Airbus CC-150T Polaris

The Airbus CC-150 Polaris is a militarised conversion of the Airbus 310-300 airliner. The Polaris is capable of being used as a transporter, passenger aircraft, VIP transport or aerial refueler. The five Polaris airframes were previously operated by Wardair as commercial airliners and were converted during the early 1990s to include a side opening cargo door.

All five Polaris’ are operated by 437 Transport Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force. When first delivered the Polaris was not capable of air refuelling however 2 aircraft were converted into tankers during 2008. This provided Canada with a strategic air refuelling capability which it had lost when the CC-137 was retired in 1997 which had left the C-130 Hercules as the only aerial refueler in Canadian Service.

The RCAF will be sending a single Polaris for static display at this year’s Air Tattoo as part of our celebration of 100th anniversary of the air arm.

Photo Credit: Royal Canadian Air Force