Royal Air Force (RAF)
Final report into UK F-35B crash raises broader operational safety concerns
Almost two years after an F-35B Lightning II assigned to the RAF’s No 617 Squadron ‘The Dambusters’ plunged into the Mediterranean following an aborted take-off attempt from HMS Queen Elizabeth, the UK MOD has released a final report of its investigation into the incident, highlighting concerns regarding safety and security aboard the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier during its first operational cruise
USAF hopes to accelerate E-7 Wedgetail procurement
USAF Chief of Staff Gen Charles Q Brown Jr, RAF Chief of the Air Staff ACM Sir Richard Knighton, and his RAAF counterpart, AM Robert Chapman, have signed a “joint vision statement” committing the three air arms to cooperate in E-7A Wedgetail “capability development, evaluation and testing, interoperability, sustainment, operations, training and safety”
Making the Eurofighter Typhoon of today fit for tomorrow
Celebrating 20 years in service, the Eurofighter Typhoon has outstanding performance as well as a wide range of weapons it can call upon and increasingly offers useful sensor capabilities. In the June 2023 issue of AIR International, Jon Lake explains why some believe the Typhoon’s best years are still to come...
BREAKING: First overseas participants confirmed for Exercise Cobra Warrior 23-2
Key.Aero can exclusively reveal the first official confirmation of overseas participants for the second Exercise Cobra Warrior of the year, which is due to take place in September
Spitfire missions of Rhodesian-manned 266 Squadron
From a special Key Publishing magazine on the Spitfire, Andrew Thomas outlines the exploits of the Rhodesian-manned 266 Squadron
Ex-Thunder City Lightning returns to UK — in 'kit' form!
F6 arrives at Binbrook as birthday present for legendary ex-Lightning unit boss
RAF Spitfire warpaint – Camouflaging a classic
The RAF’s Supermarine Spitfires wore a wide variety of camouflage schemes which illustrate how single-seat fighter camouflage evolved considerably between 1938 and the immediate post-war period. Paul E Eden examined the subject in the March 2013 issue of Aviation News.
Spitfire Mk.III – The forgotten fighter
In the January 2012 issue of Aviation News, Barry Wheeler described the Spitfire Mk.III, which played a brief but significant part in the progressive development of Britain’s greatest fighter.
UK MOD criticised over E-7A Wedgetail procurement in damning new report
The UK's decision to cut its order for Boeing E-7A Wedgetail AEW1 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft from five examples to three has been described as an "absolute folly" in a damning new report by an influential group of MPs
Spitfire versatility: three pilots’ diverse combat experiences
Through the experiences of a trio of pilots, Air Cdre Graham Pitchfork highlighted the versatility of an amazing fighter in the February 2013 issue of FlyPast