Following successful experience with the Bell Kiowa, the CF selected the Bell 206 BIII Jet Ranger improved commercial derivative for basic helicopter training duties. The Jet Rangers were essentially purchased "off the shelf" for delivery to the military.

Primarily employed in this role at CFB Portage La Prairie in Manitoba, the Je...

Last Update: Monday February 16, 2009

The Bell 47 helicopter was first flown in 1945 and was the first helicopter to be commercially licensed reaching commercial production in 1947. It became one of the most successful and most numerous of the early helicopters. With its distinctive bubble canopy, the Bell 47 started off as a two-seat helicopter but it was successfully modified into...

Last Update: Saturday February 28, 2009

The Bell Kiowa was a significant improvement over the Hiller helicopter in both the light observation army cooperation and training roles. There was room for four in relative comfort. A high inertia rotor system and a light-weight turbine engine provided much needed modernization and performance.

The helicopter provided excellent handling chara...

Last Update: Sunday May 16, 2010

After the successful introduction of the CH-118 Iroquois helicopter into CF service, a major improvement of the basic Bell model 204/205 was undertaken starting in 1968 on behalf of the US military. The uprated helicopter was based around the installation of the Canadian developed Pratt & Whitney PT-6T Twin-Pac power plant.

This involved tw...

Last Update: Saturday February 28, 2009

The CH-118 Iroquois was purchased after the success of the US UH-1 Huey in Vietnam. The CF purchased the "single" (engine) Huey originally for the tactical transport role but after the purchase of the Twin Huey aircraft the "single" Huey's were passed onto base rescue flight duties. (The use of the term "single" Huey was derived to differentiate this...

Last Update: Saturday February 28, 2009

The CH-146 was purchased by the CF to replace four existing helicopters, the CH-136 Kiowa in the observation role, the CH-135 Twin Huey in the army tactical role, the CH-118 Iroquois in the base rescue role and the heavy lift CH-147 Chinook. From the time of its purchase defence analysts have been critical of the aircraft pointing to its...

Last Update: Tuesday November 17, 2009

Prior to the integration of the CF, both the RCAF and Canadian Army acquired versions of this large twin rotor helicopter for their use. The Army acquired the Voyageur CH-113A version for transport of troops and supplies. The RCAF acquired the Labrador CH-113 version of the aircraft primarily for search and rescue work. With integration, the two...

Last Update: Saturday February 28, 2009

The Boeing Vertol CH-47C Chinook was a special uprated variant of the heavy-lift tandem-rotor helicopter acquired by the CF in 1974 and used primarily for Mobile Command operations.

The first aircraft unfortunately crashed on its initial delivery flight. The remaining seven survivors used extensively by the CF in transport duties associated wit...

Last Update: Saturday February 28, 2009