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RAF


A short history of the RAF, it's aircraft, operations and more! Please feel free to correct any mistakes or inaccuracies. This is not a political discussion thread. Keep it friendly please!

Feel welcome to discuss aircraft, avionics, share stories, ask questions, answer questions, all things RAF related basically! Just keep it somewhat PG and be considerate

- - -
What the RAF does
- - -

Defends the skies of Britain and projects Britain's power and influence around the world.

Respond to threats. Ready at a moment's notice, night or day, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.

Prevent conflict. The RAF works with partners around the world to strengthen national and international security and to protect the interests and influence of the UK and its allies.

Watch the skies. The RAF is monitoring potential threats to UK airspace 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Deliver aid. The RAF are ready to provide urgent assistance in an emergency, from floods in the UK, to the Ebola outbreak in Africa, and devastating hurricanes in the Caribbean.

Work in partnership. The RAF collaborates with government, military, and civilian partners in the UK and overseas to promote UK security, prosperity and national interests around the world.

Combat cyber threats. The RAF's cyberspace communications specialists are operating on the cutting edge to protect the RAF and UK against cyberspace threats. They monitor and safeguard IT networks, keep aircraft safe from targeting by hostile weapon systems, protect the UK's critical civilian air and space systems, and much more.

NOTE: This thread is in progress. Feel free to chat though! P6+ Bob says:

A bank PIN will keep your items secure.

Always check the second trade screen.

Never trade in the Wilderness!

Keep your computer keylogger-free and virus scanned.

Never give your password out to anyone.

27-Aug-2021 10:45:14 - Last edited on 28-Aug-2021 11:18:27 by SlR

- - -
History
- - -


For 103 years, the Royal Air Force's courage, perseverance, and innovation have secured freedom, survival, and safety for the many, at home and abroad.

Since its infancy, the RAF has demonstrated the power behind its original mission: to embody an agile, adaptable, capable air force.


- Sopwith Snipe (1918)

The birth of the Royal Air Force in 1918 was not an easy one. The potential threat to Britain's skies was first shown in 1909, when Louis Bleriot made the first flight from Calais to Dover in his monoplane, taking 36 minutes and 30 seconds to make the 20-mile trip.

With the growth of early aviation demonstrating a military opportunity, the UK War Office decided to form the Army Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers on the first of April, 1911.


- de Haviland F.E.1 (?)

King George V signed a royal warrant to combine the Army and Navy wings, establishing the Royal Flying Corps on the 13th of May, 1912.

The breakout of war in 1914 would see the first hundred thousand marched into battle, and the Royal Flying Corps took off from the white cliffs of Dover.

cont Bob says:

A bank PIN will keep your items secure.

Always check the second trade screen.

Never trade in the Wilderness!

Keep your computer keylogger-free and virus scanned.

Never give your password out to anyone.

27-Aug-2021 10:45:20 - Last edited on 28-Aug-2021 11:25:36 by SlR

- - -
RAF Aircraft (2021)
- - -

Transport

- A400M Atlas - @ RAF Brize Norton
- C-17 Globemaster - @ RAF Brize Norton
- C-130J Hercules - @ RAF Brize Norton
- Voyager - @ RAF Brize Norton
- BAE 146 - @ RAF Northolt
- A109SP (helicopter) - @ RAF Northolt

Air Refuelling

- Voyager - @ Brize Norton

Combat


- F35B Lightning - @ RAF Marham

- Typhoon FGR4 - @ RAF Lossiemouth & Coningsby

ISTAR
(Intelligence Surveillance, Targeting and Reconnaissance)

- Poseidon MRA1 - @ RAF Lossiemouth
- RC-135W Rivet Joint - @ RAF Waddington
- MQ-9A Reaper - @ RAF Waddington
- AWACS Sentry E-3D - @ RAF Waddington
- - To be replaced by E-7 Wedgetail
- Shadow R1 - @ RAF Waddington

Helicopters

- Chinook - @ RAF Odiham & Benson
- Puma HC2 - @ RAF Benson
- Griffin HAR2 - @ RAF Akrotiri

Trainers

- Hawk T1 - @ RAF Leeming
- Hawk T2 - @ RAF Valley
- Phenom T1 - @ RAF Cranwell
- Prefect T1 - @ RAF Cranwell
- Texan T1 - @ RAF Valley
- Tutor T1 - @ RAF Wittering
- Viking T1 - @ RAF Syerston
- Juno HT1 - @ RAF Valley & Shawbury
- Jupiter HT1 - @ RAF Valley

Heritage

- Supermarine Spitfire - @ RAF Coningsby
- Hawker Hurricane - @ RAF Coningsby
- Lancaster Bomber - @ RAF Coningsby
- De Havilland Chipmunk - @ RAF Coningsby
- C17 / C47 Dakota - @ RAF Coningsby Bob says:

A bank PIN will keep your items secure.

