The Cold War ends and the campaign against terrorism begins (1989-present) - part 7
During 2011, the Air Force was engaged on two fronts: the ongoing mission in Afghanistan and a new mission in the skies above and off the coast of Libya.
On February 26, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for an international arms embargo against Libya. On March 17, the Council imposed a no-fly zone over Libya to ensure the safety of civilians and civilian-populated areas.
Operation Mobile, the Canadian contribution to the NATO-led Operation Unified Protector, began in February with the evacuation of Canadians and other foreign nationals from Libya. With the second resolution, Op Mobile became a combat operation involving naval ships and a number of Air Force fleets, including fighter, transport, long-range patrol, maritime helicopter and air-to-air refuelling aircraft.
Op Mobile ended on October 31, 2011, following Gadhafi’s death and Canadian Armed Forces personnel began returning home.
When the Air Force acquired the CC-177 Globemaster III strategic airlifter in 2007 and 2008, it acquired a world-wide reach to deploy, supply and transfer resources to anywhere in the world.
The Globemaster measures 53 metres in length and has a wingspan of nearly 52 metres. It cruises between Mach .74 (about 900 kilometres per hour) and Mach .77 (about 937 kilometres per hour) and can carry 63,502 kilograms.