List of aircraft of Canada's air forces explained

This is a list of aircraft of Canada's air forces.
Aircraft are listed for the following organizations:

This list only includes aircraft owned by the Canadian government, and excludes aircraft flown by Canadian pilots serving with the Royal Flying Corps, Royal Flying Corps Canada or Royal Air Force, including the Article XV squadrons.

From 1917 to November 1918 the British government funded and operated the Royal Flying Corps Canada (later Royal Air Force Canada) which trained aviators on the approximately 1,210 Curtiss Canucks built in Canada, 120 Curtiss JN-4s built in the US, as well as two Avro 504s and one Airco DH.6 built in Canada.

In 1918 the Canadian government formed the Canadian Air Force in Europe which consisted of two wings integrated into the normal Royal Air Force command structure, equipped with Sopwith Dolphins, Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5as and Airco DH.9As supplied and owned by the RAF. It was disbanded in 1920.When the war ended some of these same types were offered to Canada as a part of the Imperial Gift, along with a batch of Fokker D.VIIs captured from Germany, which aside from some illicit flights were relegated primarily to storage and use as instructional airframes.

Independently of the RCAF, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) also operated aircraft; upon unification, CAF/CF assumed operational responsibility for all remaining RCN Canadair CT-133 Silver Star, Grumman CS2F Tracker, Sikorsky HO4S-3, and Sikorsky CHSS-2 Sea King aircraft.

Designations

During the First World War no official standards existed for the naming of aircraft and so all designations at this time were assigned by the original manufacturer and both numbers and names were used.From 1918, aircraft were given names based on a set of rules, and individual variants designated numerically as mark I, mark II, etc. as per RAF practice, including aircraft purchased from American sources. For more information on specifics of the system, see British military aircraft designation systems.Aircraft purchased from local sources often retained their original commercial names such as with the Barkley-Grow T8P-1 or the Waco AQC-6, particularly if purchased in small numbers, impressed or not purchased from the original manufacturer. CF-100 and CF-105 were Avro Canada company designations that preceded similar RCAF designations that became the basis for the Canadian Forces designations instituted in February 1968. Unlike the US designation system, there is only a single sequence rather than separate sequences for each role, and numbering started at 100, prefixed with C (for Canada) and a role letter or letters. According to R. W. Walker. 102 and 103 were not used in the CF system to avoid confusion with Avro's use of those numbers for the cancelled Avro Canada C-102 Jetliner and the Avro Canada CF-103 interceptor project.[1]

