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71-673: Shearwater Heliport is operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The primary RCAF lodger unit is 12 Wing , commonly referred to as 12 Wing Shearwater , which is headquartered at Shearwater Heliport and provides maritime helicopter operations in support of the Royal Canadian Navy 's Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) from Shearwater Heliport and Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) from Arundel Castle in British Columbia . Shearwater Jetty,

142-623: A Canadian Forces base along with other operational and support units. The rank of general is held when an air officer is Chief of the Defence Staff . The last air force officer who served as Chief of the Defence Staff was General Thomas J. Lawson , who was appointed to the position in 2012. The commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force holds the rank of lieutenant-general . Divisions are commanded by major-generals. Brigadier-generals are typically second-in-command of

213-461: A division. Wings are commanded by colonels. Squadrons are commanded by lieutenant-colonels. Majors are typically second-in-command of squadrons, or flight commanders. Captains, lieutenants and second lieutenants are the junior level leaders in RCAF squadrons and headquarters. On 1 April 2015, the rank structure and insignia changed. The rank of private was replaced with that of aviator, represented with

284-642: 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. 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,

355-414: A propeller for the rank insignia. The previously used term " leading aircraftman " was considered not to be gender neutral. The rank insignia were also changed: enlisted ranks were changed from gold to pearl-grey (silver) and officers rank braid was changed from gold to pearl-grey on black, similar to the pattern used before unification of Canada's armed forces in 1968. A revival of the former rank titles of

426-617: A result of the Shearwater Heliport Conversion Project saw the entire event moved to Halifax Stanfield International Airport beginning in 2004. From 2004 to 2008 the show was held at Halifax Stanfield International Airport which allowed for both static (ground) display and air show at the same venue, however the airport was deemed unsuitable due to numerous interruptions in the air show component by civilian air traffic movements. The air show moved to Yarmouth Airport in 2009 but returned to Shearwater in 2010,

497-958: Is also known as aerial topdressing in some countries. Many countries have severely limited aerial application of pesticides and other products because of environmental and public health hazards like spray drift ; most notably, the European Union banned it outright with a few highly restricted exceptions in 2009, effectively ending the practice in all member states. Agricultural aircraft are highly specialized, purpose-built aircraft. Today's agricultural aircraft are often powered by turbine engines of up to 1,500 shp (1,100 kW) and can carry as much as 800 US gallons (3,000 L) of crop protection product. Helicopters are sometimes used, and some aircraft serve double duty as water bombers in areas prone to wildfires . These aircraft are referred to as SEAT, or "single engine air tankers." The first known aerial application of agricultural materials

568-509: Is the location of the headquarters of 12 Wing, whose sole purpose is to support and operate shipborne helicopters for the Royal Canadian Navy. 12 Wing is a RCAF unit and reports to 1 Canadian Air Division. 12 Wing operates out of two locations with four squadrons: Beginning in the 1970s, CFB Shearwater began hosting an Armed Forces Day every fall, typically on the weekend following Labour Day , and included an air show where

639-607: Is unknown. Shearwater Heliport's primary mission remains as a heliport in support of the Royal Canadian Navy 's Maritime Forces Atlantic warships with shipborne helicopters operated by 12 Wing, a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force . 12 Wing's squadrons at Shearwater Heliport in Nova Scotia and at Arundel Castle in British Columbia operate the Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone . There are numerous construction projects ongoing at Shearwater Heliport in support of

710-904: 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

781-642: The Dartmouth Air Station . This directorate was nominally civilian, the director reporting directly to the Deputy Minister of National Defence, but was still staffed almost entirely by attached or seconded RCAF personnel. The following year all photographic operations were re-organized as independent detachments reporting directly to CGAO headquarters, and the Dartmouth Air Station was placed on "care and maintenance" again at

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852-670: The European Union prohibited aerial spraying of pesticides with a few highly-restricted exceptions in article 9 of Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides , which effectively ended most aerial application in all member states and overseas territories. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides guideline documents and hosts webinars about best practices for aerial application. In 2010,

923-735: The Royal Canadian Naval Air Service (RCNAS), but the war ended before the RCNAS could train sufficient personnel. Following the end of the First World War, the United States Navy gifted its aircraft and flying facilities in Nova Scotia to the Canadian government. The six aircraft at Sydney were shipped to Halifax for storage and the buildings sold at auction. One of the five stations established by

