Many aircraft types have served in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) since it was formed in March 1921.[1] This is a list of RAAF aircraft, those types that have served and been retired by the RAAF. It also includes aircraft of the Australian Flying Corps, Australian Air Corps and Australian Air Force. The aircraft are listed in alphabetic order of their RAAF type name, and then in mark order within that type. For the current aircraft of the RAAF, refer to the list of current Royal Australian Air Force aircraft.
Image | Aircraft type | Variant | Origin | Role | Service period | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Avro Lincoln | United Kingdom Australia |
Heavy bomber | 1946–1961 | |||
Bell UH-1 Iroquois | United States | Helicopter | 1968–1989 | |||
CAC Sabre | Australia | Fighter aircraft | 1956–1971 | |||
Dassault Mirage III | Mirage IIIO(F), Mirage IIIO(A), Mirage IIIO(D) |
France | Interceptor aircraft | 1964–1988 | ||
de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou | Canada | Transport | 1964–2009 | 1 aircraft lost to accident | ||
General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark | F-111C, F-111G | United States | Tactical strike aircraft | F-111C (1973–2010) F-111G (1992–2007) |
Australian Flying Corps 1913–1920[]
- Airco DH 5
- Airco DH.6
- Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3
- Avro 504
- Bleriot XI
- Bristol Boxkite
- Bristol F.2 Fighter
- Bristol Scout
- Caudron G.3
- Curtiss JN Jenny
- Deperdussin
- Grahame-White Type XV Boxkite
- Handley Page 0/400
- Martinsyde S.1
- Martinsyde G.100
- Martinsyde G.102
- Farman MF.7 Longhorn
- Farman MF.11 Shorthorn
- Maurice Farman Seaplane/Landplane
- Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2
- Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12
- Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2
- Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8
- Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5A
- Sopwith Buffalo: (two prototypes for trials only)
- Sopwith Baby: (One aircraft flown by the Royal Australian Navy in 1917)
- Sopwith Camel (AFC, RAN)
- Sopwith Pup (AFC, RAN)
- Sopwith Snipe
- Sopwith 1½ Strutter (AFC, RAN)
Fighters and fighter-bombers[]
- Sopwith Pup: 1917–1925
- RAF SE.5A: 1921–1928
- Bristol Bulldog: 1930–1940
- Gloster Gauntlet: 1940 only
- Gloster Gladiator: 1940–1941
- Hawker Demon: 1935–1945
- Boulton Paul Defiant 1941 only
- Curtiss Tomahawk 1941 only
- Hawker Hurricane 1941, 1942–1946
- Supermarine Spitfire 1941–1945
- Brewster Buffalo: 1941–1943
- Republic P-43 Lancer: 1941–1943
- Bell P-39 Airacobra: 1942–1943
- Bristol Beaufighter 1942–1957
- Curtiss Kittyhawk: 1942–1946
- Curtiss Warhawk: 1943–1946
- Lockheed P-38 Lightning 1942–1944
- Supermarine Spitfire (RAAF, RAN): 1942–1945
- CAC Boomerang: 1942–1946
- De Havilland Mosquito: 1943–1953
- CAC/North American P-51 Mustang: 1945–1960
- de Havilland Sea Hornet: (one aircraft for trials only): 1949–1950
- Hawker Sea Fury (RAN): 1949–1962
- De Havilland Vampire (RAAF, RAN): 1949–1960
- Hawker P.1081: (one aircraft for trials only): 1950–1952
- Gloster Meteor: 1946–1947, 1951–1963
- CAC/North American Avon Sabre: 1954–1971
- De Havilland Sea Venom (RAN): 1956–1967
- GAF/Dassault Mirage III: 1964–1988
- McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (RAN): 1967–1984
- McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II: 1970–1973
- McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet: 1985–
- Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet: 2010–
- Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II: on order
Bombers[]
- De Havilland DH.9 & DH.9A 1921–1930
- Westland Wapiti 1929–1943
- Fairey Battle: 1940–1949