Aircraft listing

Type1968 CF
designator		OriginPrimary
role(s)		IntroducedStatusNo.Notes
Advanced Ceramics Research Silver FoxUK2004?+[2]
AeroVironment RQ-11 Ravenn/aUSn/an/an/a
AeroVironment RQ-20 Puman/aUS2018n/an/a
AgustaWestland CH-149 CormorantUK/Italy helicopter200014 in service (+2 on order)[3]
Airbus CC-150 PolarisFrancetransport/tanker19925 In service[4] [5]
Airbus CC-295 KingfisherSpain20191 In service
Airco DH.4n/aUKbomber1920Retired 1928
Airco DH.9An/aUKbomber1920Retired 1929
Airspeed Horsan/aUKtransport glider1948Retired 1950[6]
Airspeed Oxfordn/aUKtrainer1939Retired 1947
Armstrong Whitworth Atlasn/aUKreconnaissance1927Retired 1942
Armstrong Whitworth Siskinn/aUKfighter1926Retired 1940
Auster AOP.6 & T.7n/aUKreconnaissance1948Retired 1958[7]
Avro 504n/aUKtrainer1920Retired 1934[8]
Avro 552 Vipern/aCanadaforestry patrol1924Retired 1928
Avro Avian Mk.IVMn/aUKtransport/trainer1929Retired 1936
Avro 621 Tutorn/aUKtrainer1931Retired 1945
Avro 626 Prefectn/aUKtrainer1937Retired 1945
Avro Ansonn/aUK/Canadabomber/trainer1940Retired 1947[9]
Avro Lancastern/aUKbomber1944Retired 1965[10]
Avro Lincolnn/aUK/Canadabomber1946Retired 1947
Avro Wrightn/aCanadaforestry patrol1925Retired 1930
Avro Canada CF-105 ArrowCanadafighter1958Retired 1959
Avro Canada CF-100 CanuckCanadafighter1951Retired 1984
BAE Systems HawkUKtrainer2000Retired 2024[11]
BAE Systems Silver Foxn/aUK20044+ in service
Barkley-Grow T8P-1n/aUStransport1939Retired 1941[12]
Beechcraft ExpeditorUStransport/trainer1941Retired 1972[13] [14]
Beechcraft Harvard IIUStrainer200024 in service[15]
Beechcraft King AirUStransport/trainer19927 in service
Beechcraft Mentorn/aUStrainer1954Retired 1956[16]
Beechcraft MusketeerUStrainer1971Retired 1992
Bell 47D & Gn/aUStransport helicopter1948Retired 1965
Bell GriffonCanadatransport helicopter199485 in service[17]
Bell IroquoisUS/Canadatransport helicopter1968Retired 1997
Bell Jet RangerUStransport helicopter1981Retired 1993
Bell KiowaUStransport helicopter1971Retired 1997
Bell Twin HueyUStransport helicopter1971Retired 1999
Bellanca CH-300 Pacemakern/aUStransport1929Retired 1944
Blackburn Shark Mk.II & IIIn/aUKbomber1936Retired 1944
Boeing 247Dn/aUStransport1940Retired 1942-Boeing Bomarcn/aUSsurface-to-air missile1961Retired 1972-->
Boeing CC-137UStransport/tanker1970Retired 1997[18]
Boeing Fortress Mk.IIn/aUSpatrol/transport1943Retired 1946
Boeing Globemaster IIIUStransport20075 in service[19]
Boeing Insitu ScanEagleUS2008in service?
Boeing Stratojetn/aUSengine testbed1956Retired 1959[20]
Boeing CH-47C ChinookUStransport helicopter1974Retired 1991[21]
Boeing CH-47D ChinookUStransport helicopter2008Retired 2011[22]
Boeing CH-47F ChinookUStransport helicopter201315 in service[23]
Brewster Bermudan/aUSbomber1943Retired 1946
Bristol Beaufortn/aUKbomber1941Retired 1944[24]
Bristol Blenheim Mk.IVn/aUKbomber/trainer1941Retired 1945
Bristol F.2B Fightern/aUKfighter1920Retired 1922
Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroken/aCanadabomber/trainer1939Retired 1947[25] [26]
Bristol Freightern/aUKtransport1952Retired 1967
Burgess-Dunnen/aUSreconnaissance1914Retired 1914[27]
Canadair ArgusCanadapatrol1957Retired 1988[28]
Canadair C-5 North Starn/aCanadatransport1950Retired 1967
Canadair CF-5 Freedom FighterCanadafighter/ground attack1968Retired 1995[29]
Canadair ChallengerCanadatransport/trainer/patrol19834 in service[30]
Canadair CosmopolitanCanadatransport1960Retired 1994[31]
Canadair CL-84 DynavertCanadaexperimental VTOL1969Retired 1975
Canadair North Starn/aCanadatransport1947Retired 1966[32]
Canadair Sabren/aCanadafighter1950Retired 1977[33]
Canadair Silver StarCanadatrainer/1953Retired 2005[34] [35]
Canadair StarfighterCanadafighter1961Retired 1988[36] [37]
Canadair TutorCanadatrainer196311 in service[38]
Canadair YukonCanadatransport1959Retired 1971
Canadian Vickers Vancouvern/aCanadapatrol1929Retired 1940[39]
Canadian Vickers Vanessan/aCanadatransport1927Retired 1927
Canadian Vickers Varunan/aCanadapatrol1926Retired 1930
Canadian Vickers Vedetten/aCanadaforestry patrol1925Retired 1941[40]
Canadian Vickers Velosn/aCanadapatrol1927Retired 1928[41]
Canadian Vickers Vigiln/aCanadatrainer/transport1928Retired 1930
Canadian Vickers Vistan/aCanadapatrol1927Retired 1931
Cessna L-182UStransport1961Retired 1973[42]
Cessna L-19 Bird DogUStransport1954Retired 1983
Cessna Cranen/aUStrainer1941Retired 1949
Consolidated Catalina/Canson/aUS/Canadapatrol1941Retired 1962
Consolidated Couriern/aUStransport1928Retired 1941
Consolidated Liberatorn/aUSpatrol1943Retired 1948
Consolidated Privateern/aUSpatrol1946Retired 1949
Curtiss Canuckn/aCanadatrainer1920Retired 1923
Curtiss H-16n/aUSpatrol1922Retired 1924
Curtiss HS-2Ln/aUSpatrol1920Retired 1928
Curtiss Kittyhawkn/aUSfighter1941Retired 1946[43]
Curtiss Seamewn/aUStransport1943Retired 1944
Curtiss Tomahawkn/aUSfighter1943Retired 1946
Curtiss Warhawkn/aUSfighter1942Retired 1943
Curtiss-Reid Ramblern/aCanadatrainer/transport1929Retired 1954[44]
Dassault FalconFrancetransport1967Retired 1989
de Havilland Cometn/aUKtransport1953Retired 1965[45]
de Havilland Dragonflyn/aUKtransport1940Retired 1945
de Havilland Fox Mothn/aCanadatransport1941Retired 1945[46]
de Havilland Genet Mothn/aUKtrainer1928Retired 1932
de Havilland Hawk Mothn/aUKtransport1929Retired 1935
de Havilland Menasco Mothn/aCanadatrainer1941Retired 1947
de Havilland Mosquiton/aUKbomber/fighter-bomber1943Retired 1951
De Havilland Mothn/aUKtrainer1928Retired 1948
de Havilland Puss Mothn/aUKtransport1931Retired 1944
de Havilland Sea Hornetn/aUKfighter1948Retired 1948
de Havilland DH.82C Tiger Mothn/aCanadatrainer1938Retired 1948
de Havilland Vampiren/aUKfighter1946Retired 1958
de Havilland Canada BuffaloCanadatransport1967Retired 2022[47]
de Havilland Canada CaribouCanadatransport1960Retired 1971
