Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm
First F-35B for Royal Navy’s 809 NAS on show at RAF Marham
The first F-35B to be assigned to the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm’s 809 Naval Air Squadron – which is being formally stood up today (December 8) as the UK’s second operational frontline Lightning II squadron at RAF Marham in Norfolk – has received special markings to celebrate the occasion
Taranto - A turning point for naval aviation
Until 1940, the debate continued to rage over the true power of the carrier aircraft. That November, 21 dated biplanes proved the point. This article is taken from a new special magazine from Key Publishing called 'Carrier Aircraft of the Propeller Era'
UK MOD told to consider advantages of operating mixed F-35A/B fleet
The UK parliament’s Defence Select Committee was told that the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review set out plans for the UK to buy 138 F-35B Lightning IIs. As of May 1, 2023, the UK had taken delivered of 31 F-35Bs, with a total of 48 due to be delivered by the end of 2025 as part of an initial Tranche 1 order
Firefly returns to Duxford after more than 20 years
IWM’s early example of Fairey carrier fighter comes back from Fleet Air Arm Museum loan
Success for Royal Navy in Wildcat’s first air-to-air firing of Martlet missile
In a recent series of trials, an AW159 Wildcat HMA2 multi-mission maritime helicopter from the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm’s 815 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset, carried out the first successful test firing of a Martlet lightweight multi-role missile against an aerial target
What could the upcoming Integrated Review Refresh mean for British airpower?
For the second time in two years the British government is conducting a defence review. The Integrated Review Refresh exercise is supposed to be in response to the Ukraine crisis, but the UK's economic situation means there is little extra money to boost airpower capabilities. Tim Ripley investigates
Cost of UK's final Tranche 1 F-35B Lightning IIs to increase
The price of the final Tranche 1 F-35B Lightning II fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighters to be acquired by the UK is set to rise by 6%, the Ministry of Defence has revealed
UK Lightning Force struck by maintenance crew shortage
The introduction of the UK’s Lightning Force is being held back due to a lack of trained ground crew personnel; a British government minister has revealed
105-year-old Fleet Air Arm veteran interview
Ronny Scott was one of more than 2,000 Argentine volunteers who joined the British forces in World War Two. Today, aged 105, he is among the oldest surviving Fleet Air Arm veteran pilots. But he still has a vivid memory of his aviation career
Catapults and carriers: How the Hurricane was made into the Sea Hurricane
Launched by rocket-powered catapult from ships without flight decks, and later flying from escort carriers, the Sea Hurricane and its pilots fought with incredible distinction, as Paul E Eden explained in the March 2014 issue of Aviation News