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This transport aircraft has been in active service since 1957, acting as an aerial refuelling aircraft. It is used to re-fuel strategic bombers as well as fighters. Despite its age, the aircraft has gone under numerous avionics upgrades allowing it to keep up with the times, however it is currently set to be replaced by the KC-46 Pegasus.

This aircraft is primarily used by the United States, France, Turkey, and Singapore. It has seen action in wars such as Vietnam, and even as recent as Operation Desert Storm.

The KC-46A is the first phase in recapitalizing the U.S. Air Force’s aging tanker fleet. With greater refueling, cargo and aeromedical evacuation capabilities compared to the KC-135, the KC-46A will provide aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and partner-nation receivers.

At full operational capability, the KC-46A will be able to refuel most fixed-wing, receiver-capable aircraft. The KC-46A is equipped with a refueling boom driven by a fly-by-wire control system, and is capable of fuel offload rates required for large aircraft. Its hose and drogue system adds additional mission capability that is independently operable from the refueling boom system.

The United States A-10 Thunderbolt II is the first US Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces.

The A-10 offers excellent maneuverability at low airspeeds and altitude while maintaining a highly accurate weapons-delivery platform. They can loiter near battle areas for extended periods, are capable of austere landings and operate under 1,000-foot ceilings (303.3 meters) with 1.5-mile (2.4 kilometres) visibility.

The F-22 Raptor is a combination of stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics, coupled with improved supportability, represents an exponential leap in warfighting capabilities.

The F-22 engines produce more thrust than any current fighter engine. The combination of sleek aerodynamic design and increased thrust allows the F-22 to cruise at supersonic airspeeds (greater than 1.5 Mach) without using afterburner — a characteristic known as supercruise. Supercruise greatly expands the F-22 ‘s operating envelope in both speed and range over current fighters, which must use fuel-consuming afterburner to operate at supersonic speeds.

The United States Air Force C-5 Galaxy is a strategic transport aircraft and is the largest aircraft in their Air Force inventory. Its primary mission is to transport cargo and personnel for the US Department of Defense. The C-5M Super Galaxy is a modernized version of the legacy C-5 designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

It can carry oversized cargo over intercontinental ranges, take off, and land on relatively short runways. Both the nose and aft doors open, allowing ground crews to simultaneously load and off-load cargo from both ends, reducing cargo transfer times. The full-width drive-on ramps at each end enable double rows of vehicles to be transported.

The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet (15,166.6 meters). It can carry nuclear or precision guided conventional ordnance with worldwide precision navigation capability.

In a conventional conflict, the B-52 can perform strategic attack, close-air support, air interdiction, offensive counter-air and maritime operations.

During Desert Storm, B-52s delivered 40 percent of all the weapons dropped by coalition forces. It is highly effective when used for ocean surveillance and can assist the U.S. Navy in anti-ship and mine-laying operations. In two hours, two B-52s can monitor 140,000 square miles (364,000 square kilometers) of ocean surface.

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle was first placed into service in 1972 as the United States Air Force’s (USAF) all-weather tactical fighter aircraft. This dual-engine fighter was designed to gain and maintain air superiority. Since its entry into service, the F-15 currently holds a record of over 100 wins and no losses in combat (mainly the Israeli Air Force).

The Eagle currently operates within air forces such as the USAF, Royal Saudi Air Force, Israeli Air Force, and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. It has flown in conflicts such as Vietnam and the Gulf War. It is only ever equipped for air combat featuring various air-to-air missiles.

The F-16 was built under an unusual agreement creating a consortium between the United States and four NATO countries: Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway. These countries jointly produced with the United States an initial 348 F-16s for their air forces. Final airframe assembly lines were located in Belgium and the Netherlands.

U.S. Air Force F-16 multirole fighters were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm, where more sorties were flown than with any other aircraft. These fighters were used to attack airfields, military production facilities, Scud missiles sites and a variety of other targets.

The CC-130J Hercules is a four-engine, fixed-wing turboprop aircraft that can carry up to 92 combat troops or 128 non-combat passengers. It is used for a wide range of missions, including troop transport, tactical airlift and aircrew training.

