft on order or in service

Aircraft Losses and Incidents

Aviation Safety Network: RCAF
Aviation Safety Network: Canadian Armed Forces


Organisation

Main Headquarters

National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa, ONT.

Organisational Structure

The RCAF is organised into 1 Canadian Air Division with 10 Wings – one wing for each major air base – and 2 Canadian Air Division with one wing and the Air Force Training Centre. Each wing has up to six Squadrons of aircraft.

Current Order of Battle

Table of Current Order of Battle

Historical Orders of Battle

List of Historical Orders of Battle – to be added.

All-Time Flying Units List

Units Listing


Air Bases

Current Air Bases

See current order of battle.

All-Time Air Bases Used List

To be added.

Aircraft-Carrying Ships

Since 1975 all aircraft supporting the Canadian Armed Forces Maritime Command (Royal Canadian Navy from 2011) have been operated by Air Command (Royal Canadian Air Force from 2011).
A list of ships hosting CAF/RCAF aircraft will be added.


More Information

Books

Canadian Military Aviation Bibliography

Magazines

World Air Power Journal No.1 p.83
World Air Power Journal No.15 p.134
Air Pictorial February 1998

Websites

Official Royal Canadian Air Force webpage

wikipedia: Royal Canadian Air Force

Scramble: Canadian Armed Forces Overview

PlanePictures.net

Airliners.net

Air-Britain Photos: Canadian Armed Forces

Air-Britain Photos: Royal Canadian Air Force

Aircraft of the Canadian Armed Forces

Air Force Association of Canada

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

Any photographs illustrating this operator would be welcome.

 

National Markings
Royal Canadian Air Force

Last updated:

This section describes and illustrates the insignia used by the Royal Canadian Air Force/Canadian Armed Forces Air Command since its formation:

  
Main MarkingFin Flash

1920-1946
Right through until the end of World War 2, Canadian military aircraft markings followed the practice of the Royal Air Force. The standard Type A blue/white/red roundel was displayed in the standard six positions, plus a red/white/blue fin flash or rudder stripes – with red leading. Type B and Type C roundels were widely used in World War 2, with no white ring and a thinner white ring respectively. No service titles were carried.

  
Main MarkingFin Flash

19 January 1946-1947
In the post-war period, a uniquely Canadian national marking was introduced for the first time. This consisted of a blue disk with a Canadian maple leaf in red in the centre. The fin flash remained the Type C version with a thin white central stripe. The service title ‘ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE’ was displayed on the fuselage sides of transport aircraft.

  
Main MarkingFin Flash

1947-1958
In 1947 an inner white background disk was added to the roundel, to enhance the contrast with the maple leaf. The fin flash and service titles remained as before. (When first introduced, some aircraft carried a roundel that featured a ‘small’ leaf with plenty of space between the leaf and the blue ring, but this was soon standardised with a bigger leaf, as illustrated).

  
Main MarkingFin Flash

1958-1965
In 1958 the then current Canadian national flag replaced the RAF-style fin flash. This flag was basically red with a Union flag in the top left corner and the Canadian shield to the right. The roundels were unchanged.

  
Main MarkingFin Flash

1965-present
In 1965 the present Canadian national flag was adopted, red and white with a maple leaf in the centre. Aircraft fin flashes soon switched to this new version. At the same time the roundel was updated to replace the ‘spiky’ maple leaf with the more stylised version used in the national flag.

A number of variations in services titles have been used in this period. The original ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE was replaced by CANADIAN ARMED FORCES in 1968 The introduction of the Official Languages Act in 1969, which gave French equal status, meant all service titles had to be presented in both English and French: ARMED FORCES / FORCES ARMEES. Furthermore, in 1980 the Canada Wordmark was introduced, and this saw the official Canadian federal government ‘Canada’ logo appear on all CAF aircraft. Since the reversion to the traditional name of Royal Canadian Air Force (Aviation Royale Canadienne in French) in 2011, the title ‘RCAF – ARC’ has been added to service aircraft.


  
Main MarkingFin Flash

1967 variation
1967 marked the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. As part of the celebrations selected aircraft were marked with an all-red version of the roundel, to more closely replicat ethe national flag. These markings reverted to the standard form at the end of the year.

  
Main MarkingFin Flash

Low Viz
Since the 1980s, a low visibility version of the national markings has been widely used. The most common version on light grey aircraft (e.g. CF-188 Hornet) is for the markings to appear in a darker grey, with the background colour showing through where white would normally be seen. On darker grey aircraft (E.g. CP-140 Aurora) the markings are presented in a lighter grey than the background, although on some helicopters the markings appear to be in black. Service titles appear in the same colour as the roundels.

An early version of low visibility markings was carried by CF-104 Starfighters and CF-116 Freedom Fighters operating in Europe in the late 1970s, whereby the white portion of the standard blue/white/red roundel was replaced by the background camouflage colour. The same substitution was applied to the fin flash.

Further Information:
Roundel Round-up

All-Time Units List
Royal Canadian Air Force

Last updated:

This page lists all the aviation units of the Royal Canadian Air Force, since its formation.

