Royal Air Force (RAF)
RAF A400M is air-to-air refuelled for the first time
A RAF Airbus A400M Atlas C1, serial ‘ZM406’, has been refuelled whilst airborne for the first time. This milestone was achieved during recent trials conducted by 206 Squadron. The squadron is the test and evaluation squadron for heavy aircraft of the UK defence stationed at RAF Brize Norton, Oxford
UK and US extend Airseeker support until 2035
The UK and US have moved to extend an existing support deal for the RC-135W Rivet Joint (Airseeker) electronic surveillance aircraft until 2035 in a deal worth £970m
Unearthed – 1942 visit to an RAF Boston squadron
Despite World War Two still raging the press were invited to visit a squadron of the RAF’s new Douglas Bostons and experience flying in the bomber, as reported in the April 17, 1942 issue of ‘The Aeroplane’
RAF F-35Bs work with Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2)
RAF Lockheed Martin F-35Bs from 617 Squadron operating from HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) have participated in a maritime partnership exercise with the US Navy (USN), Royal Australian Navy and Japan Maritime Self Defense force (JMSDF)
Training RAF Hunter Pilots in the 1950s
A revealing article on the challenges of training pilots on the Hunter in its early days of service with the RAF, as published in ‘The Aeroplane’ in its August 3, 1956 issue
Stirling Service
The Short Stirling was the first of the three RAF heavy bombers to enter service in World War Two. Malcolm V Lowe tells the story of this famous RAF warplane
V-force: End of the deterrent
As the 1960s drew on, times changed for the ‘V-force’. No more was it a triumvirate of types, and no longer was the strategic nuclear deterrent to the fore
RAF receives seventh Poseidon MRA1
The RAF took delivery of its seventh Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1 on October 19, when the maritime patrol aircraft arrived at its home station of RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland, following an Atlantic crossing from Boeing’s facility near Seattle, Washington
RAF Typhoons prove ACE concept capability during Op Shader
Eurofighter Typhoon FRG4s from the 903 Expeditionary Air Wing at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, have forward deployed to an undisclosed location in the Middle East for Operation Blue Dragon
Israel kicks off its largest ever multinational exercise
Israel kicked off its largest ever aerial exercise on October 17, after aircraft from the UK; France; Germany; Greece; Italy; India and the US arrived at Ovda Air Base in Eilat to participate in Exercise Blue Flag 21