While on the outside the CC-130J looks almost identical to the older Hercules, on the inside the J-model is a completely new aircraft. The new “Hercs” fly faster, higher and farther, and can carry heavier loads while burning less fuel. They can use shorter landing and take-off fields and their climb time is reduced by up to 50 per cent compared to the older models. They deliver cutting edge technology to provide the Forces with a modern, cost-effective, operationally-proven tactical airlift capability.

The CC-330 is a twin-engine, long-range, multi-role tanker transport A330-200 aircraft manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space.

This new fleet for the RCAF will be comprised of nine aircraft (a mix of four new and five used A330-200), and will conduct multiple tasks such as in-flight refuelling of other aircraft, military personnel and cargo airlift, medical evacuations, and strategic transport of Government of Canada officials.

The CC-150 Polaris is a multi-purpose, twin-engine, long-range jet aircraft. It can be used for passenger, freight or medical transport and air-to-air refueling. The Polaris can reach a speed of up to 1029 km/h carrying a load of up to 32,000 kilograms. It can carry up to 194 passengers, depending on the particular aircraft tail number and configuration.

The CC-177 Globemaster III transports troops, cargo and oversized combat equipment from coast to coast and around the world. Its ability to fly long distances and land in remote airfields makes it a premier transporter for military, humanitarian and peacekeeping missions.

Rapid, reliable and flexible, the strategic and tactical CC-177 is equipped with advanced digital avionics. It has a maximum range of approximately 5,500 nautical miles and can carry up to 72,727 kilograms. Its four engines (Pratt & Whitney 2040 series) can produce 18,343 kilograms of thrust.

To illustrate the power of these aircraft, one CC-177 can haul three CH-146 Griffon helicopters with refuelling tanks, one Leopard 2 tank, or as many as 102 paratroopers.

The supersonic CF-188 Hornet, popularly known as the CF-18, can engage both ground and aerial targets. Its twin engines generate enough thrust to lift 24 full-size pick-up trucks off the ground.

As the Royal Canadian Air Force’s frontline multi-role fighter, the modernized CF-188 is used for:

• air defence
• air superiority
• tactical support 
• training 
• aerobatic demonstration 
• aerospace testing and evaluation

The CF-188 went through a phased modernization program to ensure that the Canadian Armed Forces have a modern and interoperable fighter fleet.  

Because of its power, speed and target tracking capabilities, the CF-188 has had great success in many military operations at home and abroad.

As a significant contribution to NORAD, Canada’s fighter force is committed to protecting North America from airborne threats. As part of Operation NOBLE EAGLE, our CF-188s maintain a constant state of alert to safeguard North American skies.

The Mustang was among the best and most well-known fighters used during World War II. Possessing excellent range and maneuverability, the P-51 operated primarily as a long-range escort fighter and also as a ground attack fighter-bomber.

The Mustang served in nearly every combat zone during WWII, and later fought in the Korean War.

The aircraft would cement its place in the history books after famously attacking the Ruhr Dams in 1943 and successfully sinking the battleship Tirpitz in 1944. 

As of today, only 17 Lancasters remain in existence, and only two of those are still flyable examples. One of those is the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s Mynarski Memorial Lancaster. This Lancaster Mark X was built at the Victory Aircraft plant in Ontario in 1945 and served the Royal Canadian Air Force until 1963. After a complete restoration in 1988, this aircraft was named after Canadian Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski VC, who received the Victoria Cross in 1944 after bravely attempting the rescue of a crewmember while being shot down over France, with disregard for his own safety, while flying with 419 Squadron. 

On July 20th and 21st , The Cold Lake Air Show invites you to join us in a celebration of this history-making aircraft and the brave veterans it represents, as we welcome to the skies, the Mynarski Memorial Lancaster! 

The CH‑146 Griffon is a Utility Transport Tactical Helicopter (UTTH) used primarily for tactical transport of troops and material. It can also be used for search and rescue (SAR) missions, and humanitarian relief operations. The Griffon features GPS satellite navigation and Doppler radar systems. It can be equipped with a hoist that enables it to extract people and cargo from almost any terrain.

