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A cadet fixing an aircraft engine A cadet fixing an aircraft engine
Cadets meeting with RCAF officials at Canada Youth Summit Cadets meeting with RCAF officials at Canada Youth Summit
Cadets celebrate earning medals at an event Cadets celebrate earning medals at an event
Groups of cadets paddling in canoes Groups of cadets paddling in canoes

Air Cadets

The Canadian Cadet Organizations help develop skills that will help youth transition into adulthood, from good citizenship, leadership, and a focus on physical fitness, Cadets have experiences that you don’t find anywhere else. Air Cadets focus on aviation related activities including flying, gliding and studies in aerospace.

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Youth Science Canada

The RCAF has partnered with Youth Science Canada to help fuel the curiosity of Canadian youth by providing a variety of opportunities to get involved in exciting, and imaginative, inquiry and project-based STEM.

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Indspire

Indspire is an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of Indigenous people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada. In partnership with Indigenous, private, and public sector stakeholders, Indspire educates, connects, and invests in Indigenous students so they will achieve their highest potential.

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Fun Activities & Downloads

For the RCAF Centennial, Michaels SALUTE Resource Group is proudly supporting the Canadian Armed Forces, Personnel Support Programs, Summer Camps with an assortment of arts and crafts supplies. These supplies will be used by children and youth across Canada to participate in RCAF Centennial colouring activities as well as create some unique arts and crafts projects based on S.T.E.M. curriculum and programs.

You too can join in on the fun by colouring one of our Astra colouring sheets, download links are below. Want to share your colouring masterpiece? Ask a parent to help you post it online, tag us on Facebook and use the hashtag #RCAFASTRA and #RCAF100.

Michaels SALUTE Veterans Resource Group

Ingenium represents a collaborative space where the past meets the future in a celebration of creativity, discovery, and human ingenuity. Under the Ingenium brand, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum is an incredible resource that provides sensory experiences that immerse young and old alike in the countless ways science and technology connect with Canadians’ everyday lives.

Explore some of the science and technology activities that they offer in your own home with these fun hands-on activities and science experiments.

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Build your own aircraft!

Let your imagination soar! Choose your favourite… or make them all!

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Air Flow

Food colouring flows through water and around a toy airplane, mimicking how air would flow around a real aircraft.

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Tornado-in-a-Bottle

Tornados, whirlpools, even galaxies are all vortexes. Explain how they work with this fun and simple tornado-in-a-bottle.

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Cloud in a Jar

They might seem too far away for you to study, but in this demonstration, you’ll make your very own cloud in a jar.

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James Webb Space Telescope

Activities and fun facts about the most complex and powerful space telescope ever built!

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Imploding Can

You might not be able to feel it, but air actually has a lot of weight pushing down on us. See what happens when you create a soda can that can’t fight back!

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Did You Know?

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Canadian Forces Base Borden is considered the ‘birthplace’ of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Opening as an air training school in 1917, seven years before the formation of the RCAF, Borden has operated continuously through war, peace, depression, war, and again peace, as a training centre for Canada’s Air Force. Although no “birth certificate” points to Borden (or to any other place for that matter), as the birthplace of the RCAF, Camp Borden is truly the only place that can claim such title.

The birth of the RCAF was not an overnight event. It was achieved through a transition period that went on from the creation of the Air Board in 1919, the Canadian Air Force in 1920, and a major reorganization that culminated in 1924 with the proclamation of a new “Royal” Canadian Air Force. Soon after the royal assent was given by King George V, the new RCAF adopted the sky blue uniforms and insignias patterned after those in the Royal Air Force.

On the day of the official birth of the RCAF, Camp Borden was by far the most important station in terms of assets, personnel, and flying activities. With its 24 Officers and 125 Other Ranks, Camp Borden was home to more than half of the personnel of the RCAF. Camp Borden was also the only station involved in year-round military training activities.

CFB Borden/16 Wing History
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The fastest aircraft that the RCAF has ever had in-service is the CF-104 Starfighter.

The CF-104 Starfighter still is the fastest RCAF aircraft of all time, setting many world altitude and speed records.

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The largest aircraft that the RCAF has ever had in-service is the CC-177 Globemaster III.

The CC-177 Globemaster III strategic airlifter transports troops, cargo and oversized combat equipment. Rapid, reliable and flexible, it is equipped with advanced digital avionics.

  • Length: 53.04 m
  • Wingspan: 51.74 m
  • Height: 16.79 m
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While the Royal Canadian Air Force have personnel located at all Canadian Bases and Wings across Canada…

…the largest representation of RCAF members is found at 8 Wing / CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario.

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Not everyone in the Royal Canadian Air Force is a pilot!

There are many other RCAF roles that are incredibly important and contribute to the overall operational readiness of our Canadian Armed Forces.

The RCAF is a part of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. It defends and protects Canadian and North American airspace in partnership with the United States. With more than 100 different occupations, the RCAF provides amazing career opportunities and personal growth.

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