994-654: The SAGE radar stations within NORAD; Air Transport Command: provided strategic airlift for the NATO and UN peacekeeping missions; and Training Command . Aviation assets of the Royal Canadian Navy were combined with the RCAF Canadair CP-107 Argus long-range patrol aircraft under Maritime Command. In 1975, the different commands, and the scattered aviation assets, were consolidated under Air Command (AIRCOM). In

1065-455: The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Army Signal Corps ' research station at McCook Field in Dayton, Ohio . Under the direction of McCook engineer Etienne Dormoy , a United States Army Air Service Curtiss JN4 Jenny piloted by John A. Macready was modified at McCook Field to spread lead arsenate to kill catalpa sphinx caterpillars at a catalpa farm near Troy, Ohio in

1136-616: The United States . The first test was considered highly successful. The first commercial cropdusting operations began in 1924 in Macon, Georgia by Huff-Daland Crop Dusting, which was co-founded by McCook Field test pilot Lt. Harold R. Harris. Use of insecticide and fungicide for crop dusting slowly spread in the Americas and, to a lesser extent, other nations in the 1930s. The name 'crop dusting' originated here, as actual dust

1207-553: The 2000s, AIRCOM was heavily involved in the Afghanistan War , transporting troops and assets to Kandahar. Later in the decade-long war, AIRCOM set up a purpose-specific air wing, Joint Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing, equipped with several CH-146 Griffon and CH-147 Chinook helicopters, CC-130 Hercules, CU-161 Sperwer and leased CU-170 Heron UAVs in support of the Canadian Forces and ISAF mission. The wing stood down on 18 August 2011. From 18 March to 1 November 2011,

1278-703: The Air Board restructured its flying operations, merging the Flying Operations Branch into the Canadian Air Force in June. Changes to the organization of the air stations were deferred to the fall to avoid administrative issues during the flying season. On 25 November 1922 the Dartmouth Air Station was renamed CAF Unit Dartmouth and the civilian personnel were commissioned or enlisted into the Canadian Air Force. The name changed again when

1349-579: The CC-150 Polaris. The two aircraft will arrive in winter 2023 and converted by Airbus Defence and Space (mainly in Spain and repainted in France). On June 19, 2023 a contract was awarded for the acquisition of nine CC-330 Husky aircraft (mix of 4 new and 5 used A330-200), associated equipment, integrated logistic support elements, training simulator(s), and sustainment. Weapons systems are used by

1420-757: The CF-18 Hornet, CP-140 Aurora, CH-146 Griffon and the CH-148 Cyclone. The commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force , at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, commands and provides strategic direction to the Air Force. The commander of 1 Canadian Air Division and Canadian NORAD Region, based in Winnipeg, is responsible for the operational command and control of Royal Canadian Air Force activities throughout Canada and worldwide. 2 Canadian Air Division

1491-453: The Canadian Air Force was granted the royal prefix effective 13 March 1923, becoming RCAF Unit Dartmouth , then RCAF Station Dartmouth in early October. None of these changes, nor the official formation of the Royal Canadian Air Force on 1 April 1924, substantially altered the role of the station. Though the scale of flying operations had increased substantially in 1923 and 1924, the year-round maintenance operations did not continue after

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1562-460: The Canadian Forces during the mid-1990s saw a largely administrative move when the formation CFB Shearwater stood down and the facilities transferred to the formation CFB Halifax and aircraft operations becoming the responsibility of newly formed 12 Wing. 12 Wing is headquartered at Shearwater and reports to 1 Canadian Air Division . During the late 1990s and early 2000s the Shearwater airfield

1633-505: The Canadian Forces series. The stamps were designed by Ralph Tibbles, based on an illustration by William Southern. The 32¢ stamps are perforated 12 x 12.5 and were printed by Ashton-Potter Limited. Aerial application Aerial application , or what is informally referred to as crop dusting , involves spraying crops with crop protection products from an agricultural aircraft . Planting certain types of seed are also included in aerial application. The specific spreading of fertilizer

1704-706: 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

1775-703: The F-35A. Following the 2015 Federal Election the Liberal Party , whose campaign had included a pledge to cancel the F-35 procurement, formed a new government and commenced an open competition to replace the existing CF-18 Hornet . On 28 March 2022, the Government of Canada announced that the competition had placed the F-35A first and planned to buy 88 of them. Under procurement rules, the government entered into negotiations with Lockheed Martin. On 9 January 2023,

