Previous RAF aircraft
Many 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
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
- Avro 504 - UK
- Avro 504K(NF) - UK
- Avro 504N -UK
B
- BAe 146 CC2 - UK
- Boulton Paul Balliol T2 - UK
- Martin Baltimore I, II, III, IV, V - UK
- Beagle Basset CC 1 UK
- Fairey Battle I -UK
- BE2e
- BE2f
- BE2g
- 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
- lackburn Beverley - UK
- Avro Bison - UK
- Bristol Blenheim I, IV,V - UK
- Handley Page Bombay - UK
- Douglas Boston I, II, III, III (Turbinlite), IV, V
- Blackburn Botha I
- Bristol Brigand B1, Met 3
- Bristol F2b Fighter
- Bristol Scout
- Bristol Britannia C1, C2
- Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S2
- 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, 4
- Curtiss H12, H16
- General Aircraft GA42 Cygnet
D
E
F
- Fairey III A, B, C, D, F
- Fairey Fawn
- FE2a
- FE2b
- FE2d
- FE8
- Felixstowe F2A, F3, F5
- De Havilland Flamingo (DH 95)
- Ford 5AT-D Trimotor - USA - Three engine, piston - transport
- Boeing Fortress I, II - USA -Boeing- Four engine, piston - bomber
- Fairey Fox
- 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
- Hawker Hardy
- Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR1, GR3 UK - Single engine, jet, vertical take off and landing
- Harrier GR5, GR7, GR7A, GR9, GR9A, T10 - Single engine, jet vertical take off and landing
- Handley Page Harrow I, II
- Hawker Hart
- North American Harvard T2 - USA - Singel engine, piston - Trainer
- 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
- 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
- Hawker Siddley 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
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 I
- Avro Manchester I
- Handley Page Marathan
- Martin Marauder I, II, III - USA - Twin engine, piston - light attack/bomber
- Martin Mariner I
- Miles Martinet I
- Martinsyde S1
- Martinsyde G100
- Martinsyde G102
- Martin Maryland
- Miles Master III
- Miles (M 16) 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 (DH 60)
- De Havilland Moth Major (DH 60)
- 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 - Four engine, turbine, patrol, recon
- Boulton Paul Overstrand
- Airspeed Oxford
P
R
S
- North American Sabre F4 - USA - Single engine, jet, fighter/interceptor
- Salamandar
- Saro A7
- Supermarine Scapa
- Scion Senior
- Neiuport Scout
- SE5a
- Short Seaford (trials only)
- Gloster Sea Gladiator
- Westland Sea King HAR3, HAR3A
- Fairey Seal
- Supermarine Sea Otter
- Vultee-Stinson Sentinel - USA
- 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
- Shorts Stirling I, III, IV, V
- Supermarine Stranraer
- Shorts 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
- 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
- Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer CC1, CC2
- Twin Squirrel HCC1
- Hawker Typhoon I
- Eurofighter Typhoon T1
V
- 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
- 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
- Whitney Straight
- 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
- BE2
- BE2a
- BE2b
- BE2c
- BE2d
- 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
- DH 2
- Farman F40
- Farman
- Henry Farman III
- Henry Farman Biplane
- Henry Farman F20
- Henry Farman F27
- Armstrong Whitworth FK3
- Armstrong Whitworth FK8
- HP O/100
- HP O/400
- HP V/1500
- 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
- SE5
- 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
- Grob Tutor T1
External links and references
- RAF Squadrons, 2nd Edition, Wing Commander C. G. Jefford MBE, BA, RAF (Retd), Airlife Publishing, Shrewsbury, 2001, ISBN 1-84037-141-2
RAF Museum collection by type
List of aircraft types and details
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