On 2 February 1968 all assets of the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force were unified into the Canadian Armed Forces, which thus became the first modern defense force to be fully integrated on land, at sea, and in the air.

Formed during the Cold War, the air element of the CAF was the largest component, with major commitments to both NORAD in North America and NATO in Europe, as well as a growing role in the protection of Canada's sovereignty in the Arctic. This book traces the history of aircraft on charge at the time of the reorganization. It also records aircraft acquired by the newly created Canadian Armed Forces, for the thirty years which have passed since unification.

The fifteen aircraft types, representing the operational fleets, which were under abridgment”at that time are also included, even though they entered service several years before the formation of the Canadian Forces. Many of these aircraft have multiple listings, although aircraft purchased after unification did not undergo such registration changes.

Complete listings of tow aircraft and gliders operated by the Air Cadet League of Canada, as well as aircraft with Canadian civil registrations operated at the Canadian Aviation Training Centre at Southport, Manitoba are included. The book also provides coverage of aircraft transitions both out of, and into Canadian and foreign civil and military incarnations. 90 pages of photographs include examples of each type of aircraft and of some types in their RCAF and CF registrations.