Estimated reading time 10 minutes, 45 seconds.
In November 2013, an RCAF CC-130J Hercules aircraft flies over Natal, Brazil, as part of a combined formation flight during CRUZEX 13, a key Latin American multinational exercise in Natal. Cpl Precious Carandang Photo
From delivering supplies to the high Arctic to airlifting troops, equipment, and humanitarian loads worldwide, 8 Wing/Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ont., is the hub of air mobility operations in Canada.
8 Wing/CFB Trenton is at the forefront of Canadian military airlift with its fleets of tactical and strategic transport as well as search and rescue (SAR) aircraft. Daily flights to the four corners of the globe are routine for this wing, which is highly responsive to international events.
8 Wing Trenton is also responsible for SAR operations in an area of more than 10 million square kilometres under the jurisdiction of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Trenton.
Our History
Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Station Trenton was conceived by an Order-in-Council in 1929 and officially opened in August 1931. The commemorative cornerstone was laid by Lord Bessborough, the Governor General at the time. Into the granite were cut the words Per Ardua ad Rem – “Through adversity to the good”.
The first two units to move into Trenton were No. 1 Fighter and No. 3 Army Cooperation Flights, flying Siskin fighters and Tiger Moths. This started a 30-year run of training airmen for Canada, highlighted by the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during the Second World War, the Korean airlift, and the innumerable ventures around the world ranging from military assistance in the Middle East, aid to developing African countries, or humanitarian assistance to areas struck by war or natural disaster.
Additional land was added to the 8 Wing inventory in 1949, which included a runway expansion and the Middleton Park housing areas.
Canada upgraded its transport and search and rescue fleets during the 1960s when the RCAF purchased the CC-137 Husky, CC-130 Hercules, CH-113 Labrador and CC-115 Buffalo aircraft. RCAF Station Trenton became the home of training facilities for these aircraft.
After the unification of the Canadian Armed Forces on Feb. 1, 1968, RCAF Station Trenton was renamed Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton.
In 1993, when the air force adopted the “wing concept”, CFB Trenton became home to 8 Wing, as well as lodger units belonging to other organizations. The commander of CFB Trenton is also the commander of 8 Wing Trenton.
Our Squadrons and Units
- 412 Transport Squadron (located in Ottawa, Ont.)
- 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron
- 426 Transport Training Squadron
- 429 Transport Squadron
- 436 Transport Squadron
- 437 Transport Squadron
- 2 Air Movements Squadron
- 8 Air Maintenance Squadron
- 8 Wing Air Reserve Flight
- Canadian Forces Station Alert
On April 1, 2009, the Royal Canadian Air Force took command of Canadian Forces Station Alert, Nunavut, and it is now an 8 Wing unit. It is the most northerly, permanently inhabited location in the world, located only 817 kilometres from the geographic North Pole.
8 Wing is also home to more than 20 lodger units including the Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre, Cadet Training Centre, Aerospace and Telecommunications Engineering Support Squadron and the Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit. CFB Trenton is also home to the famous Skyhawks; this parachute demonstration team is a sub-unit of the Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Center (CAAWC).
The wing operations, logistics and engineering, administration, and comptroller branches oversee the operations of the base under the command of wing commander Colonel David Lowthian.
Our People (current as of February 2015)
(Numbers approximate)
- 3,078 military personnel
- 654 civilian employees
Our Footprint
- 833 hectares
- Additional 516 hectares under construction for expansion
- 8 Wing Runway 06/24 – 3,048 metres (asphalt)
The 685-hectare Canadian Forces Detachment Mountain View is also administered by CFB/8 Wing Trenton. It is home to the Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Centre drop zone and Royal Canadian Air Cadets glider training. The gravel runway is also used to train aircraft crew in landing on unprepared landing strips.
