The First RCAF Aerobatic Demonstration Team

the first rcaf aerobatic demonstration team: air demonstration teams have been a fixture within the rcaf since june 1929

by Richard Dowson, Moose Jaw

Origin of the RCAF

On February 18, 1920, the Government of Canada authorized a new, non-permanent Canadian Air Force (CAF) with a provisional establishment of 1,340 officers and 3,905 airmen. In 1924 “Royal” was added (RCAF) after the Australians added ‘Royal’ (RAAF) to their name.

The backbone of the new CAF were 101 raggedy World War I Bristol Fighters donated by Great Britain. Canadian pilots referred to the aircraft as ‘Brisfits’ – a fitting term.

The early RCAF hunted smugglers; undertook forest fire patrols in the north; did aerial forest spraying and mail delivery; flew mercy flights; helped police and did aerial photography and surveying.

The RCAF acquired Armstrong Whitworth Siskin IIIA biplanes in 1926 and flew them until 1939, when they were replaced by the Hawker Hurricane.

The Siskin was a great aerobatics machine. Young pilots love aerobatics. (Captain Al Seward of Moose Jaw loved to describe ‘flying the contours of clouds’ at Gimli, Manitoba in his T-33 Trainer. No doubt, other RCAF Pilots have similar experiences.)

Three Siskin IIIA biplanes became the first RCAF Aerobatic Demonstration Team. The Team was formed in June 1929 to celebrate the Tenth Anniversary of the first Trans-Atlantic flight by Brits John (Jack) Alcock and Arthur Brown.

This first RCAF Aerobatic Team flew over 100 air shows between 1929 and 1932.

These three Aerobatic Team Siskin IIIA biplanes are at Uplands Airport in Ottawa in 1930. The Ground Crews are standing by their aircraft. The fourth Siskin is probably a spare.

The Aerobatics Team and most military spending was axed in 1932 by Prime Minister R.B. Bennett’s Government as part of the Great Depression austerity program.

Spending on the military, deemed unnecessary by Canada, evaporated between 1930 and 1939. Hitler had other ideas.

More information can be found at the RCAF Web-Site. http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/15-wing/index.page

This Bristol was stationed at Camp Borden, Ontario.

Siskin IIIA Biplane (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3642452) Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3577686

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