Commands

Home War Establishment (HWE)
Eastern Air Command
Western Air Command
Overseas War Establishment (OWE)
Air Training Command
Air Force Headquarters
Maritime Air Command
Tactical Air Command
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
No. 1 Training Command
No. 2 Training Command
No. 3 Training Command
No. 4 Training Command

Divisions

1 Canadian Air Division
2 Canadian Air Division

Groups

No. 6 (RCAF) Group
No. 1 Group
No. 12 Group
No. 2 Group
No. 4 Group
No. 5 Group
No. 4 Group
No. 331 (RCAF) Wing
No. 1 Canadian Air Group
10 Tactical Air Group
14 Training Group
Fighter Group
Maritime Air Group
Air Reserve Group
Air Transport Group
Maritime Patrol Group
Strike Reconnaissance Group
Tactical Fighter Group
Tactical Transport Group

Wings

1 Wing
3 Wing
4 Wing
5 Wing
8 Wing
9 Wing
12 Wing
14 Wing
17 Wing
19 Wing
22 Wing
15 Wing
16 Wing
2 Wing
7 Wing
18 Wing
Joint Force Afghanistan Air Wing

Squadrons

No. 1 Squadron
No. 2 Squadron
No. 3 Squadron
No. 4 Squadron
No. 5 Squadron
No. 6 Squadron
No. 7 Squadron
No. 8 Squadron
No. 9 Squadron
No. 10 Squadron
No. 11 Squadron
No. 12 Squadron
No. 13 Squadron
No. 14 Squadron
No. 18 Squadron

No. 103 Search and Rescue Squadron

No. 110 Squadron
No. 111 Squadron
No. 112 Squadron
No. 113 Squadron
No. 114 Squadron
No. 115 Squadron
No. 116 Squadron
No. 117 Squadron
No. 118 Squadron
No. 119 Squadron
No. 120 Squadron
No. 121 Squadron
No. 122 Squadron
No. 123 Squadron
No. 124 Squadron
No. 125 Squadron
No. 126 Squadron
No. 127 Squadron
No. 128 Squadron
No. 129 Squadron
No. 130 Squadron
No. 131 Squadron
No. 132 Squadron
No. 133 Squadron
No. 134 Squadron
No. 135 Squadron
No. 145 Squadron
No. 147 Squadron
No. 149 Squadron
No. 160 Squadron
No. 161 Squadron
No. 162 Squadron
No. 163 Squadron
No. 164 Squadron
No. 165 Squadron
No. 166 Squadron
No. 167 Squadron
No. 168 Squadron
No. 170 Squadron

No. 400 Squadron
No. 401 Squadron
No. 402 Squadron
No. 403 Squadron
No. 404 Squadron
No. 405 Squadron
No. 406 Squadron
No. 407 Squadron
No. 408 Squadron
No. 409 Squadron
No. 410 Squadron
No. 411 Squadron
No. 412 Squadron
No. 413 Squadron
No. 414 Squadron
No. 415 Squadron
No. 416 Squadron
No. 417 Squadron
No. 418 Squadron
No. 419 Squadron
No. 420 Squadron
No. 421 Squadron
No. 422 Squadron
No. 423 Squadron
No. 424 Squadron
No. 425 Squadron
No. 426 Squadron
No. 427 Squadron
No. 428 Squadron
No. 429 Squadron
No. 430 Squadron
No. 431 Squadron
No. 432 Squadron
No. 433 Squadron
No. 434 Squadron
No. 435 Squadron
No. 436 Squadron
No. 437 Squadron
No. 438 Squadron
No. 439 Squadron
No. 440 Squadron
No. 441 Squadron
No. 442 Squadron
No. 443 Squadron
No. 444 Squadron
No. 445 Squadron
No. 446 Squadron
No. 447 Squadron
No. 448 Squadron
No. 449 Squadron
No. 450 Squadron

No. 664 Squadron
No. 665 Squadron
No. 666 Squadron

Flying Schools

No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 4 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 6 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 7 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 8 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 12 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 13 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 14 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 15 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 16 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 17 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 18 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 19 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 20 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 21 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 22 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 23 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 24 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 25 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 26 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 31 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 32 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 33 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 34 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 35 Elementary Flying Training School
No. 36 Elementary Flying Training School

No. 1 Service Flying Training School
No. 2 Service Flying Training School
No. 3 Service Flying Training School
No. 4 Service Flying Training School
No. 5 Service Flying Training School
No. 6 Service Flying Training School
No. 7 Service Flying Training School
No. 8 Service Flying Training School
No. 9 Service Flying Training School
No. 10 Service Flying Training School
No. 11 Service Flying Training School
No. 12 Service Flying Training School
No. 13 Service Flying Training School
No. 14 Service Flying Training School
No. 15 Service Flying Training School
No. 16 Service Flying Training School
No. 17 Service Flying Training School
No. 18 Service Flying Training School
No. 19 Service Flying Training School
No. 31 Service Flying Training School
No. 32 Service Flying Training School
No. 33 Service Flying Training School
No. 34 Service Flying Training School
No. 35 Service Flying Training School
No. 36 Service Flying Training School
No. 37 Service Flying Training School
No. 38 Service Flying Training School
No. 39 Service Flying Training School
No. 41 Service Flying Training School

