In this anniversary year I’ve been wondering in which year the RAF had the greatest variety of types of aircraft in service.
At a guess, I’d say the past 2/3 years must have seen the fewest types wearing the roundel since the Great War. I could be wrong of course!
For the sake of argument, a type would be a Tornado, for example, as opposed to each different mark being classed as a separate type.
Tom
By: Tom Kilkenny - 28th May 2008 at 22:59
Impressive list!
I am genuinely surprised at the number but, as you point out, there are relatively few combat types currently in service.
By: Portagee - 28th May 2008 at 20:06
The RAF website has the 24 as listed by pagen01 with the exception of the inclusion of the Islander…and the exclusion of the Sentinal which is still in their “Future Capability” section
By: pagen01 - 28th May 2008 at 14:30
I did consider those but I wanted to keep gliders out of the frame, and it is very hard to work out if any of the Islanders (Defenders really) are officially RAF, even the Northolt ones are Army oprerated.
By: Zebedee - 28th May 2008 at 13:40
Not forgetting…
The B-N Islander, Viking and Vigilant gliders and the (cough) UAV’s…
Zeb
By: pagen01 - 28th May 2008 at 11:18
Interestingly the RAF may have as many types now than it has since the 70s.
An abundance of training types and helis plump out the figures abit but here is my present list of the top of my head (quiet day at work!)
Typhoon
Tornado
Harrier
Globemaster
Tristar
VC-10
Hercules
Nimrod
Sentry
Sentinal
BAe-146
HS-125
Dominie
King Air
Hawk
Tucano
Tutor
Merlin
Chinook
Seaking
Puma
Griffon
Agusta 109
Squiral
That’s 24 types.
Not sure on the current status of the Firefly trainer, so not included that.
Go back 28 years and there was a greater variety of combat types, but similar numbers of types. Here is my list of 1980 aircraft, again from memory
Phantom
Lightning
Jaguar
Harrier
Buccaneer
Hunter
Vulcan
Victor
VC-10
Hercules
Nimrod
Shackleton
Canberra
HS-125
Dominie
Jetstream
Andover
Pembroke
Devon
Hawk
Jet Provost
Bulldog
Chipmunk
Chinook
Seaking
Wessex
Whirlwind
Gazelle
28 types
However listing types dosen’t really give a good overall picture, for example Canberras were used as PR and support work, two totally different roles. The Tornado GR and F.3 and completly different aircraft as far as their use is concerned.
I’m wondering if (witout boring you with another list!) the late ’40s may have been the low point, with many ex wartime types going and just before jets made the big time. The mid ’90s didn’t seen to wonderfull either.
Sign In
May 27, 2008 at 10:30 pm