Current Title:	Canadian Forces/Forces Canadiennes
Title in English:	-
Abbreviation:	CAF

Narrative Summary:
16 Sept Canadian Aviation Corps established, but disbanded Feb 1915. Nov 1918 Canadian Air Force formed, but disbanded Feb 1920. 18 Feb 1920 CAF reformed by the Army as an auxiliary reservist force. 1 April 1924 RCAF formed with permanent staff. 19 Nov 1938 RCAF became independent service. On 1 February 1968 it amalgamated with the Army and Navy into a single service - the Canadian Armed Forces. On 31 July 1997, the previous organisation of Air Transport Group, Fighter Group, Maritime Air Group and 10 Tactical Air Group was replaced by One Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region (1 CAD/CANR). The word 'Armed' was dropped from the force title around the same time. The air force is thus the Canadian Forces Air Command.

Key Dates:
1 February 1968		Canadian Armed Forces formed from amalgamation of Air Force, Army and Navy
31 July 1997		CAF aviation units reorganised into a single Air Division

Current Status:
To be added.

Future Plans:
Take delivery of 4 C-17s, 16 CH-47 Chinooks and 17 C-130Js by the end of 2009.
Phased avionics upgrade and life extension for 18 CP-140 to be completed by 2009.
80 of 122 surviving CF-18s to be upgraded with improved avionics and helmet-mounted sight.
Replace CH-124 Sea King with 28 new ASW helicopters - for political 'face saving' reasons the Sikorsky S-92 has been selected.
CC-115 Buffalo to be replaced by 15 new SAR aircraft - probably C-27J or C-295.

National Insignia:
Current --- Historical

Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):

The Canadian military serial numbering system consists of a six digit mumber. The first three numbers replicate the CAF 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.

Aircraft Designation System(s):
Canadian Military Aircraft Designations.

Current Aircraft Inventory:
Table of Current Service Aircraft

All-Time Aircraft Used List:
Alphabetical Order --- Chronological Order

Aircraft NOT Used:
False reports of aircraft on order or in service

Main Headquarters:
Air Command - Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Current Organisational Structure:
The CAF is organised into 12 Wings under 1st Canadian Air Division - one wing for each major air base. 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:
To be added.

Current Air Bases:
The main air bases currently used are listed in the Order of Battle.

All-Time Air Bases Used List:
In addition to the main bases, here are also a number of smaller airports and airfields around the country which are sometimes used by the Armed Forces.
Military Air Bases Listing - to be added.

Books:

Canadian Military Aviation Bibliography

Magazines:

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

Websites:

Official Canadian Armed Forces webpage

wikipedia: Canadian Armed Forces

Scramble: Canadian Armed Forces

PlanePictures.net

Airliners.net

Air-Britain Photos: Canadian Armed Forces

Aircraft of the Canadian Armed Forces

Air Force Association of Canada

The Canadian Snowbirds

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

Canadian military aircraft register