No. 1 Air Observer School
No. 2 Air Observer School
No. 3 Air Observer School
No. 4 Air Observer School
No. 5 Air Observer School
No. 6 Air Observer School
No. 7 Air Observer School
No. 8 Air Observer School
No. 9 Air Observer School
No. 10 Air Observer School

No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School
No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School
No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School
No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School
No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School
No. 6 Bombing and Gunnery School
No. 7 Bombing and Gunnery School
No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School
No. 9 Bombing and Gunnery School
No. 10 Bombing and Gunnery School
No. 31 Bombing and Gunnery School

No. 1 Air Navigation School
No. 2 Air Navigation School
No. 31 Air Navigation School
No. 32 Air Navigation School
No. 33 Air Navigation School

No. 1 Wireless School
No. 2 Wireless School
No. 3 Wireless School
No. 4 Wireless School

No. 1 Naval Air Gunner School

No. 1 Flight Engineers School

No. 1 General Reconnaissance School
No. 31 General Reconnaissance School

No. 1 Operational Training Unit
No. 3 Operational Training Unit
No. 5 Operational Training Unit
No. 31 Operational Training Unit
No. 32 Operational Training Unit
No. 34 Operational Training Unit
No. 36 Operational Training Unit

Central Flying School
Instrument Navigation School
No. 1 Flying Instructor School
No. 2 Flying Instructor School
No. 3 Flying Instructor School
Central Navigation School
Flying Instructors School
Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering (CFSATE)
2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School
3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School

Maintenance Units

No. 1 Repair Depot
No. 2 Repair Depot
No. 3 Repair Depot
No. 4 Repair Depot
No. 5 Repair Depot
No. 6 Repair Depot
No. 7 Repair Depot
No. 8 Repair Depot
No. 9 Repair Depot
No. 10 Repair Depot
No. 11 Repair Depot
No. 12 Repair Depot
No. 21 Repair Depot

3 Air Maintenance Squadron
1 Air Maintenance Squadron
8 Air Maintenance Squadron
12 Air Maintenance Squadron
14 Air Maintenance Squadron
19 Air Maintenance Squadron

Miscellaneous Units

Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment
Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre (CFAWC)
Helicopter Operational Test and Evaluation Facility
Maritime Proving and Evaluation Unit
Central Experimental and Proving Establishment
Photographic Establishment
Electronic Warfare Unit
No. 103 Rescue Unit
No. 107 Rescue Unit

Current Order of Battle
Royal Canadian Air Force

Last updated:
Squadron Type Base
1 Canadian Air Division (HQ: Winnipeg, Manitoba)
1 Wing – CFB Kingston, Ontario
400 Sqn CH-146 Griffon CFB Borden, ON
403 Sqn CH-146 Griffon CFB Gagetown, NB
408 Sqn CH-146 Griffon CFB Namao, AB
427 Sqn CH-146 Griffon CFB Petawawa, ON
430 Sqn CH-146 Griffon CFB Valcartier, QC
438 Sqn CH-146 Griffon CFB St. Hubert, QC
450 Sqn CH-147F Chinook CFB Petawawa, ON
3e Escadre – CFB Bagotville, Quebec
414 Sqn Alpha Jet  
425 Sqn CF-188A/B  
433 Sqn CF-188A/B  
439 Sqn CH-146 Griffon  
3 Wing QRA Det. CF-188A/B Goose Bay, NL (FOL: Iqaluit, Baffin Island)
4 Wing – CFB Cold Lake, Alberta
401 Sqn CF-188A/B  
409 Sqn CF-188A/B  
410 Sqn CF-188A/B  
417 Sqn CH-146 Griffon  
4 Wing QRA Det. CF-188A/B Comox, BC (FOL: Yellowknife, NT and Inuvik, NT)
5 Wing – CFB Goose Bay, Labrador
444 Sqn CH-146 Griffon  
8 Wing – CFB Trenton, Ontario
412 Sqn CC-144B/C Challenger (Ottawa IAP, ON)
424 Sqn CC-130, CH-149  
426 Sqn CC-130H (borrowed)  
429 Sqn CC-177 Globemaster III  
436 Sqn CC-130H  
437 Sqn CC-150 Polaris  
MEUF King Air 200  
9 Wing – CFB Gander, Newfoundland
103 Sqn CH-149  
12 Wing – CFB Shearwater, Nova Scotia
406 Sqn CH-124 Sea King  
423 Sqn CH-124 Sea King  
443 Sqn CH-124 Sea King (Esquimalt/Victoria IAP, BC)
14 Wing – CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia
404 Sqn CP-140 Aurora  
405 Sqn CP-140 Aurora  
413 Sqn CC-130, CH-149  
415 Sqn CP-140 Aurora  
17 Wing – CFB Winnipeg, Manitoba
435 Sqn CC-130H(T)  
440 Sqn CC-138 Twin Otter (Yellowknife Airport, NT)
19 Wing – CFB Comox, British Columbia
407 Sqn CP-140 Aurora  
442 Sqn CC-115 Buffalo, CH-149  
2 Canadian Air Division (HQ: Winnipeg, Manitoba)
15 Wing – CFB Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
402 Sqn/1 CFFTS CC/CT-142 Dash-8 Winnipeg, MN
419 Sqn CT-155 Hawk Cold Lake, AB
431 Sqn ‘Snowbirds’ CT-114 Tutor  
2 CFFTS CT-155, CT-156  
CFS CT-145 Southport AC, MN
3 CFFTS various Southport AC, MN
Miscellaneous Units
AETE CF-188A/B, CH-146 Cold Lake, AB
ATESS (none) Trenton, ON
Civilian Contractor Units
Allied Wings/Canada Wings King Air C90B,
Grob G120A, Bell 206B, CH-146 		Southport AC, MN
NFTC CT-155 Hawk,
CT-156 Harvard II 		Moose Jaw, SK/Cold Lake, AB