- Lockheed Hudson 1940–1948
- Bristol Beaufort: 1941–1946
- Vultee Vengeance: 1942–1946
- Douglas Boston: 1942–1945
- Vickers Wellington 1941–1945
- Handley Page Hampden: 1941–1942
- Bristol Blenheim: 1942–1957
- Bristol Beaufighter: 1942–1957
- Handley Page Halifax 1942–1945
- Lockheed Ventura 1942–1946
- Curtiss SB2C-1 Helldiver(A-25 type): 1943–1946
- Martin Baltimore 1943–1945
- North American B-25 Mitchell: 1944–1946
- Martin B-26 Marauder: 1942–1946
- Handley Page Halifax: 1942–1948
- Avro Lancaster: 1942–1948
- Consolidated B-24 Liberator: 1944–1948
- GAF/Avro Lincoln: 1946–1961
- Boeing Washington (B-29 Superfortress): (two aircraft used for weapons trials at Woomera): 1952–1956
- GAF/English Electric Canberra: 1951–1982
- Vickers Valiant: (Two RAF aircraft used at Woomera): 1956–1957
- McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II: 1970–1973
- General Dynamics F-111: 1973–2010
Maritime[]
- Fairey IIID (RAAF on behalf of the RAN): 1921–1929
- Supermarine Seagull III (RAAF on behalf of the RAN): 1926–1936
- Supermarine Southampton: 1928–1939
- Supermarine Walrus/Seagull V (RAAF on behalf of the RAN): 1935–1947
- Supermarine Sea Otter (RAN): 1948–1953
- Short S.23 Empire C-Class
- Short Sunderland: 1939–1946
- Douglas Dolphin: 1940–1944
- Lockheed Hudson: 1940–1948
- Martin Baltimore: 1943–1946
- Consolidated Catalina: 1941–1950
- Dornier Do 24K: 1942–1944
- Fairey Swordfish: 1942 only
- Vought Kingfisher: 1942–1948
- Lockheed Ventura: 1943–1946
- Martin Mariner: 1943–1946
- Fairey Firefly (RAN): 1949–1966
- Lockheed Neptune: 1951–1977
- Fairey Gannet (RAN): 1955–1967
- Grumman S-2 Tracker (RAN): 1967–1984
- Lockheed P-3 Orion: 1968–
Army Cooperation[]
- Hawker Audax: 1940–1941
- Westland Lysander: 1940 only
- De Havilland DH.9 & DH.9A: 1920–1930
- Piper Cub 1943–1944
- Taylorcraft Auster AOP: 1944–1959
- Cessna 180 (RAAF, Army): 1959–1974
- Pilatus Turbo Porter (Army): 1968–1992
- Cessna L-19 Bird Dog (Army): one aircraft
Trainers[]
- Avro 504: 1919–1928
- Sopwith Pup: 1922–1925
- De Havilland Cirrus Moth: 1926–1935
- De Havilland Gipsy Moth: 1930–1946
- Avro Cadet: 1935–1945
- Miles Magister: (one aircraft for trials only): 1938–1940
- Airspeed Oxford: 1940–1953
- De Havilland DH 84 Dragon: 1940–1945
- Avro Anson: 1937–1955
- CAC Wirraway (RAAF, RAN): 1939–1958
- De Havilland Tiger Moth (RAAF, RAN): 1939–1957
- De Havilland Moth Minor: 1940–1945
- Douglas Dolphin: 1940–1944
- Fairey Battle: 1940–1949
- CAC Wackett: 1941–1946
- Ryan STM: 1942–1945
- CAC Winjeel: 1955–1994
- Hunting Percival Jet Provost: (one aircraft for trials only): 1959 only
- Hawker Siddeley HS.748 (RAAF, RAN): 1966–2004
- CAC/Macchi MB-326H (RAAF, RAN): 1967–2001
- PAC CT/4 Airtrainer: 1975–1993
- Pilatus PC-9: 1987–
- Beechcraft Super King Air (RAAF): B200 1997–2003, B300 2003–
- BAe Hawk: 2000–
Helicopters[]
Image | Aircraft type | Variant | Origin | Role | Service period | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sikorsky S-51 Dragonfly | United States | 1947–1964 | Three in service | |||
Bristol Sycamore | United Kingdom | 1951–1965 | Two used for general support duties at the Woomera Rocket Range in South Australia. | |||
Bell UH-1 Iroquois | United States | 1962–1989 | ||||
Bell Kiowa | United States | 1971– | ||||
Bell Sioux | United States | 1960–1977 | ||||
Aerospatiale Alouette III | France | 1964–1967 | Three used for general support duties at the Woomera Rocket Range in South Australia. | |||
Boeing-Vertol Chinook | CH-47ACH-47CCH-47D | United States | 1974–1989, 1995– | |||
Aerospatiale AS.350B Squirrel | France | 1984–1990 | ||||
Sikorsky S-70A Blackhawk | United States | 1988–1989 | 8 UH-60L (S-70A-9), transferred to Australian Army in 1989. |
