The Big 2 – Big 2 1990's Reunion 2025

History of The Big 2

On March 13, 1952 an Organization Order was issued, reactivating the air force base at Moose Jaw (effective June 1, 1952) as part of the RCAF's training expansion. The station became No. 2 Flying Training School (FTS) when that unit was relocated from Gimli, Manitoba, from May 4 to June 22, 1953. Prior to 1964, the Harvard and CT-133 Silver Star were the training aircraft used by No. 2 FTS.

The “Big 2” or 2 Canadian Forces Flight Training School, as it was later known operated the venerable CT-114 Tutor from 1964 until 1999, when it was replaced by the CT-156 Harvard II and the CT-155 Hawk. During the Tutor days, students flew either a 140-hour program if they were headed for rotary wing training, or a 200-hour program if they were destined for fixed wing operations.

The Big 2, as part of 15 Wing, is also one of the facilities of the “NATO Flying Training in Canada” (NFTC) program. Student pilots at the school today are in the Advanced Training section of the pilot training program as follows:

Phase II – Basic course with the CT-156 Harvard II after which students will be streamed into the different platforms (jet, multi-engine, or helicopter).

Phase III Jet – Advanced course on the CT-156 Harvard II

Phase IV Conversion – Conversion to the CT-155 Hawk to prepare students for further training at CFB Cold Lake.