AETE = Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment
ATESS = Aerospace & Telecommunications Engineering Support Squadron
Allied Wings = Civilianised 3 CFFTS (ex-CATC)
CFS = Central Flying School
CFFTS = Canadian Forces Flying Training School
FOL = Forward Operating Location
MEUF = Multi Engine Utility Flight
NFTC = NATO Flying Training in Canada
QRA = Quick-Reaction Alert

All-Time Aircraft Used List
Royal Canadian Air Force

Last updated:
Aircraft Type Quantity Service Entry Out of Service Origin
Advanced Ceramics Research CU-167 Silver Fox 4 2004 current UK
AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant 15 2001 current Italy
Airbus CC-150 Polaris 5 1993 current France
Airbus C-296W 16 – – Spain
Airspeed Horsa II 3 1948 1950 UK
Airspeed Oxford 819 1939 1947 UK
Armstrong Whitworth Atlas I 16 1927 1942 UK
Armstrong Whitworth Siskin III 12 1926 1940 UK
Auster A.O.P. VI 36 1948 1958 UK
Auster T.VII 6 1951 1958 UK
Avro 504K 6 1920 1928 UK
Avro 504N 13 1923 1930 Canada
Avro 504NS 3 1928 1930 UK
Avro 552A Viper 14 1924 1929 UK
Avro 616 Avian IVM 29 1929 1936 UK
Avro 621 Tutor 7 1931 1945 UK
Avro 626 Prefect 12 1937 1946 UK
Avro Anson I 1528 1945 1953 UK
Avro Anson II (AT-20) ? 1941 1954 Canada
Avro Anson IV 1 1940 1954 Canada
Avro Anson V 1049 1940 1954 Canada
Avro Anson VI 1 1940 1954 Canada
Avro Lancaster III 228 1944 1965 UK
Avro Lancaster XPR 1 1944 1965 UK
Avro Lancaster X 430 1943 19?? Canada
Avro Lincoln I 1 1946 1948 UK
Avro Lincoln II 1 1946 1948 UK
Avro Lincoln XV/Tutor 2 1 1946 1948 Canada
Avro Wright 1 1925 1930 UK
Avro York C.1 1 1945 1949 Canada
Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck 1 2 1951 1965 Canada
Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck 2 10 1952 1958 Canada
Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck 3 70 1953 1968 Canada
Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck 3A 21 1952 1968 Canada
Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck 3B 50 1953 1968 Canada
Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck 3CT 11 19?? 19?? Canada
Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck 3T 10 1952 1956 Canada
Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck 4A 137 1953 1968 Canada
Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck 4B 144 1954 1968 Canada
Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck 5 329 1955 1981 Canada
Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow 6 1958 1959 Canada
Avro Canada VZ-9V Avrocar 1 1959 1961 Canada
BAE Systems CT-155 Hawk 26 2000 current UK
Barkley Grow T8P-1 1 1939 1941 USA
Beech 18 5 1939 1945 USA
Beech CT-128 Expeditor 388 1943 1969 USA
Beech CT-156 Harvard II 24 2000 current USA
Beech CT-134 Musketeer 25 1971 1989 USA
Beech CT-134A Musketeer 21 1981 1992 USA
Beech CT-145 Super King Air 3 1991 current USA
Beech 300 Super King Air 2 2010 ? leased
Beech King Air C90B 7 2006 current contractor
Beech T-34A Mentor 25 1954 1956 Canada
Bell 47D Sioux 3 1948 1962 USA
Bell 47G Sioux 6 19?? 1965 USA
Bell 412CF Outlaw 9 2006 current contractor
Bell CH-118 Iroquois 10 1968 1995 Canada
Bell CH-136 Kiowa 74 1971 1997 Canada
Bell CH-139 JetRanger 14 1981 1993 Canada
Bell CH-135 Twin Huey 50 1971 1997 Canada
Bell CH-146 Griffon 100 1995 current Canada
Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker 13 1929 1944 USA/Canada
Blackburn Shark II 7 1936 1944 UK
Blackburn Shark III 19 1939 1944 UK/Canada
Boeing 247D 8 1940 1942 USA
Boeing CC-137 5 1970 1997 USA
Boeing Fortress IIA 6 1943 1946 USA
Boeing B-47B Stratojet 1 1956 1959 USA
Boeing CC-117 Globemaster III 5 2007 current USA
Boeing Insitu CU-169 ScanEagle ? 2008 current USA
Boeing CF-188 Hornet 99 1983 current USA
Boeing CF-188B Hornet 40 1982 current USA
Boeing Vertol CH-113 Labrador 6 1963 2004 USA
Boeing Vertol CH-113A Voyageur 12 1963 2004 USA