de Havilland Canada ChipmunkCanadatrainer1948Retired 1972[48]
de Havilland Canada Dash 7Canadatransport1979Retired 1987
De Havilland Canada Dash-8Canadatransport/trainer19894 in service
de Havilland Canada OtterCanadatransport1953Retired 1984
de Havilland Canada Twin OtterCanadatransport19714 in service
Douglas Bostonn/aUSbomber1941Retired 1945[49]
Douglas DakotaUStransport1943Retired 1988[50]
Douglas Digbyn/aUSbomber1939Retired 1946
Douglas MO-2Bn/aUStransport/patrol1927Retired 1930
EADS Eagle 1Netherlands2003Retired 2003
Elbit SkylarkIsrael20065 in service
Fairchild 51 & 51An/aUS/Canadatransport1930Retired 1946[51]
Fairchild 71, 71B & 71Cn/aUS/Canadatransport1929Retired 1942
Fairchild Argusn/aUStransport1940Retired 1945
Fairchild Cornelln/aUStrainer1942Retired 1948[52]
Fairchild FC-2, 2L & 2Wn/aUS/Canadatransport1927Retired 1938
Fairchild KR-34n/aUStransport1930Retired 1936
Fairchild Super 71n/aCanadatransport1936Retired 1940
Fairchild Flying Boxcarn/aUStransport1952Retired 1967
Fairey III.C & III.Fn/aUKbomber1920Retired 1930
Fairey Albacoren/aUKbomber1943Retired 1949
Fairey Battlen/aUKbomber/trainer1939Retired 1946
Fairey Swordfish Mk.II & IIIn/aUKbomber1943Retired 1947
Felixstowe F.3n/aUKpatrol1921Retired 1923
Fleet Fawnn/aCanadatrainer1931Retired 1947
Fleet Finchn/aCanadatrainer1939Retired 1947[53]
Fleet Fortn/aCanadatrainer1941Retired 1945
Fleet Freightern/aCanadatransport1942Retired 1944
Fokker Super Universaln/aUStransport1929Retired 1929
Ford 6-AT Trimotorn/aUStransport1929Retired 1937
General Aircraft Hotspur Mk.IIn/aUKtrainer glider1942Retired 1945
General Atomics AltairUS2004Retired 2004?
Gloster Meteorn/aUKfighter1945Retired 1955
Grob G-120ACT-102GermanyTrainer201313 in service14[54] [55]
Grumman AlbatrossUS1960Retired 1971
Grumman Goblinn/aUS/Canadafighter1940Retired 1942[56]
Grumman Goosen/aUStransport1938Retired 1956
Grumman CS2F TrackerUS/Canadapatrol1968Retired 1994[57]
Handley Page Hampdenn/aUKbomber1941Retired 1944
Handley Page Harrown/aUKbomber/transport1940Retired 1941
Handley Page Halifaxn/aUKbomber1944Retired 1947[58]
Hawker Audaxn/aUKreconnaissance1933Retired 1943
Hawker Hartn/aUKbomber1937Retired 1943
Hawker Hindn/aUKinstructional airframe1942Retired 1943
Hawker Hurricanen/aUKfighter1939Retired 1948[59]
Hawker Sea Hurricanen/aUKfighter1942Retired 1943
Hawker Tempest Mk.VIn/aUKfighter1946Retired 1947
Hawker Tomtitn/aUKtrainer1930Retired 1943
Hiller NomadUStransport helicopter1961Retired 1973[60]
IAI HeronIsrael20082 in service
Keystone Puffern/aUScrop duster/transport1927Retired 1934
Lockheed ArcturusUStrainer/patrol1992Retired 2011
Lockheed AuroraUSpatrol198014 in service
Lockheed Electran/aUStransport1939Retired 1946
Lockheed Electra Juniorn/aUStransport1940Retired 1945
Lockheed HerculesUStransport196012 in service[61]
Lockheed Martin CC-130J HerculesUStransport201017 in service
Lockheed Hudsonn/aUSbomber1939Retired 1948
Lockheed Lodestarn/aUStransport1943Retired 1948[62]