1846-532: The Flying Operations Branch of the Canadian Air Board during their first season of operations in 1920 was the Dartmouth Air Station at the former NAS Halifax. Initially, the station's primary role was overhauling the HS-2L flying boats and dispatching them by air or rail to other stations, where they formed the backbone of civil government flying operations for several years. In addition to serving as

1917-847: The Maritime Helicopter Project, including the Maritime Helicopter Training Centre where No. 406 Squadron will be located, as well as a new No.423 (MH) Squadron hangar facility, a new 12 Air Maintenance Squadron facility with six repair bays, and a new Operational Support Facility where the Helicopter Operational Test and Evaluation Facility (HOTEF) and various 12 Wing headquarter functions will be located. Current operations at Shearwater are administratively and operationally part of CFB Halifax and revolve around two functionally separate facilities: The Shearwater Heliport

1988-436: The RCAF did not occur, however, as such an extensive change was considered "too complicated and confusing". Instead, the current rank titles were retained (with the exception of aviator). The Royal Flying Corps , considered to be a predecessor of the RCAF, used rank titles similar to the existing rank titles of the RCAF. The badge of the Royal Canadian Air Force consists of: Roundels used from 1920 until 1945 were usually

2059-565: The RCAF established No. 1 Air Division RCAF consisting of four wings with three fighter squadrons each, based in France and West Germany. In 1950, the RCAF became involved with the transport of troops and supplies to the Korean War ; however, it did not provide RCAF combat units. Members of the RCAF served in USAF units as exchange officers and several flew in combat. Both auxiliary and regular air defence squadrons were run by Air Defence Command . At

2130-543: The RCAF was engaged in Operation Mobile , Canada's contribution to Operation Unified Protector in Libya. Seven CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft and several other aircraft served under Task Force Libeccio as part of the military intervention. On 16 August 2011, the Government of Canada announced that the name "Air Command" was being changed to the air force's original historic name: Royal Canadian Air Force (along with

2201-472: 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 . Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny is the current Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Chief of the Air Force Staff. The Royal Canadian Air Force is responsible for all aircraft operations of

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2272-550: The S-1. In 1957, The Grumman G-164 Ag-Cat was the first aircraft designed by a major company for agricultural aviation. Currently, the most common agricultural aircraft are the Air Tractor , Cessna Ag-wagon , Gippsland GA200 , Grumman Ag Cat , PZL-106 KRUK , M-18 Dromader , PAC Fletcher , Piper PA-36 Pawnee Brave , Embraer EMB 202 Ipanema , and Rockwell Thrush Commander , but multi-purpose helicopters are also used. Since

2343-412: The Shearwater airfield every second year. Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force ( RCAF ; French : Aviation royale canadienne, ARC ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Armed Forces . As of 2020,

2414-412: The ability of fixed-wing aircraft to land at Shearwater, forcing the airshow to remove the static (ground) display component of the event, with the air show component continuing to be staged in the skies over Shearwater (using the nearby Halifax Stanfield International Airport as the fixed-wing airfield). The inconvenience of not having a ground component for the "Nova Scotia International Air Show" as

2485-420: The aerodrome was listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Dartmouth, Nova Scotia at 44°38′N 63°30′W  /  44.633°N 63.500°W  / 44.633; -63.500 with a variation of 23 degrees west and elevation of 141 ft (43 m). The field was listed as "all hard surfaced" and had four runways but only the first is readable as follows: By January 1943 the runway information had been updated and

2556-568: The air force began to rebuild. During the Second World War , the RCAF was a major contributor to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and was involved in operations in the United Kingdom , Europe, the north Atlantic, North Africa , southern Asia, and with home defence. Eight thousand, eight hundred and sixty-four Americans came north to volunteer for the RCAF and over 850 died in action. By

2627-522: The change of name of Maritime Command to Royal Canadian Navy and Land Force Command to Canadian Army). The change was made to better reflect Canada's military heritage and align Canada with other key Commonwealth countries whose military units use the royal designation. The RCAF adopted a new badge in 2013, which is similar to the pre-unification RCAF badge (although placed in the modern frame used for command badges). The Latin motto of Air Command – Sic itur ad astra  – which