Our Economic Impact (as of 2010)
(Numbers approximate)
- Population Impact (Regular Force members and dependants): 8,472
- Local spending impact: $231 million
- Estimated local spending impacts (direct & indirect) $365.8 million
- Estimated direct employment: 3,459
- Estimated indirect employment: 398
Our Contribution
As the hub of air transport operations, 8 Wing is involved in virtually every Canadian Armed Forces operation. Most personnel and equipment deployed to any destination within Canada or around the world pass through Trenton at some point.
Transport aircraft provide air bridges to operations around the world. Most recently those operations include Operation Sirona in Sierra Leone, Operation Impact in the Middle East, and Operation Reassurance in Central and Eastern Europe.
Traffic technicians from 2 Air Movements Squadron load pallets of supplies inside a CC-177 Globemaster III headed for the Ukraine, at 8 Wing Trenton on Nov. 27, 2014. Corporal Ken Beliwicz Photo
Our Aircraft
CC-144 Challenger
The CC-144 Challenger, the RCAF’s twin-engine, long-range executive jet, offers rapid air transportation to Canadian and international VIPs. With a range of up to 5,930 kilometres and a maximum speed of Mach 0.83, the Challenger can quickly deliver passengers almost anywhere in the world. The Challengers are flown by 412 Transport Squadron.
CH-146 Griffon
In service with the Royal Canadian Air Force since 1995, Griffons based at 8 Wing Trenton are used as SAR primary assets. The Griffon can be equipped with a hoist that enables it to extract people and a cargo hook that lets it transport cargo from almost any terrain. The Griffons are flown by 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron.
CC-130 Hercules
The Hercules is the workhorse of the RCAF. It is a four-engine fixed-wing turboprop aircraft that can carry up to 78 combat troops. It is used for a wide range of missions, including troop transport, tactical airlift (both palletized and vehicular cargo), search and rescue, air-to-air refueling (AAR), and aircrew training. It can carry more than 17,000 kilograms (about 38,000 pounds) of fuel for tactical AAR. The Hercules has a maximum range of 7,222 kilometres (4,488 miles) and a cruising speed of 556 kilometres per hour (345 miles per hour). Capable of short takeoffs and landings (STOL) on unprepared runways, it can respond to SAR emergencies on almost any terrain and under the most challenging weather conditions. These Hercules are flown by 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron and 426 Transport Training Squadron.
CC-130J Hercules While on the outside the J-model Hercules looks almost identical to the older Hercules, internally it is essentially a completely new aircraft. The new “Hercs” fly faster, higher and farther, and they 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 Canadian Armed Forces with a modern, cost-effective, operationally-proven tactical airlift capability. The J-models are flown by 436 Transport Squadron.
CC-150 Polaris
The Polaris (Airbus A-310) is a multi-purpose, twin-engine, long-range jet aircraft that can be converted for passenger, freight or medical transport and air-to-air refueling (or any combination of these configurations). The Polaris can reach a speed of up to Mach 0.84 (1,029 kilometres per hour) carrying a load of up to 32,000 kilograms (70,560 pounds). Passenger loads range from 28 to 194 people, depending on the particular aircraft tail number and configuration. All five Canadian Armed Forces CC-150 Polaris aircraft are stationed at 8 Wing and are flown by 426 Transport Training Squadron and 437 Transport Squadron.
CC-177 Globemaster III
The Globemaster helps provide everything from the rapid delivery of troops and cargo transport to oversized combat equipment from coast to coast to coast and to anywhere else worldwide. To illustrate the power of these aircraft, one CC-177 can haul three CH-146 Griffon helicopters with refueling tanks, or one Leopard 2 tank, or as many as 102 paratroopers. But perhaps most useful of all, the CC-177’s ability to fly long distances and land in remote airfields makes it a premier transporter for military, humanitarian and peacekeeping missions. All the RCAF’s Globemasters are located at Trenton and are flown by 429 Transport Squadron.
King Air B200
The King Air B200 twin turbine aircrafts transport from seven to thirteen passengers with a range of 3,338 kilometres. The King Air is flown by the Multi-Engine Utility Flight.
