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This is a list of military aircraft currently in service with the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom . Royal Air Force. RAF Red Arrows. RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Army Air Corps. Fleet Air Arm. Ministry of Defence.
TypeOriginClassRoleUnited KingdomJetUnited States [8]JetStealth Multi-roleUnited StatesJetAW&CUnited StatesPropellerProfiles of all the RAF's active aircraft - role, capability, specifications, recognition, history, current squadrons and stations.
Many aircraft types have served in the British Royal Air Force since its formation in April 1918 from the merger of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service. This is a list of RAF aircraft, including all currently active and retired types listed in alphabetic order by their RAF type name.
ManufacturerTypeOriginClassSopwithUKPropellerLockheed MartinUSAJetFaireyIII C, D & F [1]UKPropellerBristolUKPropeller- Background
- Use by Other Air Arms
- Roundel History
- Roundel Sizes
- Fin Flash
- Colours
- Gallery
- See Also
- References
- External Links
When the First World War started in 1914 it was the habit of ground troops to fire on all aircraft, friend or foe, so that the need for some form of identification mark became evident. At first the Union Flag was painted under the wings and on the sides of the fuselage. It soon became obvious that at a distance the St George's Cross of the Union Fl...
Aside from the RAF, the Royal Navy's Royal Naval Air Service (First World War) and later the Fleet Air Arm, as well as the air elements of the British Armyall adopted the same roundels. Many nations that had been within the British Empire and Commonwealthcontinued to use British roundels despite having achieved independence, including Canada, Austr...
The use of letters (A, B, C, D) to denote different versions of roundels does not come from official documents, but rather from attempts by historians in the 1950s to catalogue the various roundels being used. Official documents instead provided dimensions in inches. Since most sources now use this nomenclature it has been included here.
Pre-war
Up until mid-1938, roundel sizes tended to vary widely, depending on the type of aircraft; the exception to the use of type A roundels for all aircraft was seen on the overall NIVO (dark green) painted night bombers (e.g., Handley Page Heyfords) which used type B roundels. Roundels used on aircraft painted in NIVO were duller than the normal colours. The size of the roundel was generally determined by the space available at the specified location, with a space of several inches around the edg...
Second World War
By the beginning of the Second World War on 3 September 1939, RAF roundel sizes started to show more conformity. On 30 October, all commands were ordered to change upper wing surface Type B roundels to Type A. Further instructions ordered all but fighters and night bombers to have Type A under the wing tips. This was clarified in November to the effect that only reconnaissance maritime aircraft (e.g., Short Sunderlandflying boats) would have the Type A on the upper wings but all aircraft woul...
All current Royal Air Force aircraft carry a flash on the fin. This is either red/white/blue, or red/blue, the latter normally being used on camouflaged aircraft, with the red stripe forward. Aircraft painted anti-flash white in the nuclear strike role had a pale pink and blue flash, the same shades as the roundels, to reflect some of the thermal r...
Roundel and fin-flash colours changed several times during the First World War because of severe problems with fading. The third standard (VB3 and VR3) would be used until the early 1930s when much brighter colours replaced the red and blue at the same time that rudder stripes were omitted. The red and blue were both duller and less saturated than ...
Citations
The RAAF roundels were not SEAC type as the RAAF did not come under RAF command in the Pacific Theatre.
Bibliography
1. Bowyer, Michael J F. Fighting Colours; RAF fighter camouflage and markings, 1937–1969.. London: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1970. ISBN 0-85059-041-8 2. Bowyer, Michael J F. Bombing Colours; Royal Air Force Bombers, their Markings and Operations, 1937–73. London: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1973. ISBN 0-85059-128-7 3. Hooton, Ted. "Spitfire Camouflage 1938–1940: Article and Scale Drawings." Scale Aircraft Modelling,Vol 5 No 2 November 1982. Berkhampstead, Herts UK. 4. Robertson, Bruce. Aircraft Camou...
Current aircraft of the Royal Air Force including attack, bomber, cargo transport, special mission, fighter, Search and Rescue, aerial tanker, remote-piloted, reconnaissance, trainer and utility types.
May 25, 2024 · United Kingdom. Founded. 1 Apr 1918. Group / Part of. Government of the United Kingdom. Subsidiaries. Empire Test Pilots' School (2 aircraft) Headquarters. RAF High Wycombe.
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Full list of aircraft with tail codes operated by the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and British Army.
