Royal Canadian Air Force

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; French: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada.[3] Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower".[4] The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2020, the Royal Canadian Air Force consists of 12,074 Regular Force and 1,969 Primary Reserve personnel, supported by 1,518 civilians, and operates 258 manned aircraft and nine unmanned aerial vehicles.[1][5] Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny is the current commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force and chief of the Air Force Staff.[6]

Quick facts: Royal Canadian Air Force, Founded, Country, T... ▼

Royal Canadian Air Force
Aviation royale canadienne
Badge of the RCAF
Founded	1 April 1924 (99 years, 7 months) (as Royal Canadian Air Force) 17 May 1920 (103 years, 6 months) (as Canadian Air Force (1920–1924)) 1 August 1918 (105 years, 3 months) (as Canadian Air Force (1918–1920)) 1 September 1914 (109 years, 2 months) (as Canadian Aviation Corps)
Country	Canada
Type	Air and space force
Role	Aerial warfare Airlift
Size	430 operational aircraft Personnel:  • Regular Force: 12,074 Regular force members[1]  • Reserve Force: 1,969 Reserve force members[1]  • Civilian members: 1,518 civilian members[1]
Part of	Canadian Armed Forces
Headquarters	National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Motto(s)	Sic itur ad astra (Latin for 'Such is the pathway to the stars')[2] Per ardua ad astra (Latin for 'Through adversity to the stars') 1924–1968)
March	RCAF March Past
Anniversaries	Armed Forces Day (first Sunday of June)
Engagements	Second World War  • Battle of Britain  • Battle of the Atlantic  • Battle of the St. Lawrence  • European Bombing campaign  • Western Front Korean War Gulf War  • Operation Friction Operation Deliberate Force Kosovo War  • Operation Echo War in Afghanistan Intervention in Libya  • Operation Unified Protector  • Operation Mobile Military intervention against ISIL  • Operation Impact
Website	www.canada.ca/en/air-force.html
Commanders
Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force	Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny
Deputy Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force	Major-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet
Royal Canadian Air Force Command Chief Warrant Officer	Chief Warrant Officer W.J. Hall
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Ensign
Aircraft flown
Fighter	CF-18 Hornet
Helicopter	CH-139 JetRanger, CH-146 Griffon, CH-147 Chinook, CH-148 Cyclone, CH-149 Cormorant
Patrol	CP-140 Aurora
Reconnaissance	CU-170 Heron
Trainer	CT-114 Tutor, CT-142 Dash-8, CT-155 Hawk, CT-156 Harvard II
Transport	CC-130H Hercules, CC-130J Super Hercules, CC-138 Twin Otter, CC-144 Challenger, CC-150 Polaris, CC-177 Globemaster III, CC-295 Kingfisher Airbus CC-330 Husky

The Royal Canadian Air Force 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 Royal Canadian Navy 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 and is responsible for the National Search and Rescue Program.

The RCAF traces its history to the Canadian Air Force, which was formed in 1920. The Canadian Air Force was granted royal sanction in 1924 by King George V to form the Royal Canadian Air Force. 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 (ADC; interceptors), Air Transport Command (ATC; airlift, search and rescue), Mobile Command (tactical fighters, helicopters), Maritime Command (anti-submarine warfare, maritime patrol), as well as Training Command (TC).

In 1975, some commands (ADC, ATC, TC) were dissolved, and all air units were placed under a new environmental command called simply Air Command (AIRCOM; French: Commandement aérien). Air Command reverted to its historic name of "Royal Canadian Air Force" in August 2011.[7]

The Royal Canadian Air Force has served in the Second World War, the Korean War, the Persian Gulf War, as well as 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.