For over seven decades, Cold Lake has been the proud home of 4 Wing, the largest and busiest fighter aircraft wing of the Canadian Armed Forces. With two CF-18 Hornet fighter squadrons (401 and 409 Tactical Fighter) and two training squadrons (410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training and 419 Tactical Fighter Training), 4 Wing's primary mission is to provide mission-ready fighter aircraft, personnel and equipment to protect and defend Canada's interests at home and abroad. 4 Wing contributes to the joint safety and security of North American airspace through participation in the ongoing NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) mission, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Along with world-class pilots, instructors and support crews, the massive Cold Lake Air Weapons Range has firmly established Cold Lake as one of the world's premiere fighter bases. Located approximately 30 kilometres north of the city of Cold Lake, the CLAWR is a 12,000 square kilometer tract of unrestricted airspace used for pilot training. The range offers a wide array of training environments including thick boreal forest, grassland and numerous lakes, along with over 600 targets, 100 realistic target complexes, simulated airports with runways, tarmacs, aircraft and buildings, military equipment including tanks, simulated radar and missile launching sites, industrial sites, and command and control centres. The ability to simulate nearly-endless training scenarios and flying conditions on the CLAWR make it a popular destination for military training exercises which often draw top gun crews from around the world.
Aviation enthusiasts in Cold Lake don't usually have to wait long to catch a glimpse of a CF-18 Hornet or a CT-155 Hawk heading out to the CLAWR or returning from a training mission. To see the aircraft up close during taxi and take-off, and any number of visiting military aircraft, visit the viewing area on Kingsway Road (look for a gravel parking lot with bleacher seating and picnic tables). Visitors are also encouraged to stop by 4 Wing Gateway Park on Veteran's Way to take in the displays of historical and current aircraft. When you're finished on the base, head up the aptly-named "Radar Hill" and stop by the Cold Lake Museums to learn more about the history of 4 Wing Cold Lake and the Royal Canadian Air Force (and climb inside a real former radar dome which helped protect North America from the Soviet Union during the Cold War!)
4 Wing is proud to host one of Canada's premiere air shows. Every other year, aviation and aircraft enthusiasts are treated to a dazzling display of military aircraft capabilities, civilian aviation performances and static ground displays. The 2022 air show was a great success with over 27,000 people coming out to take in the excitement. The next Cold Lake Air Show is scheduled for 2024. Information will be available on the Cold Lake Air Show website as the date draws near.
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