Most military analysts would undoubtedly tell you that the CF-18 Hornet, which is officially designated as the CF-188, is the Royal Canadian Air Force’s most popular fighter jet. It is not only the RCAF’s only active fighter type today, but it is also the aircraft that has defined Canadian fighter operations for multiple decades. The RCAF itself still highlights the CF-18 as its longest-serving frontline fighter and notes that Hornet demonstrations have been a continued staple of Canadian air shows since the 1980s.