Always check the second trade screen.

Never trade in the Wilderness!

Keep your computer keylogger-free and virus scanned.

Never give your password out to anyone.

27-Aug-2021 10:45:23 - Last edited on 09-Sep-2021 12:30:50 by SlR

- - -
Aircraft History
- - -


WW1 section
(28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918)


The Bristol F2 was a British two-seater biplane fighter, and reconnaissance aircraft
- Used in the First World War. Developed by Frank Barnwell.
It was one of the first operational aircraft for the RFC (Royal Flying Corps).


The Sopwith Pup was a British single-seater biplane fighter
Built by Thomas Sopwith's aviation company.
- It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in late 1916.

However, by the spring of 1917 the 'Pup' was eventually outclassed by newer German fighters and replaced first with Sopwith tri-planes and then the Sopwith Camels.

cont Bob says:

A bank PIN will keep your items secure.

Always check the second trade screen.

Never trade in the Wilderness!

Keep your computer keylogger-free and virus scanned.

Never give your password out to anyone.

27-Aug-2021 10:45:27 - Last edited on 27-Aug-2021 13:10:59 by SlR

27-Aug-2021 10:45:29 - Last edited on 07-Sep-2021 16:56:31 by SlR

- - -
Humanitarian Missions
- - -


Operation Manna 1945 - (An Avro Lancaster with a food drop over Ypenburg, Netherlands)


Op Plainfare 1948 - Berlin Airlift - (A Douglas C-54 lands at Tempelhof Airport)


Hurricane Irma relief (Puma helicopter)


Food drops in Ethiopia (Hercules)


Typhoon Haiyan - Philippines (Hercules)


The RAF has the reach to get humanitarian aid, equipment, and people into affected areas quickly. They also evacuate civilians and military personnel from natural disasters and unrest.


- C130 Hercules. 20 tonne payload.


- A400M Atlas. 37 tonne payload. Bob says:

A bank PIN will keep your items secure.

Always check the second trade screen.

Never trade in the Wilderness!

Keep your computer keylogger-free and virus scanned.

Never give your password out to anyone.

27-Aug-2021 10:45:32 - Last edited on 28-Aug-2021 11:28:47 by SlR

27-Aug-2021 10:45:34

- - -
Aircraft History
- - -


WW2 section
(1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945)

Soon after the declaration of war, at 11 a.m. on the third of September, 1939, a Bristol Blenheim of 139 Squadron carried out the RAF's first operational sortie. The first bombing raids over Germany were conducted by 10 Armstrong Whitworth Whitleys.


Bristol Blenheim


Armstrong Whitworth Whitley


King George VI and young Queen Elizabeth II

King George VI, one of the earliest pilots in the RAF, sent a message to his old service. "The Royal Air Force will have to assume responsibilities "greater than in the last war. "One of the greatest will be "the safeguarding of these islands. "I can assure all ranks of my confidence in their skill and courage." Bob says:

A bank PIN will keep your items secure.

Always check the second trade screen.

Never trade in the Wilderness!

Keep your computer keylogger-free and virus scanned.

Never give your password out to anyone.

27-Aug-2021 10:45:36 - Last edited on 28-Aug-2021 11:34:29 by SlR

27-Aug-2021 10:45:39 - Last edited on 07-Sep-2021 17:10:13 by SlR

Posts will need reordering, bare with me! Bob says:

A bank PIN will keep your items secure.

Always check the second trade screen.

Never trade in the Wilderness!

Keep your computer keylogger-free and virus scanned.

Never give your password out to anyone.

27-Aug-2021 10:45:41 - Last edited on 27-Aug-2021 14:57:12 by SlR