As part of regularly scheduled maintenance, the Canadian Armed Forces has repainted the aircraft primarily used to transport members of the Royal Family, the Governor General, the Prime Minister, and other dignitaries. Given this aircraft’s special role on the world stage as a symbol of Canada, the requirement to repaint the aircraft presented an opportunity for a paint scheme that better reflects our country.
This new design includes Canadian symbols like our National Flag, Canada’s Coat of Arms, and the Royal Canadian Air Force logo. The colour scheme and design is more reflective of Canada’s national identity and consistent with aircraft used by allied countries in similar roles.
When Aircraft 15001 went into its regularly scheduled heavy maintenance period in February 2013, it was also due for its repainting, which is scheduled every six years.
Yes, the CC-137 Boeing 707 fleet, the predecessor of the CC-150 Polaris, was painted in a similar paint scheme. http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/v2/equip/hst/707-eng.asp
The CC-150 fleet’s existing maintenance support contractor, L-3 MAS, decided that the painting would take place at Dean Baldwin Aircraft Painting, LP, located in New Mexico. L-3 MAS selected this company after approaching Canadian suppliers, which were either unavailable or did not have the capability to paint aircraft as large as the CC-150 Polaris.
Because of the timing of the repainting, and by using a design created within the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Government of Canada was able to minimize cost differentials involved in adopting a new paint scheme for Aircraft 15001.
The total cost of repainting the aircraft with the new design is expected to be about $50,000 to $55,000 more than the previous design’s cost.
The redesign of the paint scheme on Aircraft 15001 will have no operational impact on the aircraft, and the Royal Canadian Air Force plans to continue employing the repainted aircraft as part of the overall CC-150 fleet.
