For over eight decades, the skies above Saskatchewan have hosted the evolution of military aviation training, as 15 Wing Moose Jaw has graduated thousands of pilots earning their wings through five distinct generations of training aircraft — with the latest exciting step being taken by prospective pilots in 2026.
First Generation: The Commonwealth Years (1940-1945)
Military aviation at Moose Jaw began in 1940 when the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan combined with a small, civilian flying club to become RCAF Station Moose Jaw. What was originally "No. 32 Service Flying Training School" graduating 1,207 pilots from Canada, New Zealand, and Britain using North American Harvard and Avro Oxford aircraft.
The Harvard, known as the "Yellow Peril" for its bright training colors, became the backbone of the program. With 3,350 Harvards built in Canada — more than any other aircraft type — this single-engine advanced trainer featured a 600-horsepower Pratt & Whitney radial engine, retractable landing gear, and the distinctive sound of propeller tips exceeding the speed of sound.
Second Generation: The Cold War Transition (1953-1965)
When the Cold War prompted reactivation of Allied flying training in 1953, 2 Flying Training School began operations using both Harvard trainers and the new Canadair CT-133 Silver Star, Canada's first jet trainer.
The CT-133 Silver Star, powered by a British Rolls-Royce Nene 10 turbojet producing 5,000 pounds of thrust, marked Canada's entry into the jet age. Canadair built 656 examples between 1953 and 1967, distinguished by their prominent wingtip fuel tanks and tandem seating arrangement.
Third Generation: The Canadian Design (1964-2000)
In 1964, the Canadian-designed Canadair CT-114 Tutor replaced both the Harvard and Silver Star as the RCAF's primary jet trainer. The first completely indigenous Canadair design, 190 Tutors were delivered between 1963 and 1967.
Featuring side-by-side seating, a single General Electric J85-CAN-40 turbojet, and manual flight controls, the Tutor's smooth handling characteristics and rugged construction made it ideal for training. Its distinctive design included pressurized cabin, ejection seats, and a unique front wheel deflector system to prevent water ingestion during takeoff.
Fourth Generation: The International Partnership (2000-2024)
The year 2000 marked the beginning of the NATO Flying Training in Canada program, introducing two sophisticated aircraft types: the Beechcraft CT-156 Harvard II for basic and advanced training, and the BAE Systems CT-155 Hawk for fighter lead-in training.
The CT-156 Harvard II, based on the proven Pilatus PC-9 design, featured a 1,100-horsepower turboprop engine and modern glass cockpit technology. Students completed 95.1 flying hours during Phase II basic training before progressing to advanced phases.
The Hawk fleet was retired in March 2024 after nearly 24 years of service, with 15 aircraft transferred to the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology for maintenance training purposes. Hawks can still be seen parked on the apron at 15 Wing.
Fifth Generation: The Current Transition (2025-Present)
September 2025 marked a historic milestone when the first two CT-102B Astra II aircraft arrived at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, representing the newest generation of RCAF training aircraft under the $11.2 billion Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program. These German-built Grob G120TP aircraft completed their trans-Atlantic ferry flight from the manufacturer in Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany, and were greeted by a crowd of personnel at the base, some of whom will be the first CAF cadet pilots to earn their wings on the airframe.
The CT-102B fleet, totaling 23 aircraft, will serve as the foundation of basic flight training under the Future Aircrew Training program. Every future RCAF pilot will begin their flying career on the Astra II, which boasts superior power and performance compared to its predecessor, the CT-102A Astra.
The aircraft feature a distinctive yellow and blue livery — yellow honoring the Commonwealth Air Training Plan heritage and blue reflecting current RCAF training aircraft colors.
The modernization continues in 2026 with the scheduled arrival of 19 Pilatus PC-21 aircraft for advanced training. This Swiss-designed turboprop trainer features a 1,600-horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6A-68B engine, digital glass cockpit with three large displays, and performance approaching that of jet trainers.
The Moose Jaw Legacy
Of approximately 130,000 yearly flying hours flown by the RCAF annually, 15 Wing contributes 40,000 hours — 30 percent of total RCAF flying time — while graduating an average of 110 qualified pilots per year.
From the radial-engine Harvards of the 1940s to the sophisticated Astra II aircraft now arriving, 15 Wing Moose Jaw has maintained its position as one of the world's premier pilot training facilities.