2698-469: The defence of the Atlantic coast, Dartmouth was one of four locations selected for construction of a land aerodrome. The station officially became RCAF Station Dartmouth again on 1 April 1938 when a station headquarters was established to control both No. 5 Squadron and No. 4 Repair Depot . The station was known as RCAF Station Dartmouth through the Second World War . In approximately 1942

2769-502: The drones. Personnel will also forward deploy to northern Canada as needed. November 30, 2023 - Canada finalized a government-to-government agreement with the US government for the acquisition of up to 16 P-8A Poseidon aircraft for the RCAF. Fourteen multi-mission aircraft will be procured, with options for up to two additional. In 2022, two ex- Kuwait Airways Airbus A330 -200 were selected to be converted as Airbus A330 MRTT to replace

2840-763: The early 1990s, Canada provided a detachment of CF-18 Hornets for the air defence mission in Operation Desert Shield . The force performed combat air patrols over operations in Kuwait and Iraq, undertook a number of air-to-ground bombing missions, and, on one occasion, attacked an Iraqi patrol boat in the Persian Gulf . In the late 1990s, Air Command's CF-18 Hornets took part in the Operation Allied Force in Yugoslavia , and in

2911-442: The effects of aerial applications of pesticides and the chemicals' effects as they spread in the air. For example, the aerial application of mancozeb is likely a source of concern for pregnant women. Since the 1970s, multiple countries started to limit or ban the aerial application of pesticides, fertilizers , and other products out of environmental and public health concerns, in particular from spray drift. Most notably, in 2009,

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2982-765: The end of the 1927 season. The facilities continued to be used by mobile photographic detachments operating into the Maritimes from the Ottawa Air Station . In May 1932 detachments of the Ottawa Air Station were formed at Dartmouth, Shediac , and Gaspé to assist the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in combatting rum-running . On 1 November 1932 the Civil Government Air Operations directorate

3053-427: The end of the war, the RCAF had become the fourth largest Allied air force. During World War II the RCAF was headquartered at a six-storey office building at 20-23 Lincoln's Inn Fields (built 1937), London. A commemorative plaque can be found on the outside of the building. After the war, the RCAF reduced its strength. Because of the rising Soviet threat to the security of Europe, Canada joined NATO in 1949, and

3124-499: The first time since 2003 that an air show was held at the historic airfield (but again with no ground component). In 2011 the air show was renamed the "Atlantic Canada International Airshow" and was held at the Summerside Airport , formerly CFB Summerside , to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of that base. Organizers have stated that the "Atlantic Canada International Air Show" will likely rotate through

3195-669: The force maintained a presence in Europe during the second half of the 20th century. The Canadian Air Force (CAF) was established in 1920 as the successor to a short-lived two-squadron Canadian Air Force that was formed during the First World War in Europe. Wing Commander John Scott Williams was tasked in 1921 with organizing the CAF, handing command over later the same year to Air Marshal Lindsay Gordon . The new Canadian Air Force

3266-717: The former CFB Shearwater Annex, provides dock facilities in support of Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic and MARLANT warships. Shearwater is the second-oldest military aerodrome in Canada. In August 1918 the US Navy established Naval Air Station Halifax , or NAS Halifax , at Baker Point on the shores of Eastern Passage to conduct anti-submarine air patrols. Lieutenant Richard E. Byrd was Officer-in-Charge US Naval Air Force in Canada, with six Curtiss HS-2L flying boats operating from NAS Halifax and six from NAS Sydney . Naval air operations in Nova Scotia were intended to be taken over by

3337-404: The four runways were listed as follows: In 1948, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) took over the facility, naming it HMCS Shearwater (after the First World War sloop of the same name ), also known as Royal Canadian Naval Air Station Shearwater (RCNAS Shearwater). The combined land and sea-based aerodromes were used to station carrier -based maritime patrol and fighter aircraft . Shearwater

3408-513: The government of Canada officially ordered 88 F-35As. On 19 December 2023 the Government of Canada announced that a contract was signed for 11 MQ-9B drones, 219 Hellfire missiles , and 12 Mk82 500-pound bombs in a deal worth $ 2.49 billion CAD. The drones are expected to be first delivered in 2028 with full operation expected in 2033. The drones are to be stationed in 14 Wing Greenwood , N.S. with 55 personnel and with 25 personnel at 19 Wing Comox , B.C. and in Ottawa with 160 staff to control

