This year saw the 50th iteration of the ‘Maple Flag’ series of exercises held at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta.

A CF-188 holds station on a RCAF CC-130H(T) during a tanker bracket.

A gaggle of Hornets awaits take-oficlearance at CFB Cold Lake for a ‘Maple Flag’ mission.
DATING BACK TO 1978 and initially conducted with US assistance, Exercise ‘Maple Flag’ was a bi-annual event until 1987 when it evolved from being a six-week exercise comprised of three two-week periods, to being a four-week event with two distinct periods.