List of aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force

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.

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[]

Aircraft type	Variant	Origin	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-47A CH-47C CH-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[]

Aircraft type	Origin	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[]

B707-368c.royalausaf — An Australian Boeing 707 in 2006

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[]

Aircraft type	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[]

Aircraft type	Origin	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	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

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]}

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The original article can be found at List of aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force and the edit history here.

[1] "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]}

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