Oddly, the announcement posted to Facebook doesn’t include any pictures yet…
The Honourable Rob Nicholson, PC, QC, MP for Niagara Falls and Minister of National Defence and Lieutenant-General Yvan Blondin, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), unveiled the new RCAF uniform today at the Battle of Britain ceremony in Ottawa.
Main aspects of the new uniform, are drawn from pre-unification rank insignia while the design also maintains the modern elements and terminology familiar to serving members and militaries around the world. The insignia for most ranks will be recognizable as the symbols that air force personnel have worn for nearly half a century.
In recognition of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the RCAF, rank insignia and national shoulder titles for both officers and non-commissioned members will return to a distinctive pearl-grey stitching, the original colour worn by RCAF non-commissioned members until 1968. Dress tunic buttons will not change in design but their colour will switch from gold to silver. General officers headdress piping (embroidery) will also change from gold-coloured to pearl-grey.
The rumoured rank insignia and name changes have not been decided upon yet, except that the new rank “Aviator” will replace the current “Private”, “Airman”, and “Airwoman”. The rank insignia is a single stitched propeller.
Update:
The new #RCAF ranks and insignia poster: #Tradition @CanadianForces @CanMNews @CFOperations pic.twitter.com/zy4tTje9P4
— RCAF (@RCAF_ARC) September 21, 2014
The new #RCAF uniform, with more pics here on FB: http://t.co/dWIFln7NAm #Tradition @CanadianForces @CFOperations pic.twitter.com/SxmeNDK5OU
— RCAF (@RCAF_ARC) September 21, 2014
