The return of "RCAF" to the RCAF's Aircraft is on its way

The RCAF’s new livery is shown on this leased King Air 350, which operates out of 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario. It is the first RCAF aircraft to receive the new paint scheme. PHOTO: Corporal Rod Doucet

By: RCAF Public Affairs

In the coming months, you might notice that Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft look a little different.

In 2011, to recognize Canada’s military heritage, the historic names of Canada’s three military services were restored: the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), the Canadian Army (CA) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Under these designations, Canadians emerged victorious from the Second World War and later defended Canadian interests throughout the Cold War and the Korean War.

The RCAF received its new insignia in 2013, followed by changes to members’ uniforms and the redesignation of the rank private as “aviator”. Now, the next step in the restoration process is to bring RCAF aircraft livery – that is, aircraft paint scheme – in line with the earlier changes.

The new aircraft livery includes the bilingual designation “RCAF” and “ARC” (for Aviation royale canadienne) on either side of an updated roundel.

“It’s important for the Air Force that we bring our aircraft in line with our new insignia,” said Lieutenant-General Mike Hood, the commander of the RCAF, “but we’ll do it in a way that minimizes any additional cost and doesn’t take an operational aircraft out of service unnecessarily. In all, we expect the changes will take the next four to five years.”

Aircraft will receive their new livery when they are already undergoing scheduled routine maintenance, which includes any necessary repainting. This is done every few years to correct the effects of usage and exposure to the elements. As of the first of November, one aircraft – the King Air B200, located at 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario – has been painted in the new livery.

To see how these changes are coming along, be sure to check out the RCAF’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, where photos of the new livery will be posted when the aircraft are repainted in the new livery.

The new RCAF livery will replace the livery "Candian Forces" shown under the wing of a CC-130J Hercules on RCAF aircraft. The new paint scheme will be added to the aircraft when they undergo regularly scheduled repainting to correct the effects of usage and weather. PHOTO: Corporal Darcy Lefebvre