Royal Canadian Air Force

The Canadian Forces Air Command is one of three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces. The professional head of the RCAF holds the title Chief of the Air Force Staff and Commander of the Air Command. The position is currently held by Lieutenant General Yvan Blondin. The Air Command consists of 62,500 Regular Force and 35,600 Primary Reserve airmen and airwomen, supported by 16,500 civilians. The Canadian Forces Air Command is responsible for all aircraft operations of the Canadian Forces, enforcing the security of Canada's airspace and providing aircraft to support the missions of the Canadian Forces Maritime and the Canadian Army. The RCAF is a partner with the United States Air Force in protecting continental airspace under the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The RCAF also provides all primary air resources to the National Search and Rescue Program. The RCAF, an independent service until 1968, developed from the Canadian Air Force, which was formed in 1920. The Canadian Air Force was incorporated into the Department of National Defence in 1923 and granted royal sanction in 1924 by King George V. In 1968, the RCAF was amalgamated with the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army as part of the unification of the Canadian Forces. Air units were split between several different commands: Air Defence Command (interceptors), Air Transport Command (airlift, search and rescue), Mobile Command (tactical fighters, helicopters), Maritime Command (anti-submarine warfare, maritime patrol), as well as Training Command. In 1975, some commands were dissolved (ADC, ATC, TC), and all air units were placed under a new environmental command called simply Air Command (AIRCOM) The Canadian Forces Air Command has served in the Second World War, the Korean War, the First Gulf War and several United Nations peacekeeping missions and NATO operations. As a NATO member, the force maintained a presence in Europe during the second half of the 20th century

Statistics

 * Active Personnel: 62,500
 * Reserve Personnel: 35,600
 * Active Bases: 14 (Bagotville, Cold Lake, Comox, Gander, Goose Bay, Iqaluit West, Nova Valley, Ottawa, Saskatoon, Toronto-Downsview, Trenton, Uplands, West Caicos, Whitehorse, Yellowknife)
 * Active Installations: 6 (Shearwater, Montreal-Mirabel, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Moose Jaw, Kelowna)
 * Combat Aircraft: 231
 * Transport Aircraft: 80
 * Helicopters: 165
 * Commander of the Air Command: Air Chief Marshal André Deschamps

Aircraft Used in the RCAF

 * Combat Aircraft
 * 3 x CA-130 Vampire (Fixed Wing Gunship)
 * 96 x CF-185A Typhoon (Multirole Air Superiority Fighter)
 * 41 x CA-187D Corsair II (Attack Fighter)
 * 84 x CF-190B Crossbow (Multirole Stealth Strike Fighter)
 * Airborne Radar/Reconnaissance Aircraft
 * 2 x CC-137OS Open Skies (reconnaissance and observation aircraft)
 * 7 x CC-150AEW Polaris Farsight (AWACS Aircraft)
 * Transport Aircraft
 * 9 x CC-130H Hercules (Tactical Airlifter)
 * 5 x CC-132 Dash-7 (STOL Transport)
 * 4 x CC-138 Twin Otter (transport aircraft)
 * 5 x CC-138 Twin Otter SAR (search and rescue)
 * 5 x CC-144 Challenger (VIP transport)
 * 14 x CC-150 Polaris (tactical transporter)
 * 7 x CC-160 Arcturus (aerial refueling tanker/strategic airlifter)
 * 21 x CC-176 Airmaster (tactical transporter)
 * 6 x CC-177 Globemaster III (strategic airlifter)
 * 2 x CC-180 Commander (VIP aircraft)
 * Helicopters
 * 30 x CH-136D Kiowa Warrior (reconnaissance helicopter)
 * 62 x CH-146 Griffon (utility helicopter)
 * 17 x CH-147C Chinook (heavy lift/transport helicopter)
 * 56 x CH-151 Vulcan (utility helicopter)