| Reverse description |
The Force’s history and aviation fleet are represented by four significant aircraft (from left to right): the De Havilland DH-82C Tiger Moth symbolizes the RCAF’s early years; the McDonnell Douglas CF-188 Hornet represents its fighter fleet; the Lockheed CC-130 Hercules represents its fixed-wing aircraft fleet; and the Boeing Vertol CH-147 Chinook, its helicopter fleet. Three of the aircraft leave a contrail behind that begins to form the RCAF tartan, however, all four aircraft are connected to the Royal Canadian Air Force roundel, with the skyborne maple leaf (centre) representing Canada’s Air Force. The RCAF’s future and its space division are represented by the planets and orbit rings, with the two outermost rings running across the maple leaf to represent the centennial years “1924” and “2024” (and all that has been achieved between these centennial dates), the stars honour the RCAF’s current inspirational motto, Sic Itur ad Astra (“Such is the pathway to the stars”). At the bottom, the flaming parrot tulip (representing “Rescue”) is one of four tulip bulb types specially selected to commemorate the RCAF’s Centennial in gardens across Canada and at the Canadian Tulip Festival in 2024. |
