With little need for air defence, “Civil Government Air Operations” became the primary role of the newly designated “Royal” Canadian Air Force in 1924. From aerial surveys that were crucial in mapping Canada and its vast wilderness, to the development of air mail routes that streamlined communication from coast to coast, the earliest years of the RCAF’s operations asserted the importance of aviation within Canada.

Featuring artefacts and photos from the National Air Force Museum of Canada Collection, this exhibit explores how the foundational years of the RCAF paved the way for the future of Canada’s air force.