Welcome to our page dedicated to the Royal Air Force. The RAF is one of the largest air forces in Europe and was formed on 1st April 1918, having previously been known as the Royal Flying Corps.
Like most modern air forces the R.A.F has been down-sized in recent years, particularly since the fall of the Warsaw Pact and the many commitments it had during the 'Cold War' no longer being necessary. The vast numbers of aircraft based in mainland Europe are no more and many bases in the United Kingdom have also been closed.
However, the Royal Air Force is going through somewhat of a modernisation programme at present, with the British Aerospace Typhoon coming on board to replace the Jaguar, Tornado and eventually the Harrier. The veteran Hawk trainers are to be supplemented by new BAe SystemsHawk T.2's and two new McDonnell-Douglas C-17 Globemasters have supplemented the four originally in service. Add to this the replacement of the majority of Lockheed C-130K Hercules with the 'J' model C.4's and C.5's in recent years, plus the long awaited decision on the new tanker/transport aircraft (which is to be the Airbus A.330) to replace the ancient but wonderful VC-10 and Lockheed Tri-star and the R.A.F has a lot to look forward to.
With its commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan not looking like coming to an end in the near future however, the R.A.F is constantly stretched to the limit. Here we will show you some of the aircraft presently operated by the R.A.F. We have limited the photograph's to those in 'standard camouflage' only, thus not including anniversary or non-standard patterns.
This page will be updated on a regular basis so keep coming back for a look.
British Aerospace Harrier GR.7A.
Still going strong in RAF service and providing frontline support to the ground troops in Afghanistan
Squirrel HT.1 ZJ254 used by the DHFS at Shawbury. Seen at its home base 27-9-07
XR807 VC-10 C.1K on approach to Brize Norton 8-2-06
The only Sea Kings operated by the Royal Air Force are HAR.3s of 22 squadron. This one is XZ593
Lockheed L.1011 Tristar KC.1 ZD952 of 216 Sqn at Brize Norton. This airframe is in the original white colour scheme,
which was eventually replaced with a more familiar overall grey as seen below on ZE706
ZE706, a Tristar C.2A lands at Brize Norton on 20th June 2008
ZJ802 Bae Typhoon T.1 of 29 Sqn on approach at Coningsby 3-6-06. 29 squadron is the Operational Conversion Unit
(O.C.U) for the Typhoon and operates a mix of single seat F.2 and a large number of two seat T.1aircraft.
ZJ924 a Typhoon F.2 of 3 Sqn at Coningsby 3-6-06.
3 Sqn is the first front-line squadron to operate the Typhoon in Royal Air Force service
Typhoon F.2 ZJ921 of 29(R) Squadron based at Coningsby 15-7-06
Typhoon ZJ811, a two-seat T.1 from 11 Squadron seen at its home base of Coningsby on 16th October 2008
Beech Kingair 200 from 45(R) Sqn at RAF Cranwell doing touch & goes at nearby RAF Coningsby on 3-6-06
33 Sqn Puma HC.1 from Benson ZA937 seen at Kleine Brogel in Belgium
Dominie T.1 of 55(R) Sqn is based at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire
Operated by 32 (The Royal) Sqn is the venerable Hawker Siddeley HS.125
A Grob Tutor used by the RAF's University Air Squadrons seen at Northolt 11-6-06
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ZR322 of 32(The Royal) Sqn seen at it's home base of Northolt 11-6-06.
Three such aircraft had only recently replaced the Twin Squirrels previously operated.
The R.A.F's primary trainer has for some time been the Shorts Tucano T.1 This example being from 207 Squadron
The other squadron making up 1 FTS at Linton is 72 Squadron shown above
A Hawk T.1 from 4FTS based at RAF Valley
Supplementing the Hawk T.1's from 2009 is a batch of 26 Bae Hawk T.2's such as ZK020 above from 19 Sqn.
Together with the majority of Hawk T.1's the T.2's will also be based at RAF Valley in North Wales
Argue if you like, but this is the worlds premier display team. The Royal Air Force's Red Arrows
Seen on 11th July 2007 at RAF Waddington is Boeing-Vertol Chinnok HC.1 serial ZA704
111 Squadron at Leuchars in Fife, Scotland flies the PANAVIA Tornado F.3 as seen here
PANAVIA Tornado F.3 from 41 Sqn at Coningsby, seen at nearby RAF Waddington during exercise Indra Dhanush
12(B) Squadron Tornado GR.4 taxying during Exercise Crown Condor at RAF Fairford in October 2008
ZG771 of 13 squadron seen at its home base of Marham on 10/9/07. This is a twin-stick Tornado GR.4T
ZA447 a Tornado GR.4 operated by 31 Sqn seen at Northolt 11-6-06
PANAVIA Tornado GR.4 ZD707 of 15(R) Sqn based at RAF Lossiemouth
The lack of squadron markings has become a familiar sight amongst the Tornado units
Tornado GR.4 in 617 Squadron markings 9-10-2008
Griffin HT.1 ZJ234 of the Defence Helicopter Flying School based at Shawbury
ZJ703 is a Griffin HAR.2 operated by 84 Squadron based in Cyprus for SAR duties
ZJ131/P a Merlin HC.3 operated by 28 & 78 Squadrons at RAF Benson
The Merlin is the RAF's latest medium lift helicopter and due to a shortage of lift capability have been supplemented
by HC.3A airframes which were due to be delivered to the Royal Danish Air Force
ZJ990/AA is an Agusta-Westland Merlin HC.3A, most distinguishable from the HC.3 above by the nose profile
Sentinel R.1 ZJ693 is seen in the air during June 2008 at Brize Norton
The Sentinel is based on a Bombardier Global Express airframe
XW665, a Nimrod R.1 ELINT version on approach to Waddington on 6-7-07
The worlds premier maritime patrol aircraft, Nimrod MR.2 XV248 from RAF Kinloss seen at Waddington 2-7-06
R.A.F strategic airlift capability is provided by Boeing C-17A Globemasters based at Brize Norton
The RAF originally operated four such aircraft on a lease arrangement.
These have subsequently been purchased and deliveries of a fifth and sixth airframe have taken place.
Providing the RAF Air Cadets with their first powered flight is the Grob Vigilant T.1, a number of which serve with
the Volunteer Gliding Schools (VGS) around the U.K