The CH-149 Cormorant is a long-range helicopter dedicated to search and rescue. It can operate in severe conditions, making it ideal for Canada’s challenging geography and climate.

The Cormorant can carry up to 12 stretchers or a load of 5,000 kilograms. Its advanced systems provide a stable hover for critical hoisting operations. It has helped rescue mountain climbers, lost hikers, ship crews and more.

The CP-140 is a long-range patrol aircraft. Its long endurance and 7,400 kilometre range make it ideal for a variety of missions.

The Royal Canadian Air Force received its fleet of CP-140 Aurora in the early 1980s, primarily for maritime patrol/anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

As a “command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance” (C4ISR) platform, the Aurora can perform a variety of operations at home and abroad. It has conducted: 

• the surveillance of Canada’s coastal waters
• anti-surface warfare
• maritime and overland intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)
• strike coordination
• search and rescue (SAR) missions
• disaster relief missions 

It also provides vital support to other government agencies in combating:

• illegal immigration
• illegal fishing
• pollution
• drug trafficking

With its latest upgrades, the CP-140 is able to detect and destroy the latest generation of stealth submarines. It has also been equipped with air-droppable survival pods.

The A-4 Skyhawk was developed during the early 1950s on behalf of the U.S. Navy and United States Marine Corps. A proven and trusted platform for all mission profiles, Top Aces uses the A-4 for adversary support including large-scale coalition air exercises and anti-ship attack training.

The single and dual-seat A-4s have been upgraded by Top Aces and have modernized instrument flight rules (IFR), tactical air navigation system, and ESCAPAC ejection seats for maximum operational flexibility and aircrew safety.

Starting in 2022, Top Aces’ A-4s were further upgraded with the company’s proprietary, open architecture ‘Advanced Aggressor Mission System’ (AAMS), which enables the integration of advanced capabilities such as tactical datalink, Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, and numerous other potential upgrades. This Advanced Aggressor Fighter (AAF) configuration better replicates current adversary fighter aircraft and enhances the readiness training of allied Air Forces.

Since its first flight in 1973, the Dornier Alpha Jet has been widely used by numerous Air Forces, combining high performance, fuel endurance, reliability and modern avionics. At Top Aces, the aircraft is used for a variety of mission profiles including early stage air-to-air, anti-ship, electronic warfare (EW), target tow, and day and night joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) training.

Top Aces’ Alpha Jets have undergone significant upgrades including state-of-the-art multi-function displays, avionics, flight management system, instrument flight rules (IFR), tactical air navigation system, Martin Baker ejection seats, and a Dassault canopy escape system. 

The Learjet 35A, produced by Bombardier Aerospace, is a premier business jet celebrated for its remarkable speed, efficiency, and versatility. Introduced in 1973 as an evolution of the Learjet 25, the Learjet 35A quickly established itself as a symbol of luxury and high performance in the realm of business aviation. Its advanced design and outstanding capabilities have made it a favored choice for both business transportation and medical evacuation.

Renowned for its innovative features and exceptional performance, the Learjet 35A continues to be a top choice for operators worldwide. Among its notable users is Top Aces, the global leader in Adversary Air (ADAIR) and Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) training for allied forces. Top Aces employs the Learjet 35A in advanced air support and tactical training missions, using the aircraft to replicate air threats in military exercises and helping armed forces hone their skills for modern operational challenges.

Canada’s student pilots prove their mettle in the CT-156 Harvard II. This agile turboprop trainer is the aircraft of choice for the early stages of the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program.

Boasting an impressive thrust-to-weight ratio, the CT-156 has an initial climb rate of about 1 km per minute. It can handle sustained 2G turns at an altitude of 7,500 metres. The Harvard II’s fully pressurized cockpit features an Electronic Flight Instrumentation System (EFIS) and a Global Positioning System (GPS).

The CT-155 Hawk is used to train pilots for front-line fighter aircraft. With its superior technology, this jet can perform a wide range of high-performance training missions.

The Hawk’s cockpit features a heads-up display, hands-on throttle and stick controls as well as integrated navigation and targeting systems.