Reconnaissance and intelligence[]
Image | Aircraft type | Variant | Origin | Role | Service period | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republic P-43 Lancer | United States | 1942–1943 | Eight P-43A-1 Lancer's were provided for service with the No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit. Three were written off in accidents, with the rest returned to the United States Army Air Forces in 1943. | |||
Brewster F2A Buffalo | United States | 1942–1944 | Five Brewster F2A Buffalo's were provided for service with the No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit. Four were written off and the remaining aircraft was returned to the United States Army Air Forces in 1944. | |||
Lockheed P-38 Lightning | United States | 1942–1944 | Three P-38E's were transferred from the United States Army Air Forces for service with No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit. All three were written off in accidents. | |||
CAC Wirraway | Australia | Served with the No. 87 (Photo Reconnaissance) Squadron | ||||
de Havilland Mosquito | United Kingdom Australia |
British and Australian built de Havilland Mosquito's served in the Photographic Reconnaissance role. | ||||
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom | United States | 1970–1973 | Leased from United States Air Force while waiting for the order for the General Dynamics RF-111C to be delivered. | |||
General Dynamics RF-111C | United States | 1973–2010 | Four aircraft were purchased. | |||
Gates Learjet | United States | 1982–1987 | ||||
Boeing Wedgetail | United States | 2009- |
Liaison/Communications[]
- De Havilland DH.50A: 1926–1929, 1943–1945
- Fairchild 24: 1940–1946
- Miles Falcon: 1940–1945
- Miles Merlin: 1940–1945
- Miles Hawk: 1940–1945
- De Havilland Gypsy Moth: 1930–1946
- Hawker Audax: 1940–1941
- Percival Vega Gull: 1940–1946
- Stinson Reliant: 1941–1945
- Beech 17 Staggerwing: 1941–1947
- Cessna C-34 Airmaster: 1941–1945
- Lockheed Vega: 1941–1944
- Junkers G 31: 1942–1946
- Junkers W.34f: 1942–1946
- Junkers W.34d: 1942–1946
- Waco YQC-6: 1942–1944
- Noorduyn Norseman: 1943–1946
- Percival Prince: 1952–1957
- Auster J-5G Autocar (RAN): 1953–1963
Transport and utility[]
- Westland Wapiti: 1929–1943
- De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide : 1935–1938, 1940–1944
- Tugan Gannet: 1935–1945
- Avro Anson: 1937–1955
- De Havilland DH.86A: 1939–1945
- Airspeed Oxford: 1940–1953
- De Havilland Fox Moth: 1941–1945
- Bristol Bombay: 1942–1944
- De Havilland Dragonfly: 1942 only
- De Havilland Australia DHA.G2 Glider: 1942–1950
- Dornier Do 24K: 1942–1944
- Grumman Goose: 1942 only
- Northrop Delta: 1942–1944
- Junkers G 31: 1942–1946
- Junkers W34d : 1942–1946
- Junkers W34f: 1942–1946
- Ford 5-AT-B Trimotor: 1942–1946
- Lockheed Lodestar: 1943–1947
- Douglas DC-2: 1940–1946
- Douglas DC-3: 1939–1940
- Douglas C-47 Dakota (RAAF, RAN): 1943–1990
- Martin Mariner: 1943–1946
- Noorduyn Norseman: 1943–1946
- Avro York: 1945–1947
- Percival Proctor: 1945–1947
- Vickers Viking: 1947–1951
- Bristol Freighter: 1949–1967
- De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver: 1955–1964
- Convair 440 Metropolitan: 1956–1968
- Lockheed C-130 Hercules: 1958–
- De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter: 1961–1967
- De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou: 1964–2009
- Vickers Viscount: 1964–1969
- BAC One Eleven: 1967–1990
- Hawker Siddeley HS 748 (RAAF, RAN): 1967–2004
- Dassault Falcon 20: 1967–1989
- De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter (Army):
- GAF Nomad (Army, RAAF): 1975–1993
- Boeing 707: 1979–2008
- Dassault Falcon 900: 1989–2003
