Your American History Reference Guide! - List of aircraft of the RAF
List of aircraft of the RAF
Many aircraft types have served in the Royal Air Force since it was formed in 1918 by the merger of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service . Here can be found a list of RAF aircraft , those types that have served and been retired by the RAF, and also those types that are currently in service. The aircraft are listed in alphabetic order of their RAF type name, and then in mark order within that type.
For an explanation of the alphanumeric codes that follow many of the aircraft, please see here .
Regular service with the RAF
0-9
A
Bell Airacobra I - USA - single engine, piston - interceptor
Fairey Albacore - UK
Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle I, II, V, VI - UK
Avro Aldershot III - UK
Hawker Siddeley Andover C1, CC2, E3 - UK
Avro Anson I, X, C11, XII, C19, T21 - UK
Armstrong Whitworth Argosy C1, E1 - UK
Fairchild Argus -UK
Armstrong Whitworth Atlas - UK
Hawker Audax - UK
British Taylorcraft Auster I, III, IV, V, AOP 6, AOP 9 - UK
B
Boulton Paul Balliol T2 - UK
Martin Baltimore I, II, III, IV, V - UK
Beagle Basset CC 1 UK
Fairey Battle I, II, III, V -UK
Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2 a, b, c, d, e
BE3
BE4
BE8
BE8a
BE12
BE12a
BE12b
Bristol Beaufighter I,II,VI,X,XI
Bristol Beaufort I,II
Be 17 - Beechcraft 17 Travelaire - USA - Twin engine, piston - light transport
Short Belfast C1 - UK
Westland Belvedere - UK Twin-rotor transport helicopter (Also known as Bristol Belvedere
Blackburn Beverley - UK Military Freighter
Avro Bison - UK
Bristol Blenheim I, IV,V - UK
Bristol Bombay - UK
Douglas Boston I, II, III, III (Turbinlite), IV, V
Blackburn Botha I - UK Torpedo Bomber
Bristol Brigand B1, Met 3
Bristol F2b Fighter
Bristol Scout
Bristol Britannia C1, C2
Blackburn Buccaneer S2
Bristol Buckingham
Bristol Buckmaster
Brewster Buffalo I
Scottish Aviation Bulldog II (modern trainer)
Bristol Bulldog (pre-WW2 fighter)
C
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
Sopwith Camel
Fairey Campania
English Electric Canberra B2, PR3, T4, B6, PR7, B(I)8, PR9, T11, B15, E15, B16, T17, TT18, T19
Consolidated Catalina I,II,III,IV - USA - Twin engine, piston - amphibious scout
Caproni Ca 42 (served for 1 month) - IT
Caudron G II, III, IV
Boeing-Vertol Chinook HC1, HC2, HC2A, HC3 - twin rotor heavy lift helicopter
De Havilland Chipmunk T10
Saro Cloud
Handley Page Clive
Cody V
De Havilland Comet (transport) C2, C2(RC), C4
Consolidated Coronado I - USA
Sopwith Cuckoo
Curtiss JN 3
Curtiss JN 4
Curtiss H12
Curtiss H16
General Aircraft GA42 Cygnet
D
E
F
Fairey III A, B, C, D, F
Fairey Fawn
Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2 a, b, d
FE8
Felixstowe F2A, F3, F5
De Havilland Flamingo (DH 95)
Ford Trimotor 5-ATD
Boeing Fortress I, II
Fairey Fox
De Havilland Fox Moth (DH 83)
Fairey Fulmar II
Hawker Fury I, II
G
H
Handley Page Hadrian
Handley Page Halifax I, II, III, V, VI, VII, A7, VIII, A9
Hamble Baby
Hamble Baby Convert
Handley Page Hampden I
Hawker Hardy
Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR1, GR3 UK - Single engine, jet, vertical take off and landing
BAe/McDonnell Douglas Harrier II GR5, GR7, GR7A, GR9, GR9A, T10 - Single engine, jet vertical take off and landing
Handley Page Harrow I, II
Hawker Hart
North American Harvard I, II, IIA, IIB, III - USA
Handley Page Hastings C1, C2, C4, Met 1
Douglas Havoc I, I(Turbinlite), II, II (Turbinlite) - USA - Twin engine, piston - Attack
British Aerospace Hawk T1, T1A, T1W
Heck III
Hawker Hector
Handley Page Hendon II, III
Hawker Henley
Lockheed Hercules C1, C3, C4, C5 - US - Lockheed - Four engine, turbine, transport