3479-754: The heliport conversion project, the old runway 16/34 was permanently closed and placed outside (east) of a new fence for the Shearwater Heliport, as shown in the Canada Flight Supplement effective 31 July 2008. This land for the old runway 16/34 was then transferred by the Department of National Defence to the Canada Lands Company for sale. On 3 April 2009 the land for the old runway 16/34 was re-transferred from Canada Lands Company back to DND, however its future use

3550-714: The late 1990s, unmanned aerial vehicles have also been used for agricultural spraying. This phenomenon started in Japan and South Korea, where mountainous terrain and relatively small family-owned farms required lower-cost and higher-precision spraying. As of 2014 , the use of UAV crop dusters, such as the Yamaha R-MAX , is being expanded to the United States for use in spraying at vineyards. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences keeps track of relevant research. Historically, there has been concerns about

3621-578: The long and wide runways at Shearwater hosted some of the largest aircraft in the world, including the U.S. Air Force 's C-5 Galaxy transport planes and B-52 Stratofortress bombers. By the 1980s this air show came to be named the "Shearwater International Air Show" and was a popular event for military aviation enthusiasts in Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States as the location of CFB Shearwater, coupled with

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3692-429: The main repair and overhaul depot for the Air Board's HS-2L flying boats, the Dartmouth Air Station also conducted flying operations. In most years the station flew fewer hours than the other Air Board stations, though some aerial photography operations, surveys, and exercises with the Royal Canadian Navy were carried out each year. Following the cancellation of part-time training for military pilots on 31 March 1922,

3763-473: The military-organized "Shearwater International Air Show" was transferred to a civilian organization that saw the event renamed to the "Nova Scotia International Air Show." Organizers of the "Nova Scotia International Air Show" continued to make use the Shearwater airfield for both ground displays and the air show component until 2002. Modifications to the airfield from 2002 onward as part of the Shearwater Heliport Conversion Project saw runways closed, eliminating

3834-504: The past decade. Transport aircraft have been leased as required. Despite RCAF marking all aircraft have civilian registration numbers. The Canadian CF-35 is a proposed variant that would differ from the F-35A through the addition of a drogue parachute and may include an F-35B/C-style refuelling probe. In 2012, it was revealed that the CF-35 would employ the same boom refuelling system as

3905-460: The popularity of the Halifax area among military aircrew, resulted in heavy international participation from the RCAF, as well as the USAF, United States Navy , United States Marine Corps , Royal Air Force and numerous other NATO air forces in Europe. Defence cutbacks and unit and facility realignments from 1994 to 1996 saw CFB Shearwater stand down as a separate formation and the facility merged as an airfield attached to CFB Halifax. At this time,

3976-485: The same as Royal Air Force roundels although not all variations were used and colours were matched to locally available paints. On 5 July 1940, the RCAF was authorized to introduce the maple leaf into the roundel in place of the red centre. However, a large amount of RCAF planes still continued to use the RAF roundel until 1945 since their aircraft, including those built in Canada all came through RAF channels. On 9 November 1984, Canada Post issued "Air Force" as part of

4047-418: The same time, runway 16H/34H was reopened, but for helicopter operations only. These changes allowed for heliport operations including instrument approaches and were accompanied with the construction of other non-airfield facilities in support of the Maritime Helicopter Project. Shearwater Heliport opened July 31, 2008, consisting of a new 16H/34H and various helipads for helicopter operations only. As part of

4118-491: The same time, the Pinetree Line , the Mid-Canada Line and the DEW Line radar stations, largely operated by the RCAF, were built across Canada because of the growing Soviet nuclear threat. In 1957, Canada and the United States created the joint North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). Coastal defence and peacekeeping also became priorities during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1968, the Royal Canadian Navy , Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Army were amalgamated to form

4189-461: The unified Canadian Forces . This initiative was overseen by the Defence Minister, Paul Hellyer . The controversial merger maintained several existing organizations and created some new ones: In Europe, No. 1 Canadian Air Group , operated Canadair CF-104 Starfighter nuclear strike/attack and reconnaissance under NATO's Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force ; Air Defence Command: operated McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo interceptors, CIM-10 Bomarc missiles and