- Beechcraft Super King Air (Army): B200/B200C 1997–2006, B300 2006–
- Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules: 1999-
- Boeing Business Jet: 2003–
- Bombardier Challenger 604: 2003–
- Boeing C-17 Globemaster III: 2006–
- Alenia C-27J Spartan: on order
Prototypes[]
Image | Aircraft type | Variant | Origin | Role | Service period | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Avro 707A | United Kingdom | 1956 | Delta-wing research aircraft. WD280 is housed at the RAAF Museum in Point Cook, Victoria. | |||
CAC CA-11 Woomera | Australia | Bomber | 1942–1946 | Two prototypes built. | ||
CAC CA-15 Kangaroo | Australia | Fighter | 1946–1950 | One prototype built. | ||
GAF Pika: | Australia | Piloted target drone | 1950–1954 | Two manned prototypes of the proposed GAF Jindivik target drone were built. | ||
Wackett Widgeon | Australia | 1927–1933 | ||||
Wackett Warrigal | Australia | 1927–1933 |
Captured enemy aircraft[]
World War I[]
Image | Aircraft type | Variant | Origin | Role | Service period | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albatros D.Va | German Empire | One captured German aircraft, on display at Australian War Memorial in Canberra, ACT, Australia. | ||||
Halberstadt CL.II | German Empire | One captured German aircraft. | ||||
Pfalz D.III | German Empire | One captured German aircraft, on display at Australian War Memorial in Canberra, ACT, Australia. |
World War II[]
Image | Aircraft type | Variant | Origin | Role | Service period | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Breda Ba.25 | Kingdom of Italy | |||||
Caproni Ca.100 | Kingdom of Italy | |||||
Caproni Ca.309 Ghibli | Kingdom of Italy | |||||
Fiat CR.42 | Kingdom of Italy | |||||
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 | Nazi Germany | |||||
Macchi MC.205 | Macchi MC.205 | Kingdom of Italy | ||||
Messerschmitt Bf 109 | Bf 109 G-6 | Nazi Germany | Bf 109 G-6 is on display at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. It is the last example to retain its original wartime camouflage and markings. | |||
Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet | Nazi Germany | One captured Luftwaffe aircraft, shipped to Australia from the United Kingdom immediately after the Second World War, on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, ACT, Australia. Me 163B, Werknummer 191907, this aircraft was also part of JG 400 and captured at Husum. | ||||
Messerschmitt Me 262 | Nazi Germany | One captured Luftwaffe aircraft, Me 262 A-2a W.Nr.500200 "Black X 9K+XK", 2 Staffel./KG 51, shipped to Australia from the United Kingdom immediately after the Second World War, on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, ACT, Australia. | ||||
Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero | Empire of Japan | |||||
Mitsubishi Ki-21 | Empire of Japan | |||||
Mitsubishi Ki-51 | Empire of Japan | |||||
Tachikawa Ki-54 | Empire of Japan |
Drones/RAV[]
Image | Aircraft type | Variant | Origin | Role | Service period | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GAF Jindivik | Mk.1, Mk.2, Mk.3 Mk.3A, Mk.3B |
Australia | Target drone |
See also[]
- B-24 Liberators in Australian service
- Boeing C-17 Globemaster III in Australian service
- Lockheed C-130 Hercules in Australian service
- McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II in Australian service
- McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet in Australian service
Notes[]
- ↑ "The Inter-war years 1921 to 1939". Royal Australian Air Force. http://www.raaf.gov.au/history/interwar.aspx. Retrieved 25 February 2010.[dead link]
The original article can be found at List of aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force and the edit history here.