To celebrate the centennial of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), we collaborated with Union Station and the RCAF on a special F-18 Fighter Jet installation for people to view and sit in the pilot’s seat. Nestled in front of the RCAF Centennial banners that we commissioned, this free installation attracted thousands of Torontonians and visitors who were given the opportunity to learn more about the past, present, and future of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Thank you so much to everyone who came to Union Station, sat in, took a picture, and chatted with a serving member of the RCAF. Thank you to Union Station for all your hard work and hospitality, the RCAF for spending your weekend in downtown Toronto, sharing your stories and the long hours you put in, and Mallory Brown for capturing the F-18 Fighter Jet.

CF-18

The CF-188 Hornet, commonly known as the CF-18, is a variation of the American McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. It is a multi-role fighter used by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The CF-18 flies at speeds of 1,814 kilometers per hour (Mach 1.8) and is highly maneuverable. It has a range of 3,300 kilometres (2,000 miles). It is equipped with target-tracking radar and modern communications. The CF-18 is used by the RCAF for air defence, ground attack, tactical support, aerobatic demonstration, and aerospace testing and evaluation.

The RCAF began using the CF-18 in 1982. It replaced three fighter jets in the RCAF fleet, the CF-101 Voodoo (used in North America in support of NORAD defence), the CF-104 Starfighter (used in Europe for NATO commitments), and the CF-5 Freedom Fighter (provided tactical ground support and used for fighter pilot training). The acquisition of 138 CF-18 Hornets cost Canada roughly $3 Billion.

Initially, during the last decade of the Cold War, the CF-18s were optimized for defence missions to counter the aircraft operated by Warsaw Pact air forces. Since then, the CF-18 Fighter Squadrons participated in the Gulf War in 1991, the Kosovo War from 1998-1999, and in Libya for Operation Mobile in 2011. They also flew bombing missions against ISIS in Iraq and Syria during Operation Impact in 2014.

The RCAF’s CF-18 fleet has been through a two-part modernization program. These upgrades began in 1991. They included adding precision-guided weapons, structural improvements, new onboard systems, and cockpit improvements.

The CF-18 is still in service with the RCAF today. An estimated 88 CF-18 jets are still in use and based at 3 Wing at Bagotville, Quebec and 4 Wing at Cold Lake, Alberta.

The replacement of the CF-18 was announced by the Canadian Government in 2023. Lockheed Martin’s F-35 will replace the aircraft that has been in service with Canada for over 40 years.