Canadian Hawks on the move

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) prepares to transition its frontline fighter from the CF-18 Hornet to the F-35A Lightning II. One of the first steps, taken last March, was the retirement of the CT-155 Hawk fleet, which was flown under an RCAF contract with CAE Inc. The Hawks had served the RCAF for 24 years and have reached their maximum flying hours.

While the RCAF prepares for the next step, most of the remaining CT-155 Hawks will find a useful life as instructional airframes. A total of fifteen, out of seventeen remaining Hawks, will find their way to the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering at CFB Borden (Ont.), where they will support the training of RCAF aircraft technicians.

Earlier this week (14/17 May 2024), ten of these have been towed at night from Collingwood airport (Ont.) where they had been gathered, to CFB Borden, a distance of about 45 kilometres. Three more Hawks will fly in and two will be trucked from Western Canada, for a total of fifteen Hawks. The following Hawks have arrived at Borden so far: 155203, 155204, 155205, 155206, 155211, 155212, 155213, 155217, 155218, and 155221.

Credit: RCAF & Andy Cline / credit photo: Andy Cline