de Havilland Canada CT-142 Dash-8 "Gonzo"
Back in 2012 I was able to capture the following photo of a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) de Havilland Canada CT-142 Dash-8 "Gonzo," from the No. 402 "City of Winnipeg" Squadron, departing Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. I sent a copy of that photo to the squadron, and the squadron loved it so much that they are using it on some of their air show placards and they have presented framed copies as gifts to pilots that have been posted out of the squadron.
According to the Royal Canadian Air Force, The mission of 402 "City of Winnipeg" Squadron is to fly and maintain the Canadian designed and produced de Havilland Canada CT-142 Dash-8 trainer in support of 1 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (1 CFFTS). 402 Squadron's tasks include the conduct of both Air Combat Systems Officer and Airborne Electronic Sensor Operator training flights, the maintenance and management of the Squadron's four CT-142 Dash-8 aircraft and the operational training of Dash-8 aircrew and aircraft technicians. 402 Squadron also provides maintenance support to transient aircraft servicing for visiting and transiting military aircraft. 402 Squadron is a "Total Force" Squadron, comprising a mixture of both Regular Force and Air Reserve personnel.
The Royal Canadian Air Force continues with, Navigators from around the world come to Canada to train on the CT-142 Dash-8. At the Canadian Forces Air Navigation School (CFANS), this twin turboprop aircraft is used to teach students aerial navigation and tactics. Designed and produced in Canada, the CT-142 is a conversion of the popular Dash-8 airliner. It was adapted for navigation training by manufacturer Bombardier Inc. in the late 1980s. Recent software modifications on the CT-142 allow students to operate their own Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Inertial Navigation System (INS). The aircraft also features a new Tactical Display System that superimposes information on the students’ radar displays. At CFANS, located at 17 Wing in Winnipeg, dozens of Canadian and foreign students train on CT-142s each year. CFANS has welcomed navigators from Singapore, Korea, New Zealand, Germany, Norway, The Netherlands, and Australia.
When they recently came back through Sky Harbor, I was invited out to meet the crew and take a closer look at the aircraft. It was very cool to be able to see the inside and to learn about their training mission and what the aircraft can do.
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Information provided by the Royal Canadian Air Force and the No. 402 "City of Winnipeg" Squadron.