Boeing CH-147 Chinook 9 1974 1991 USA
Boeing CH-147D Chinook 7 2008 2011 USA
Boeing CH-147F Chinook 15 2013 current USA
Brewster 340 Bermuda 3 1943 1946 USA
Bristol Blenheim IV 8 1941 1945 UK
Bristol Bolingbroke I 18 1939 1946 Canada
Bristol Bolingbroke IV 185 1941 1947 Canada
Bristol Bolingbroke IVC 1 1942 1944 Canada
Bristol Bolingbroke IVT 407 1942 1947 Canada
Bristol Bolingbroke IVW 15 1941 1945 Canada
Bristol Beaufort I 15 1941 1944 UK
Bristol F.2B Fighter 2 1920 1922 UK
Bristol Freighter 31 6 1952 1967 UK
Canadair C-54GM North Star I 17 1947 1966 Canada
Canadair C-54GM North Star II 7 1948 1965 Canada
Canadair CL-5 North Star 1 1950 1966 Canada
Canadair CL-13 Sabre 1 1 1950 1965 Canada
Canadair CL-13 Sabre 2 350 1951 1958 Canada
Canadair CL-13B Sabre 3 1 1951 1975 Canada
Canadair CL-13 Sabre 4 70 1952 1953 Canada
Canadair CL-13A Sabre 5 370 1953 1975 Canada
Canadair CL-13B Sabre 6 430 1954 1975 Canada
Canadair CP-107 Argus 1 13 1957 1981 Canada
Canadair CP-107 Argus 2 20 1958 1981 Canada
Canadair CT-114 Tutor 191 1963 2006 Canada
Canadair CC-106 Yukon 12 1959 1970 Canada
Canadair CC-109 Cosmopolitan 13 1960 1994 Canada
Canadair CX-131 Dynavert 4 1965 1975 Canada
Canadair CC-144A Challenger 12 1983 current Canada
Canadair CC-144B Challenge 4 1986 2000 Canada
Canadair CC-144C Challenger 2 2002 current Canada
Canadian Vickers Vancouver I 1 1929 1934 Canada
Canadian Vickers Vancouver II 5 1930 1940 Canada
Canadian Vickers Vanessa II 1 1927 1927 Canada
Canadian Vickers Varuna I 1 1926 1932 Canada
Canadian Vickers Varuna II 7 1927 1930 Canada
Canadian Vickers Vedette I 1 1925 1927 Canada
Canadian Vickers Vedette II 20 1926 1932 Canada
Canadian Vickers Vedette V 12 1929 1940 Canada
Canadian Vickers Vedette VA 12 1930 1941 Canada
Canadian Vickers Vedette VAM 1 19?? 19?? Canada
Canadian Vickers Vedette VI 1 1930 1941 Canada
Canadian Vickers Velos 1 1927 1928 Canada
Canadian Vickers Vigil 1 1928 1930 Canada
Canadian Vickers Vista 1 1927 1931 Canada
Canadian Car & Foundry FDB-1 1 1938 1939 Canada
Canadian Car & Foundry Goblin I 15 1940 1942 Canada
Cessna T-50 Crane I 744 1941 1949 USA
Cessna CO-119 Bird Dog 25 1968 1973 Army
Cessna CO-119 (182 Skylane) 10 1968 1973 Army
Consolidated O-17 Courier 3 1928 1941 USA
Consolidated Catalina I 10 1941 1946 USA
Consolidated Catalina IB 8 1942 1946 USA
Consolidated Catalina IVA 12 1943 1946 USA
Consolidated Canso A 244 1942 1962 Canada
Consolidated Liberator III ? 1943 1947 USA
Consolidated Liberator V ? 1943 1947 USA
Consolidated Liberator B.VI 34 1944 1947 USA
Consolidated Liberator GR.VI 64 1943 1947 USA
Consolidated Liberator GR.VIT 26 1944 1948 USA
Consolidated Liberator GR.VII 16 1945 1948 USA
Consolidated B-24D Liberator 4 19?? 19?? USA
Consolidated B-24J Liberator 11 19?? 19?? USA
Consolidated B-24M Liberator 4 19?? 19?? USA
Consolidated Privateer C.IX 1 1946 1949 USA
Curtiss H-16 2 1922 1924 USA
Curtiss HS-2L 30 1920 1928 USA
Curtiss JN-4 Canuck 10 1920 1923 Canada
Curtiss P-40A Tomahawk I 3 1943 1946 USA
Curtiss P-40B Tomahawk IIA 1 1943 1946 USA
Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk I 72 1941 1946 USA
Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk IA 12 1942 1946 USA
Curtiss P-40K Kittyhawk III 9 1942 1943 USA
Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk III 15 1941 1946 USA
Curtiss P-40N Kittyhawk IV 35 1941 1946 USA
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver 835 1943 1945 Canada
Curtiss Seamew I 82 1943 1944 USA
Curtiss-Reid Rambler 9 1930 1954 USA
Dassault CC-117 Falcon 8 1967 1989 France
de Havilland D.H.4 11 1920 1928 UK
de Havilland D.H.9A 12 1919 1929 UK
de Havilland D.H.60M Moth 89 1928 1948 Canada
de Havilland D.H.60M Genet Moth 2 1928 1932 UK
de Havilland D.H.75A Hawk Moth 3 1929 1935 UK
de Havilland D.H.80A Puss Moth 19 1931 1944 UK/Canada
de Havilland D.H.82A Tiger Moth 26 1938 1948 UK