4260-489: The winter of 1923–24. At the end of the 1924 flying season the station was placed on "care and maintenance" with only a skeleton staff to maintain the buildings. The station re-opened in the late spring of 1925 to resume photographic survey operations and artillery co-operation exercises. In July 1925, retroactive to 1 April, all the RCAF's civil operations stations were re-designated as numbered squadrons, with Dartmouth becoming No. 4 (Operations) Squadron . No. 4 Squadron

4331-407: Was a branch of the Air Board and was chiefly a training militia that provided refresher training to veteran pilots. Many CAF members also worked with the Air Board's Civil Operations Branch on operations that included forestry , surveying and anti-smuggling patrols. In 1923, the CAF became responsible for all flying operations in Canada, including civil aviation. In 1924, the Canadian Air Force,

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4402-506: Was also the home to early experiments with ship-borne helicopters—something which was copied by navies around the world. During the 1960s, the aerodrome at the former RCAF Station Debert was attached to HMCS Shearwater as a training location for carrier landings. The February 1, 1968 unification of the three service branches into the Canadian Forces saw HMCS Shearwater change its name to Canadian Forces Base Shearwater (CFB Shearwater). Base rationalization and defence budget cutbacks for

4473-400: Was by John Chaytor, who in 1906 spread seed over a swamped valley floor in Wairoa , New Zealand, using a hot air balloon with mobile tethers. Aerial sowing of seed still continues to this day with cover crop applications and rice planting. The first known use of a heavier-than-air machine to disperse products occurred on August 3, 1921. Crop dusting was developed under the joint efforts of

4544-541: Was dispatching six CF-18s and military personnel to assist NATO in operations in Eastern Europe. The Royal Canadian Air Force has about 430 aircraft in service, making it the third-largest air force in the Americas , after the United States Armed Forces , and the Brazilian Air Force . Used by Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE), CFB Cold Lake for test support and pilot proficiency. The Canadian Forces have leased aircraft from vendors to help transport troops and equipment from Canada and other locations in

4615-414: Was established in June 2009, and consists of training establishments. The other division, 3 Canadian Space Division, was established in 2022. As of 2024 , there are 15 wings across Canada, 13 operational and 2 used for training. Wings represent the grouping of various squadrons , both operational and support, under a single tactical commander reporting to the operational commander. Ten wings also include

4686-406: Was granted the royal title, becoming the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Most of its work was civil in nature, with forest patrols of the northwest a major part of its operations; however, in the late 1920s other agencies took up most civil tasks, with the notable exception of aerial photography surveys, and the RCAF evolved into more of a military organization. After budget cuts in the early 1930s,

4757-481: Was inactive from the end of the 1925 flying season, but re-opened the station in 1927 and flew more hours than any previous year. Operations for 1927 were mainly photographic surveys using a Canadian Vickers Varuna , but also included some early experiments in forest dusting with a Keystone Puffer . On 1 July 1927 the RCAF's civil operations were transferred to the new Directorate of Civil Government Air Operations (CGAO), and No. 4 (Operations) Squadron again became

4828-449: Was merged back into the RCAF amid major budget cuts to all government flying. On 16 April 1934, No. 5 (Flying Boat) Squadron was officially formed at Halifax to control the five patrol detachments on the east coast (additional detachments had been formed at Sydney and Rimouski in 1933). The headquarters of No. 5 Squadron moved to Dartmouth on 1 November 1934. When the RCAF decided, in 1937, to primarily operate landplanes for

4899-404: Was scaled back significantly as the facility transitioned to a heliport with surplus lands identified and transferred to Canada Lands Company . Prior to 2002, Shearwater had two asphalt runways: By 2002 only runway 10/28 remained open. As part of the Department of National Defence 's Shearwater Heliport Conversion Project, runway 10H/28H was reduced in length to the east end only in July 2007. At

4970-402: Was spread across the crops. Today, aerial applicators use liquid crop protection products in very small doses. Aerial topdressing is the aerial application of fertilisers over farmland using agricultural aircraft. It was developed in New Zealand in the 1940s and rapidly adopted elsewhere in the 1950s. In 1951, Leland Snow designed the first aircraft specifically built for aerial application,

5041-469: Was the motto of the Canadian Air Force when first formed after the First World War (before it became the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1924) was retained. Though traditional insignia for the RCAF was restored in 2015, there has been no restoration of the traditional uniforms or rank structure of the historical service (apart from a rank of "aviator", which replaced that of "private" in 2015). On 17 April 2014, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that Canada

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