Royal Canadian Air Force

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), formerly Air Command (AIRCOM), is the air force of Canada and is often called the Canadian Air Force. It is part of the Canadian Forces. Canada also has an army and a navy.

Royal Canadian Air Force
Active	1 April 1924–present
Country	Canada
Allegiance	Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada
Type	Air Force
Role	"To generate and maintain combat capable, multi-purpose, air forces to meet Canada's defence objectives."
Size	Regular Force personnel: 14,500 Reserve Force: 2,600 Civilians: 2,500
Part of	Canadian Armed Forces
Headquarters	National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa
Motto(s)	"Sic Itur ad Astra" "Such is the Pathway to the Stars"
March	RCAF March Past
Engagements	Second World War Korean War Gulf War 1990–91 Bosnia Herzegovina 1995 Kosovo 1999 Afghanistan War 2001 – 2011 Libya - Operation Mobile 2011
Commanders
Chief of the Defence Staff	General Thomas J. Lawson OMM, CD
Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force	Lieutenant-General Yvan Blondin
Insignia
Ensign
Roundel	60px
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
Fighter	CF-18 Hornet
Patrol	CP-140 Aurora, CP-140A Arcturus
Reconnaissance	CU-170 Heron
Trainer	CT-114 Tutor, CT-142 Dash-8, CT-155 Hawk, CT-156 Harvard II
Transport	CC-115 Buffalo, CC-130 Hercules, CC-130J Super Hercules, CC-138 Twin Otter, CC-144 Challenger, CC-150 Polaris, CC-177 Globemaster III

File:Canadian CF-18 2.jpg

A plane of the air force

The air force operates all aircraft of the Canadian Forces, including the helicopters of the army and the navy. The air force is made of fighter jets, cargo planes and helicopters.

Royal Canadian Air Force Media

• Roundel of Canada – Low Visibility

• Flag of Canada introduced in 1965, using Pantone colors. This design replaced the Canadian Red Ensign design.

• 

  Air Force Ensign of Canada (1941-1968)

• RCAF Typhoon Holland 1944 IWM CL 1598.jpg

  Two armourers of No 440 Squadron RCAF re-arming a Hawker Typhoon in the Netherlands, 1944

• Bomarc on launch erector.jpg

  An RCAF CIM-10 Bomarc missile on a launch erector in North Bay. Viewed as an alternative to the scrapped Avro Arrow, the Bomarc's adoption was controversial given its nuclear payload.

• Operation Inherent Resolve 150304-F-MG591-123.jpg

  An RCAF CF-18 Hornet during Operation Impact, 2015. CF-18s have been used by the RCAF since 1983.

• CC-150 Polaris tanker refueling two CF-18 Hornets.jpg

  An RCAF CC-150 Polaris refuelling two CF-18 Hornets near CFB Borden

Other websites

• Official website Archived 2014-08-07 at the Wayback Machine