de Havilland D.H.82C Tiger Moth 1384 1940 1946 Canada
de Havilland D.H.82C Tiger Moth I 9 1941 1947 Canada
de Havilland D.H.82C Tiger Moth II 125 1941 1947 Canada
de Havilland D.H.82C Tiger Moth III 1 1941 1947 Canada
de Havilland D.H.83 Fox Moth 1 1941 1945 UK
de Havilland D.H.90 Dragonfly 6 1940 1946 UK
de Havilland Mosquito T.III 24 1943 1946 UK
de Havilland Mosquito IV 1 194? 194? UK
de Havilland Mosquito B.VII 16 1943 1947 Canada
de Havilland Mosquito B.XX 98 1943 1947 UK
de Havilland Mosquito FB.21 1 1944 1946 UK
de Havilland Mosquito T.22 4 1944 1946 UK
de Havilland Mosquito B.25 51 1944 1948 UK
de Havilland Mosquito FB.26 197 1945 1948 Canada
de Havilland Mosquito T.27 19 1945 1948 UK
de Havilland Mosquito T.29 34 1946 1951 UK
de Havilland Vampire I 1 1946 194? UK
de Havilland Vampire III 85 1946 1958 UK
de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 1 1948 1948 UK
de Havilland Comet IA 2 1953 1965 UK
De Havilland Canada CT-120 Chipmunk 113 1948 1971 Canada/Army
De Havilland Canada CC-123 Otter 69 1953 1982 Canada
De Havilland Canada CC-108 Caribou 9 1960 1971 Canada
De Havilland Canada CC-115 Buffalo 15 1967 current Canada
De Havilland Canada CC-138 Twin Otter 9 1971 current Canada
De Havilland Canada CC-132 Dash-7 2 1979 1987 Canada
De Havilland Canada CC-142 Dash-8 6 1987 2000 Canada
Douglas A-17 Nomad 32 1940 1946 USA
Douglas Digby I 20 1939 1946 USA
Douglas Boston 3 1941 1945 USA
Douglas CC-129 Dakota 173 1943 1990 USA
Douglas MO-2B 1 1927 1930 USA
EADS CU-160 Eagle 1 1 2003 2003 Netherlands
Elbit CU-168 Skylark 1 2006 current Israel
Fairchild 24 Argus 2 1940 1935 USA
Fairchild 24 Argus III 46 194? 194? USA
Fairchild 51 4 1927 1942 USA
Fairchild FC-2 10 1927 1943 USA/Canada
Fairchild FC-2L 1 1929 1931 USA
Fairchild FC-2W 6 1928 1937 USA
Fairchild 71 11 1929 1942 USA
Fairchild 71B 12 1930 1941 USA
Fairchild Super 71P 2 1936 1940 USA
Fairchild C-119F Flying Boxcar 35 1952 1967 USA
Fairchild KR-34C 1 1930 1936 USA
Fairchild Cornell I 549 1942 1948 Canada
Fairchild Cornell II 916 1942 1947 Canada
Fairchild Cornell III 1 1942 1946 Canada
Fairey IIIC 1 1920 1920 UK
Fairey IIIF 1 1929 1930 UK
Fairey Albacore 6 1943 1949 UK
Fairey Battle I 740 1939 1946 UK
Felixstowe F.3 11 1921 1923 UK
Fleet 7 Fawn I 20 1931 1947 Canada
Fleet 7 Fawn II 31 1936 1946 Canada
Fleet 16 Finch I 27 1939 1946 Canada
Fleet 16B Finch II 404 1940 1947 Canada
Fleet 50K Freighter 2 1942 1944 Canada
Fleet 60K Fort I ? 1941 1945 Canada
Fleet 60K Fort II ? 1941 1945 Canada
Fokker Super Universal 1 1929 1929 Canada
Ford 6-AT-AS Tri-Motor 1 1929 1937 USA
General Aircraft Hotspur II 22 1942 1945 UK
General Atomics CU-163 Altair 1 2004 2004 USA
Gloster Meteor F.3 2 1945 1948 UK
Gloster Meteor F.4 2 1948 1955 UK
Grumman Goose I 2 1944 1945 USA
Grumman Goose II 29 1938 1956 USA
Grumman CP-121 Tracker Mk. 1 42 1968 1990 Canada
Grumman CP-121 Tracker Mk. 2 57 1968 1990 Canada
Grumman CSR-110 Albatross 10 1960 1970 USA
Handley Page Hampden I ? 1942 1944 UK
Handley Page Harrow I 2 1940 1941 UK
Handley Page Halifax I 4 1944 1947 UK
Handley Page Halifax VI 1 1945 1947 UK
Hawker Audax 6 1933 1943 UK
Hawker Hart 3 1937 1943 UK
Hawker Hind 4 1942 1943 UK
Hawker Hurricane I 50 1940 1948 UK/Canada
Hawker Hurricane IIC 1 1943 1944 Canada
Hawker Hurricane XII 401 1942 1947 Canada
Hawker Hurricane XIIA 50 1941 1947 Canada
Hawker Sea Hurricane 1 1942 1943 Canada
Hawker Tempest VI 1 1946 1947 UK
Hawker Tomtit 1 1930 1943 UK
Hiller CH-112 Nomad 27 1961 1972 Army
IAI CU-170 Heron 2 2008 current Israel
Keystone Puffer 2 1927 1934 USA
Lockheed 10 Electra 15 1939 1946 USA
Lockheed 12A Electra Junior 10 1940 1945 USA
Lockheed 212 1 1940 1946 USA
Lockheed Hudson I 28 1939 1948 USA
Lockheed Hudson III 138 1940 1948 USA
Lockheed Hudson IIIA 3 194? 194? USA
Lockheed Hudson V 43 1941 1946 USA
