It has been anounced this week that the Canadian Government is restoring the Royal Canadian Airforce (RCAF). So this looks like their will be some good FS9 and FSX Repaints to do in the next little while as the RCAF is re-branded.... The RCAF was disbanded back in 1968 when the government merged all three branches of Canada's armed forces into one command. The current government acknowledged this was a mistake as it erased many of the traditions of the RCAF. This also means that Canada's Navy will also be restored as the Royal Canadian Navy. The ground forces will also be restored back to the Canadian Army. This follows the same traditions of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand in the commonwealth traditions that date back as far as World War 1, World War 2 and the Korean Conflict.... http://www.airforce....ng.asp?id=12011 Cheers

As a Canadian, I don't know what to think of the rebranding of the armed forces. Tradition is a good thing, but at the expense involved? Anyway, good point about the repaints ...

Funny that Canadians weren't consulted.If I was asked I'd say good idea, except let's drop the "Royal"...as in, "of or relating to a monarch"We're not a colony.I'd like a name to imply in the service of Canada and not England.Let's take a cue from the Americans - since 1776 ;) Lol, I'll get used to it...just like the RCMP I guess.

Funny that Canadians weren't consulted.If I was asked I'd say good idea, except let's drop the "Royal"...as in, "of or relating to a monarch"We're not a colony.I'd like a name to imply in the service of Canada and not England.Let's take a cue from the Americans - since 1776 ;) Lol, I'll get used to it...just like the RCMP I guess.

It's just a bit of historical ceremonial flummery though isn't it? Canada (like the other old Commonwealth countries) is totally independent, and even here in Britain the monarchy has no real power -- we only leave them alone because American tourists love all that stuff In the unlikely event that the UK government was totally wiped out by some cataclysmic event, the Crown would become the focus around which a new government could be formed, but even then constitutional advisors would have the final say. Anyway, having 'Royal' attached to your institutions stops people confusing you with Americans EDIT: to add, What would you do about 'British' Columbia? :)

Anyway, having 'Royal' attached to your institutions stops people confusing you with Americans

LOL - true dat....Americans are very proud to be American....Canadians are very proud that they are not American. LOL In the UK it is the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and the British Army. In Australia it is the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Australian Navy, and the Australian Army. In New Zealand it is the Royal New Zealand Air force, Royal New Zealand Navy and the New Zealand Army. Canada used to be the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army....They lost that tradition back in 1968 due to a budget conflict. Canada decided back in 1968 that the three forces were competing for funding so the government decided to disband the three forces and create one command called the Canadian Armed Forces. When they did that they erased the history of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army and those who fought and died under those commands. If you can imagine the United States Government eliminating the United States Air force or the United States Navy and traditions and calling it something else. Imagine your son or daughter, or Brother or Sister died fighting in the United States Army and the US Government erased that completely because of a budget dispute. Americans would never allow that. However this is exactly what happened in Canada. The current Canadian Government is recognizing this as being a big mistake and are reinstating the traditions of Canada's former traditions in its armed forces. This also aligns Canada with its Commonwealth Brothers and SIsters that fought bravely in 2 world wars as well as the Korean Conflict. Australia and New Zealand did not make this mistake and most people in Australia and New Zealand didn't even realize that Canada even changed the name in the first place. It was generally assumed that it was always the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Canadian Navy in other nations all along. Cheers

I'm all for the re-branding personally. I miss those old roundels and liveries. Maybe we could save some money by dropping the order for those F-35s, and buying something that... I don't know... works? :) Putting the "Royal" back into the name is going to elicit some funny responses from Quebec too I think. Anyway, I stopped trying to figure why the Canadian govt does what it does years ago. Their actions are so random it hurts my brain. -Mike

Maybe we could save some money by dropping the order for those F-35s, and buying something that... I don't know... works? :)

I would have thought the newer F-18 Super Hornets would have been the most logical choice for Canada over the F-35. Reasons being is it is a 2 engine aircaft that is better over the Arctic and fairly consistant with the current F-18 fleet. The learning curve and maintenence wouldn't be to difficult as it is just an upgraded version of what Canada already uses. They also have a much lower price tag compared to the F-35 program. Australia has both the F-18 Hornets and Super Hornets so this has worked well for them. Australia is going to order a smaller number of F-35 and keep a larger F-18 fleet. Cheers

Being Welsh, I'm often expected to speak out in favour of disbanding the 'English' monarchy. I have to say that though there may be descendents of Llewelyn still surviving, I don't mind bending a knee to the British royal family despite the fact that they may be German. Commonwealth, country, nation, personal identity... I don't see much difference. I don't imagine the queen sees herself as the owner of any commonwealth country. We're all just folk now and I think the world has reached a point where the population owns the monarchy, rather than the other way around. I'm quite happy to share them with anyone else who wants some. I wonder if Louis-Philippe I left any descendents.

My father spent nearly five years in the trenches of France and did graves registration there until mid 1919- Canadian Army 4th B, 1st div CEFA cousin lies in a cemetary in Holland- Canadian Army, Queen's Own RiflesThe boy next door lies in a watery Mediterranean grave- Royal Canadian Air ForceMy father-in-law wrote the letters to mothers when the Lancasters failed to return in the early morning hours- Padre, Royal Canadian Air Force, Bomber Command.Those who didn't experience it, will never appreciate the significance of tradition.Long overdue.AR

Both my grandfathers fought with the RCAF back in World War 2. One was a Spitfire pilot and the other was a Navigator/Gunner in the Lancaster. This is why I am pleased to see the RCAF return. I never thought Hellyer was right in forming the Canadian Armed Forces they way he did it. He erased the traditions in doing so and erased a part of Canadian Heritage. Good to see it back now in honour of those who fought and the fallen in this proud tradition of the RCAF.

As a Canadian, I don't know what to think of the rebranding of the armed forces. Tradition is a good thing, but at the expense involved?

I'm curious - what specific expenses would be involved? - Martin

I'm curious - what specific expenses would be involved?

I think tank and a bucket of paint....LOL

I'm curious - what specific expenses would be involved?- Martin

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/08/16/f-forces-rebrand.html

http://www.cbc.ca/ne...es-rebrand.html

So, not many expenses then. Stationary seems to be the highest definite cost. - Martin