The Tutor served as the Canadian Armed Forces primary jet trainer from the 1960s up until 2000, at which point it was finally retired from this role, having been replaced by a combination of the newer British-built CT-155 Hawk and American-built CT-156 Harvard II.

This early manufacturing activity was performed in a secretive fashion at the company’s Plant 4 facility, which housed Canadair’s Missiles & Systems division.

[3] While the prototype was powered by a single Pratt & Whitney JT12A-5 turbojet engine, this would be substituted for by a General Electric J85 powerplant for the subsequent production aircraft that followed.

[5] The cabin, which is fitted with a rear-hinged canopy over both crew members, can be pressurized to a differential of 3 psi (20 kPa), the equivalent to an altitude of about 2,000 m, for pilot comfort.

During 1976, the Canadian Armed Forces decided to have 113 of the remaining aircraft furnished with upgraded avionics and provisions for a pair of belly-mounted 41 US gal (155 L) external fuel tanks.

[2] During 2000, the majority of Tutors were retired, the type having been succeeded as the RCAF's principal training aircraft by a combination of the newer British-built CT-155 Hawk and American-built CT-156 Harvard II.

[6] Since then, it has continued to be used in limited numbers by the service for both experimental (by the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE) at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta) and aerial display purposes.

[6] During 1967, a batch of ten Tutors were modified for use as a formation aerobatic aircraft by the RCAF (and later the unified Canadian Armed Forces) display team, the Golden Centennaires to celebrate Canada's centennial year.

In 1971, a new formation team was formed at 2CFFTS (Two Canadian Armed Forces Flying Training School) at CFB Moose Jaw, and once again adopted the type.

[7] Since its formation, the Snowbirds display team has regularly performed at air shows and special events, including the annual flypast on Canada Day over the capital city, Ottawa.

[8] According to journalist Guy Norris, a defining trait of their aerobatics is the physically-demanding formation flights performed, as well as locally-developed manoeuvres such as the ‘Big Goose’.

[4] Those Tutors used by the Snowbirds feature several modifications distinguishing them from standard examples; these include a smoke generating system, a highly-recognisable paint scheme unique to the display team, and a highly-tuned engine for greater responsiveness during low-level flying.

This model was powered by an uprated engine and fitted with underwing hard points, the latter of which allowed for the carriage of various external stores, including up to 4,000 lb (1814 kg) of weapons and drop tanks.