In the early 1990s, AIRCOM transport and utility helicopters in support of army operations were cutback and consolidated with the purchase of the CH-146 Griffon, replacing the CH-135 Twin Huey, CH-136Kiowa, and CH-147 Chinook.
The army considers this a loss of capability still, especially with the loss of the heavy lift capability of the Chinook.
The shift of east coast maritime patrol aircraft at the time of the Argus retirement to CFB Greenwood eventually saw CFB Summerside closed in the late 1980s.
The Griffon was aquired to replace the Canadian Forces' ageing CH-135 Twin Huey, CH-136Kiowa, CH-110 Iroquois, and CH-147 Chinook helicopters.
CL-84 "Dynavert" This airacraft was an extraordinary propeller driven vertical take-off and landing project carried on by Canadair and the RCAF/CF beginning in the early 1960s.
On loan from the United States Air Force, it served as the test bed for the Avro Arrow's Iroquois engines.
In the early 1990s, AIRCOM transport and utility helicopters in support of army (Canadian Forces Land Force Command) operations were cutback and consolidated with the purchase of the CH-146 Griffon, replacing the CH-135 Twin Huey, CH-136Kiowa, and CH-147 Chinook.
The closures of CFB Chatham and CFB Baden Soellingen along with various bombing ranges and the retirement of the CF-116 fighter aircraft and Boeing 707 transport/refuelling aircraft saw AIRCOM retract to its present base and force structure.
Today, maritime patrol aircraft are based at CFB Greenwood on the east coast and CFB Comox on the west coast.
In 2004 the FAD received four ex-Canadian Armed Forces Bell 206A-1 (CH-136Kiowa) light helicopters through Coastal Helicopters, an aircraft broker, with which the Eurocopter deal was cancelled.
But the Eurocopter deal was put on hold, after four Schweizer 333 helicopters arrived in December 2003.
Up to ten new light helicopters were required, with the Eurocopter AS-350B Ecureuil as the favourite to replace the surviving Alouette and Lamas.
Canadian Forces ircraft on display include an F-86 Sabre, CF-100 Canuck, CF-101 Voodoo, CF-104 Starfighter, CF-5 Freedom Fighter, CH-136Kiowa helicopter, DC-Dakota, Harvard Trainer and a CP-121 Tracker.
A monument honours the ground crew and other support personnel who have served in the Forces.