Handley Page Hereford
De Havilland Heron C4
Handley Page Heyford I, II, III
Hiller HTE-2 - USA - Helicopter
Handley Page Hinaidi
Hawker Hind
De Havilland Hornet F1, F3
De Havilland Hornet Moth (DH 87)
Hawker Horsley
Sikorsky Hoverfly I,II
Handley Page H.P.42 - Imperial Airways 4-engine airliner
Hawker Siddeley HS 125 CC1, CC2, CC3
Lockheed Hudson I, II, III, IV, V, VI - USA - Twin engine, piston - transport
Hawker Hunter F1, F2, F4, F5,F6, FGA9, FR9
Hawker Hurricane I, II, IV
Handley Page Hyderabad
De Havilland Hummingbird
I
J
SEPECAT Jaguar GR1, GR1A, GR1B, GR3, GR3A, T4
Gloster Javelin FAW1, FAW2, FAW3, FAW5, FAW6, FAW7, FAW8, FAW9
BAC Jet Provost
BAe Jetstream
K
Blackburn Kangaroo
Curtiss Kittyhawk I, II, III, IV - USA - Single engine pursuit -[ USAA Desig. P-40]
L
Avro Lancaster I, PR1, II, III, GR, ASR3, VI, VII, B7, X
Avro Lancastrian C2
Saro Lerwick I
De Havilland Leopard Moth (DH 85)
Consolidated Liberator I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX - USA - Consolidated Vultee -four engine, piston - bomber
English Electric Lightning F1, F1A, F2, F2A, F3, F6
Avro Lincoln B2
Lockheed 12
Lockheed 14
Lockheed Lodestar (usually known as Ventura in service) - USA - Twin engine, piston - transport
Saro London I, II
Westland Lysander I, II, III
M
Miles Magister
Avro Manchester I, IA
Handley Page Marathon
Martin Marauder I, II, III - USA - Twin engine, piston - light attack/bomber
Martin Mariner I
Miles Martinet
Martinsyde S1
Martinsyde G100
Martinsyde G102
Martin Maryland
Miles Master I, II, III, Fighter
Miles Mentor
Miles Messenger
European Helicopter Industries Merlin HC3
Gloster Meteor I, III, F3, F4, F8, FR9, PR10, NF11, NF12, NF13, NF14
North American Mitchell II, III - USA - Twin engine, piston - bomber
Curtiss Mohawk III, IV - USA - Single engine, piston - pursuit (see Curtis Kittyhawk)
Morane BB
Morane H
Morane I
Morane L
Morane LA
Morane N
Morane P
Morane V
De Havilland Mosquito II, IV, VI, VII, IX, XII, XIII, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX, B20, XXV, B25, FB26, XXX, NF30, XXXII, XXXIV, PR34, XXXV, B35, PR35, XXXVI, NF36 - UK - Twin engine, piston - attack, recon -
De Havilland Moth & Moth Major(DH 60)
de Havilland Moth Minor (DH 94)
North American Mustang I, II, III, IV - USA - North American Aviation - Single engine, piston - pursuit
N
Lockheed Neptune MR1
Nieuport Nighthawk (trial only)
Miles Nighthawk
Nieuport Nightjar
BAe Nimrod MR1, MR2, R1, AEW3 - four engine jet maritime patrol aircraft and failed British AWACS design
Northrop N3P-B - USA
O
P
Parnall Panther
Hunting Percival Pembroke C1, C(PR)1
Percival Q6
Blackburn Perth
McDonnel Douglas Phantom FG1, FGR2, F-4J[UK] - USA - Lockheed - Twin engine, jet, fighter
Phoenix
Scottish Aviation Pioneer CC1
Percival Prentice T1
Percival Proctor I, II, III, IV
Percival Provost
Westland/Aerospatiale Puma HC1
Sopwith Pup
De Havilland Puss Moth (DH 80)
R
S
North American Sabre F4 - USA - Single engine, jet, fighter/interceptor
Salamandar
Saro A7
Supermarine Scapa
Scion Senior
Neiuport Scout
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a
Short Seaford (trials only)
Gloster Sea Gladiator
Westland Sea King HAR3, HAR3A
Fairey Seal
Supermarine Sea Otter
Raytheon Sentinel - ASTOR
Vultee-Stinson Sentinel - USA
Boeing Sentry AEW1 - USA - Boeing - Four engine, jet - Patrol/Recon - aka AWACS
Avro Shackleton MR1, MR2, AEW2, MR3
Boulton Paul Sidestrand
Short Singapore II, III
Armstrong Whitworth Siskin III, IIIA
Bell Sioux
Saro Skeeter
Douglas Skymaster I - USA
SM 73P
SM 79K
Sopwith Snipe - UK
Supermarine Southampton - UK
SPAD S.VII - FR
SPAD S.XIII - FR
