<P> On 16 August 2011, the Government of Canada announced that the name "Air Command" was being changed to the air force's original historic name: Royal Canadian Air Force (along with the change of name of Maritime Command to Royal Canadian Navy and Land Force Command to Canadian Army). The change was made to better reflect Canada's military heritage and align Canada with other key Commonwealth countries whose military units use the royal designation . The RCAF adopted a new badge in 2013, which is similar to the pre-unification RCAF badge (although placed in the modern frame used for command badges). The Latin motto of Air Command--Sic itur ad astra--which was the motto of the Canadian Air Force when first formed after the First World War (before it became the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1924) was retained . Though traditional insignia for the RCAF was restored in 2015, there has been no restoration of the traditional uniforms or rank structure of the historical service (apart from a rank of "Aviator", which replaced that of "Private" in 2015). </P> <P> On 17 April 2014, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that Canada was dispatching six CF - 18s and military personnel to assist NATO in operations in Eastern Europe . </P> <P> The Royal Canadian Air Force has approximately 391 aircraft in service, which is the sixth largest air force in the Americas, after the United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Army, United States Marine Corps and Brazilian Air Force . </P> <Dl> <Dt> Airbus CC - 150 Polaris </Dt> <Dd> Second - hand Airbus A310 transports purchased in 1992 for use as a strategic transports and air - to - air tankers to replace the Boeing CC - 137 . Two have been converted to tankers and are designated the CC - 150T . One is permanently configured for VIP transport; five aircraft operated by 437 Squadron based at 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario . </Dd> </Dl>

How many planes are in the canadian air force