Lockheed Model 212n/aUStransport1940Retired 1946
Lockheed NeptuneUSpatrol1955Retired 1970[63]
Lockheed Shooting Starn/aUStrainer1951Retired 1955[64]
Lockheed StarfighterUSfighter1962Retired 1986[65]
Lockheed StarlifterUStransportn/an/aCancelled
Lockheed Venturan/aUSpatrol/trainer1942Retired 1947
Martin Baltimoren/aUSbomber1942Retired 1942
Martinsyde F6n/aUKfighter1922Retired 1925
MBB/Kawasaki BK 117Germanytransport helicopter1989Retired 1990[66] [67]
McDonnell Douglas CF-18 HornetUSfighter198280 in service
McDonnell VoodooUSfighter1963Retired 1987
Mil Mi-8Russiatransport helicopter2008Retired 2011[68]
Mil Mi-17-V5Russiatransport helicopter2008Retired 2011[69]
Meggitt Vindicator IICanada (Target)?2000s?1
Noorduyn Norsemann/aCanadatransport1940Retired 1957
North American AT-6D Texann/aUStrainer1951Retired 1954
North American Harvardn/aUS/Canadatrainer1939Retired 1968[70]
North American Mitchelln/aUSbomber1942Retired 1963
North American Mustang Mk.IVn/aUSfighter1947Retired 1961
North American NA-26n/aUStrainer1940Retired 1942
North American NA-44n/aUSfighter/trainer1940Retired 1944[71]
North American Sabren/aUSfighter1951Retired 1953[72]
North American Yalen/aUStrainer1940Retired 1946
Northrop Deltan/aCanadatransport/patrol1936Retired 1945[73]
Northrop Nomadn/aUSbomber1940Retired 1945
Percival Prenticen/aUKtrainer1948Retired 1948
Piasecki H-21AUStransport/ helicopter1954Retired 1973
Piasecki Model 44AUStransport/ helicopter1960Retired 1972
Pitcairn Mailwingn/aUStransport1928Retired 1932
Prioria Robotics Mavericn/aUSn/aRetired 20??
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5an/aUKfighter1920Retired 1929[74]
SAGEM SperwerFrance2003Retired 2009
Schweizer 2-12n/aUStrainer glider1946Retired 1949
Sikorsky CycloneUS helicopter201517 in service
Sikorsky H-5 Dragonflyn/aUStransport/ helicopter1947Retired 1965
Sikorsky H-19n/aUStransport helicopter1954Retired 1985[75]
Sikorsky H-34AUStransport helicopter1955Retired 1973
Sikorsky Sea KingUS helicopter1968Retired 2018[76]
Slingsby FireflyUKtrainer1992Retired 2006[77]
Sopwith Cameln/aUKfighter1924Retired 1929[78]
Sopwith Snipen/aUKfighter1919Retired 1923
Stearman 75 Kaydetn/aUStrainer1942Retired 1943
Stinson 105 Voyagern/aUStransport1940Retired 1946
Supermarine Spitfiren/aUKfighter1940Retired 1950
Supermarine Stranraern/aUKpatrol seaplane1938Retired 1946[79]
Supermarine Walrusn/aUKreconnaissance/transport1943Retired 1947
UMS CU-176 GargoyleCanadasurveillance2020n/an/a
Vertol Labrador & VoyageurUS helicopter1963Retired 2004
Vickers Viking Mk.IVn/aUKpatrol amphibian1923Retired 1931[80]
Waco AQC-6n/aUStransport1942Retired 1942
Waco CG-15An/aUStransport glider1946Retired 1950
Waco Hadrian Mk.IIn/aUStransport glider1944Retired 1949
Waco PG-2An/aUStransport1946Retired 1947[81]
Westland Lysandern/aUK/Canadareconnaissance/trainer1939Retired 1946
Westland Wapitin/aUKreconnaissance1930Retired 1944