Supermarine Spitfire C, D, I, II, IV, V, VI, PR VII, VII, VIII, IX X, XI, XII, XIV, 14, XVI, 16, XVIII, 18, XIX, PR19, F21, F22 - UK - Single engine, piston - pursuit
Stampe SV 4B
Short Stirling I, III, IV, V
Supermarine Stranraer
Short Sunderland I, II, III, V, GR5
Supermarine Swift F1, F2, FR5
Fairey Swordfish I, III
Bristol Sycamore HC11, HC12, HC13, HC14
T
Taylorcraft Plus C, C1, D
Hawker Tempest II, F2, V, VI, F6
Republic Thunderbolt I, II - USA - Republic Aviation - Single engine, piston - pursuit
De Havilland Tiger Moth I, II, Queen Bee
Curtiss Tomahawk I, II - USA - Single engine, piston - pursuit (see Curtiss Mohawk, Kitthawk)
Hawker Tomtit
Panavia Tornado GR1, GR1A, GR1B, GR4 , GR4A, F2, F3
Lockheed Tristar C1, KC1, C2, C2A - USA - Three engine, jet, transport/refueling
Shorts Tucano
Avro Tutor
Grob Tutor T1
Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer CC1, CC2
Twin Squirrel HCC1
Hawker Typhoon I
Eurofighter Typhoon T1
V
Handley Page V/1500
Vickers Valentia
Vickers Valetta C1
Vickers Valiant B1, B1(K), B(PR)1, B(PR)K1
De Havilland Vampire F1, F3, FB5, FB9, NF 10
Vickers Varsity T1
Vickers VC-10 C1, C1(K), K2, K3, K4 - UK - four engine, jet transport
Vega Gull - USA
Vultee Vengeance I, II, III, IV - USA
de Havilland Venom FB1, NF2, NF3, FB4
Lockheed Ventura I, II, V (Lodestar in civilian service) - USA - Twin engine, piston - transport
Vickers Vernon
Handley Page Victor B1, B1A, K1, K1A, B2, B2R, B2(SR), K2
Vickers Victoria
Vultee-Stinson Vigilant - USA
Vickers Vildebeest I, II, III, IV
Vickers Vimy
Vickers Viking
Vickers Vincent
Vickers Virginia II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X
Avro Vulcan B1, B1A, B2, B2A, B2(MAA), B2(K)
W
Westland Wallace
Westland Walrus
Supermarine Walrus
Westland Wapiti
Vickers Warwick I, III, V
Boeing Washington B1 - USA - Four engine, piston - Strategic bomber
Westland Welkin
Vickers Wellesley
Vickers Wellington I, II, III, IV, VI, VIII, X, XI, XIII, XIV, XVI
Westland Wessex HC2, HAR2, HCC4, HU5C
Westland Whirlwind (fixed wing) I
Westland Whirlwind (rotary wing) HAR2, HAR4, HAR10, HCC12
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley I, II, III, IV, V, VII
Miles Whitney Straight A, B
Foster Wikner Warferry (Foster Wikner Wicko)
Hawker Woodcock II
Y
Captured or Interned
Captured or interned examples of the following aircraft were at one time flown by the RAF.
Pre-RAF
The following types were flown by the RFC or RNAS but phased out before the creation of the RAF:
Avro Type E
Avro Type Es
BE1
Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 a, b, c, d
Blériot XI
Blériot XXI
Blériot Parasol
Breguet Biplane
Bristol Boxkite
Bristol Coanda Monoplane
Bristol M1B
Bristol M1C
Bristol Prier Monoplane
Deperdussin Monoplane - FR
DH 1A
Airco DH.2
Farman F40
Farman
Henry Farman III
Henry Farman Biplane
Henry Farman F20
Henry Farman F27
Armstrong Whitworth FK3
Armstrong Whitworth FK8
Handley Page O/100
Handley Page O/400
HP 42
Farman MF 7 Longhorn
Nieuport Monoplane
Nieuport 11
Nieuport 12
Nieuport 16
Nieuport 17
Nieuport 20
Nieuport 23
Nieuport 24
Nieuport 27
RE1
RE5
RE7
SE2
SE2a
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
Short 184
Short 320
Short Bomber
Short R.24
Short R.31
Short S.23M
Short S.26M
Shorthorn
Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter
Sopwith 3-Seater
Sopwith Baby
Sopwith Tabloid
Sopwith Triplane
Vickers Boxkite
Vickers FB 'Gun Carrier'
Vickers FB 5
Vickers FB 9
Vickers ES 1
Vickers FB19 MkII
Voisin LA
Voisin LA.S
Wright Converted
Training gliders
The following Gliders are or were flown by RAF training squadrons:
Kirby Cadet
Grasshopper Primary Glider
Slingsby T21 Sedburgh
Slingsby Venture
Grob Vigilant T1 - Self Launching Motor Glider
Grob Viking TX 1
External links and references