More AltCan stuff... I got on a roll this morning...
The RCAF had 34
Fairchild Cornell Mk. III on strength in 1946. These were all trainers assigned to the Central Flying School (as the VC-era squadron code "CB" indicates). After the decision was made to standardise basic training on the Chipmunk, the Cornells were retired fairly quickly, with the last block of 12 being withdrawn in 1950. These were sold off to private buyers, and several are still airworthy today, making the rounds at airshows - some in RCAF markings.
Canadair delivered ten CL-66 transports to the RCAF in 1960 - a Canadair-built version of the Convair CV-440 Metropolitan. Given the designation
Cosmopolitan Mk. I, they were assigned to 412 Sqn and used for VIP flights. Over the years, only some of the lettering changed, otherwise the CC-109s - as they were redesignated in 1964 - retained this basic appearance until their retirement in 1988.
For nearly 30 years, Canadian military pilots from all branches of service received their basic flight training on one airplane: the de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk.
Army Aviation took delivery of eight DHC-1 trainers in 1949. Designating them
Chipmunk, they were based at Fort Kaministiquia in Port Arthur, Ontario, where they were used to give CAA pilots their basic flight training. In 1951 they were redesignated
Chipmunk AT.1, and they remained in use by CAA until 1968, when they were transferred to the RCAF. Since then, Army pilots receive basic training alongside RCAF recruits at the RCAF's Central Flying School at RCAF Portage la Prairie (Man.). The illustration shows a Chipmunk as it appeared prior to 1965.
The RCAF started taking delivery of the Chipmunk from 1946, with a total of 78 being delivered. Designated
Chipmunk Mk. I - the last 50 being fitted with a new engine and thus designated
Chipmunk Mk. II - these served as the air force's basic trainers from 1946 all the way to 1972; they were redesignated
CT-120 Chipmunk in 1964. The illustration shows a Chipmunk Mk. II as it appeared between 1951 and 1958.
The RCN Fleet Air Arm received 24
Chipmunk Mk. II between December 1946 and March 1947. Assigned to the VT 900 training squadron at HMCS Port Hardy (BC), they were used in the training of RCNAS pilots until 1973. In 1950 the type was redesignated
CTD1 Chipmunk, and in 1958, VT 900 was redeployed to HMCS Debert (NS). Under the AFRP the CTD1s received the RCAF's designation, CT-120, in 1968, and remained in use at Debert until 1973, when the aircraft were retired and basic training of pilots was moved to the Central Flying School at RCAF Portage. The illustration depicts a CT-120 as it appeared from 1964 until retirement in 1973.