Lockheed Hudson VI 35 1943 194? USA
Lockheed Jetstar 4 1962 1986 USA
Lockheed C-60 Lodestar 18 1943 1948 USA
Lockheed Ventura I 21 1942 1947 USA
Lockheed Ventura II 108 1942 1947 USA
Lockheed Ventura GR.V 157 1942 1957 USA
Lockheed CP-122 Neptune 25 1955 1968 USA
Lockheed CP-140 Aurora 18 1980 current USA
Lockheed CP-140A Arcturus 3 1992 2011 USA
Lockheed CC-130B Hercules 4 1960 1967 USA
Lockheed CC-130E Hercules 24 1964 1998 USA
Lockheed CC-130H Hercules 14 1974 current USA
Lockheed CC-130H-30 Hercules 2 1998 current USA
Lockheed Martin CC-130J-30 Super Hercules 12 2010 current USA
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II 65 – – USA
Lockheed F-104A Starfighter 1 1963 1968 USA
Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter 200 1962 1986 Canada
Lockheed CF-104D Starfighter 38 1962 1985 Canada
Lockheed T-33A 30 1951 1955 USA
Lockheed CT-133 Silver Star 2 1 1951 1955 Canada
Lockheed CT-133 Silver Star 3 656 1953 2005 Canada
Martin Baltimore III 2 1942 1943 USA
Martinsyde F.6 1 1922 1925 UK
MBB CH-143 (BK117) 1 1989 1990 leased
McDonnell CF-101B Voodoo 112 1961 1987 USA
McDonnell CF-101F Voodoo 20 1961 1987 USA
McDonnell EF-101B Voodoo 1 1961 1992 USA
Meggitt CU-162 Vindicator ? 20?? 20?? UK
Mil CH-178 (Mi-17) 6 2010 2011 ?
Noorduyn Norseman III 2 1940 1946 Canada
Noorduyn Norseman IV 47 1940 1953 Canada
Noorduyn Norseman IVW 27 1942 1953 Canada
Noorduyn Norseman IVWA 3 1940 1953 Canada
Noorduyn Norseman VI 21 1943 1957 Canada
North American NA-26 1 1940 1942 USA
North American NA-44 1 1940 1944 USA
North American Yale 119 1940 1946 Canada
North American Harvard 1337 1939 1960 USA
North American Harvard IIB 649 1942 1960 Canada
North American Harvard IV 270 1946 1958 Canada
North American P-51 Mustang IV 130 1947 1961 USA
North American B-25 Mitchell 164 1942 1963 USA
Northrop CF-116 Freedom Fighter 89 1968 1995 Canada
Northrop CF-116D Freedom Fighter 46 1968 1995 Canada
Northrop Delta I 3 1936 1942 Canada
Northrop Delta II 17 1937 1945 Canada
Northrop Delta III 9 1939 19?? Canada
NRC Flying Wing 1 1946 1948 Canada
Percival Prentice I 1 1948 1948 UK
Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing 1 1928 1932 USA
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5A 12 1920 1926 UK
SAGEM CU-161 Sperwer 31 2003 current France
Saro Lerwick 8 1942 1942 UK
Saro London ? 1941 19?? UK
Schweizer SGS 2-12 TG-3A 2 1946 1949 USA
Short Sunderland 119 1942 19?? UK
Sikorsky Hoverfly I 1 19?? 1944 USA
Sikorsky Hoverfly II 1 19?? 19?? USA
Sikorsky HO4S/UH-19F Chickasaw 15 1954 1965 USA
Sikorsky CH-126 Choctaw 6 1968 1971 Navy
Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King 40 1968 current Navy
Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone 28 2009 current USA
Slingsby CT-111 Firefly 12 1992 2006 contractor
Sopwith 1F.1 Camel 3 1919 1928 UK
Sopwith 2F.1 Camel 7 1925 1929 UK
Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe 3 1919 1923 UK
Stearman A75N1 1 1942 1943 USA
Stearman PT-27 Kaydet 300 1942 1943 USA
Stinson 105 25 1940 1946 USA
Supermarine Spitfire II 1 1940 1940 UK
Supermarine Spitfire IIB 1 1942 19?? UK
Supermarine Spitfire V 3 1943 1947 UK
Supermarine Spitfire VIII 1 1944 1947 UK
Supermarine Spitfire XIV 1 1946 1950 UK
Supermarine Spitfire XVI 1 1962 19?? UK
Supermarine Stranraer 40 1938 1946 Canada
Supermarine Walrus I 2 1943 1947 UK
Supermarine Walrus II 6 1943 1947 UK
Vertol CH-125 Shawnee 14 1954 1973 USA
Vertol CH-127 Shawnee 5 1960 1971 USA
Vickers Viking IV 8 1923 1931 UK/Canada
Waco CG-4A Hadrian 33 1944 1955 USA
Waco CG-15 1 1946 1950 USA
Waco AQC-6 1 1942 1942 USA
Waco PG-2A 1 1946 1947 USA
Waco YKS-6 1 1936 19?? USA
Westland Lysander II 108 1939 1955 UK/Canada
Westland Lysander IIITT 103 1942 1946 UK
Westland Lysander IIIA 150 1942 1946 Canada
Westland Wapiti II 1 1930 19?? UK
Westland Wapiti IIA 24 1936 1944 UK

