Canada’s Air Force / La force aérienne du Canada

Canada is the second largest country in the world, geographically, but maintains a relatively small Air Force of roughly 13,750 Regular Force personnel (plus 2,400 reservists) and fewer than 250 aircraft, the majority of which are CH-146 Griffon helicopters (75) and CF-18 Hornet fighters (80). As part of one combined military - the Canadian Forces (CF) - the Air Force is responsible for anything that flies, in the atmosphere or into space, including aircraft operating from Navy ships. Every day, Air Force personnel fly resupply and escort missions in temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius in Afghanistan and fly far colder patrols up to the North Pole. They operate helicopters from the pitching decks of Navy vessels at sea, maintain continental defence as part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), supply First Nations ground patrols in the frozen north, operate military satellites and support military operations around the globe. DEPOSITили