See also

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Walker, R.W. Canadian Military Aircraft Serial Numbers CAF February 1968 to present retrieved: 21 January 2014
  2. http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/news/article.page?doc=canadian-forces-purchases-mini-uav-system/hnocfnk6 Canadian Forces Purchases Mini UAV System
  3. Walker, R.W. CH-149 Cormorant detailed list accessdate: 21 January 2014
  4. Griffin, 2005, p.12
  5. [Airbus A310]
  6. Griffin, 1969, p.3
  7. Griffin, 1969, p.4
  8. 2 examples built in Canada during World War I
  9. Griffin, 1969, p.4-5
  10. Griffin, 1969, p.5
  11. Walker, R.W. CT-155 Hawk detailed list retrieved: 21 January 2014
  12. Impressed
  13. Griffin, 1969, p.5-6
  14. Griffin, 2005, p.13
  15. Walker, R.W. CT-156 Harvard II detailed list accessdate: 21 January 2014
  16. Griffin, 1969, p.6
  17. Griffin, 2005, p.14
  18. Boeing 707-347C
  19. Walker, R.W. Canadian Military Aircraft Serial Numbers, Canadian Armed Forces CC-177 Globemaster detailed list Retrieved: 21 January 2014
  20. loaned from USAF for Arrow engine development
  21. Web site: Canadian CH-147 CH-47C Model . www.helis.com . 2022-04-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20211223201948/https://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/Canada-CH-147/ . 2021-12-23. live.
  22. Web site: Canadian CH-147D CH-47D Model . www.helis.com . 2022-04-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20211123020434/https://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/Canadian-Chinook-Afghanistan/ . 2021-11-23. live.
  23. Web site: Canadian CH-147F CH-47F Model . www.helis.com . 2022-04-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20210122192705/https://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/Canada-Chinook/ . 2021-01-22. live.
  24. Griffin, 1969, p.7
  25. Griffin, 1969, p.6-7
  26. Canadian variant of Bristol Blenheim
  27. Canada's first military aircraft
  28. Griffin, 2005, p.15
  29. [Northrop F-5]
  30. Walker, R.W. Canadian Military Aircraft Serial Numbers, Canadian Armed Forces CC-144 Challenger detailed list 2006. Retrieved: 21 January 2014
  31. modified Convair CV-240.
  32. [Douglas C-54]
  33. improved F-86
  34. improved T-33 trainer, retired from flying 2002.
  35. Griffin, 2005, p.16
  36. modified F-104G
  37. Griffin, 2005, p.17
  38. in active service with 431 squadron as of 2014
  39. Griffin, 1969, p.8
  40. first aircraft designed for Canadian conditions
  41. trials/evaluation only
  42. Griffin, 2005, p.18
  43. Griffin, 1969, p.9
  44. last example used as an instructional airframe until 1954
  45. RCAF was first military to operate jet transports
  46. Griffin, 1969, p.10
  47. Walker, R.W. CAF Buffalos detailed list accessdate: 21 January 2014
  48. Griffin, 2005, p.19
  49. Griffin, 1969, p.11
  50. Griffin, 2005, p.20
  51. some converted from FC-2
  52. Griffin, 1969, p.12
  53. Griffin, 1969, p.13
  54. LAROUCHE Pierre-Olivier, LANDRY Samuel, Tactical Fighter Squadron 3 Wing OJTs, Summer 2019
  55. CT-102 designation has been used by DND but has not been announced as being official
  56. Canadian-built Grumman G-23.
  57. Griffin, 2005, pp.20-21
  58. Griffin, 1969, p.14
  59. 451 built in Canada
  60. Griffin, 2005, p.21
  61. Walker, R.W. CC-130 Hercules detailed list accessdate: 21 January 2014
  62. Griffin, 1969, p.15
  63. Griffin, 2005, p.22
  64. Built in Canada as the Canadair Silver Star.
  65. Griffin, 2005, p.16-17
  66. Walker, R.W. CH-143 detailed list accessdate: 21 January 2014
  67. Used for testing the Helicopter Integrated Navigation System (HINS) intended for the cancelled New Shipborne Aircraft program (NSA) that was initially intended to replace the Sea King.
  68. Web site: RCAF Doesn't Like To Admit it flew Russian Mil-17-V5s. 14 October 2015 . The Canadian Armed Forces Dispatch. 2019-07-14.
  69. Web site: RCAF Doesn't Like To Admit it flew Russian Mil-17-V5s. 14 October 2015 . The Canadian Armed Forces Dispatch. 2019-07-14.
  70. Griffin, 1969, p.15-16
  71. two seat attack variant of Harvard with larger engine.
  72. Pattern aircraft for Canadair Sabre production.
  73. first all metal aircraft built in Canada.
  74. Griffin, 1969, p.16
  75. Griffin, 2005, p.23
  76. ex-Royal Canadian Navy CHSS-2.
  77. Leased aircraft, designation may not be official.
  78. Griffin, 1969, p.17
  79. built in Canada under licence.
  80. Griffin, 1969, p.18
  81. powered Waco Hadrian glider.

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