Aircraft Not Used
Royal Canadian Air Force

Last updated:

This page gives details of some of the aircraft types that were offered or promised to the Royal Canadian Air Force/Canadian Armed Forces but not delivered, cancelled official orders, and types have been falsely reported as being in service.

Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
A planned order for 10 F/A-18E and 8 F/A-18F Super Hornets was abandoned in December 2017 after Boeing accused the Canadian Government of unfairly subsidising the Bombardier C-series airliner.

Lockheed CC-141 Starlifter
A order for 4 C-141A Starlifter transports was placed with Lockheed in 1967 but cancelled when the company realised it would be uneconomic to build such a small batch. The designation CC-141 had already been assigned. The CC-137 (Boeing 707) was obtained instead.

Current Aircraft Inventory
Royal Canadian Air Force

Last updated:
Aircraft Type Total Del’d Total Active Still on Order Role
AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant 15 14 0 SAR
Airbus CC-150 Polaris 5 5 0 Transport/Tanker
Airbus C-295W 0 0 16 SAR
BAE Systems CT-155 Hawk Mk.115 22 16 0 Training
Beech King Air C90B 7 7 0 Training
Beech CT-156 Harvard II 26 24 0 Training
Bell 412CF Outlaw 9 9 0 Training
Bell CH-139 JetRanger 13 13 0 Training
Bell CH-146 Griffon 100 85 0 Utility
Boeing CC-177 Globemaster III 5 5 0 Transport
Boeing CF-118 Hornet 98 64 0 Fighter-Bomber
Boeing CF-118B Hornet 40 23 0 Trainer
Boeing CH-147F Chinook 15 15 0 Transport
Canadair CC-144 Challenger 18 4 0 VIP Transport/Medevac
Canadair CT-114 Tutor 190 24 0 Demonstration
De Havilland Canada CC-115 Buffalo 15 6 0 SAR
De Havilland Canada CC-138 Twin Otter 9 4 0 SAR/Transport
De Havilland Canada CT-142 Dash-8 4 4 0 Training
Grob G120A 14 14 0 Training
Lockheed CC-130H/KCC-130H Hercules 14 11 0 Transport/SAR/Tanker
Lockheed CC-130H-30 Hercules 2 2 0 Transport/SAR
Lockheed CC-130J Super Hercules 17 17 0 Transport
Lockheed CP-140 Aurora 18 14 0 Maritime Patrol/ASW
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II 0 0 35 Fighter-Bomber
Sikorsky CH-124A/B Sea King 41 26 0 ASW
Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone 11 11 17 ASW