List of aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force

An Australian Mirage III-D in 1988

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.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

By type

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedRetiredTotalNotes
Avro 504  United Kingdom biplane trainer 1916 132[2] several variants used, including at least 8 504A, 7 504J, and 56 504K
B.E.2a  United Kingdom biplane trainer 1914 1918 2[3] operated by Central Flying School as CFS1 and CFS2
B.E.2c  United Kingdom biplane reconnaissance 27[4] operated by No. 1 Sqn.
B.E.2e  United Kingdom biplane trainer 1920 1 operated by 1, 4, and 7 Sqns.;[4] 1 operated by Central Flying School from 1918 to 1920[3]
Blériot XI  France prop trainer 1915 1917 1[3] operated by Central Flying School as CFS6; primarily for ground instruction
Boxkite  United Kingdom prop trainer 1913 1917 2[3] one built by Bristol and second ordered but not delivered; another was built in Australia from parts; operated by Central Flying School as CFS3 and CFS8; first military aircraft built in Australia
Boxkite XV  United Kingdom prop trainer 1916 1918 2[3] built by Grahame-White Aviation Company; operated by Central Flying School[3]
CA-25 Winjeel  Australia prop trainer 1955 1995 62 Production + 2 Protoypes[3] Served as a Central Flying School trainer and then into a FAC (Forward Air Control) role in its final years, replaced by the PAC CT-4A
PAC CT/4 Airtrainer  New Zealand prop trainer 1975 1992 51[3] Served as a Central Flying School trainer, Currently replaced by contracted BAE Systems CT-4B's, Civilian use of CT-4As are high.
CA-26 Sabre  Australia jet fighter 1956 1957 1 experimental development of the F-86 Sabre, led to CA-27 Sabre
CA-27 Sabre Mk.30-2  Australia jet fighter 1956 1971 112 license-built by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation; replaced by the Mirage III
Caudron G.III  France biplane trainer 1916 1917 1[3] operated by Central Flying School[3]
Deperdussin Type A  France prop trainer 1913 1918 2[3] built by British Deperdussin; operated by Central Flying School as CFS4 and CFS5
DH.1a  United Kingdom biplane fighter 1916 1916 1[5] built by Savages; operated by 1 Sqn AFC; returned to UK
DH.5  United Kingdom biplane fighter 1917 78[6] operated by 2 & 6 Sqns AFC
DH.6  United Kingdom biplane trainer 1918 1919 28[3] 2 additional aircraft ordered by Central Flying School but lost at sea during delivery;[3] operated by 5, 7, and 8 Sqns RFC
DH.9A  United Kingdom biplane light bomber 1920 1930 31 30 acquired as an imperial gift from the United Kingdom
1 replacement purchased
6 destroyed; 16 scrapped; 9 written-off
assigned RAAF serial prefix A1[7]
DHC-4 Caribou  Canada prop airlift 1964 2009 Operated as transport aircraft and STOL Aircraft throughout the Vietnam war and PNG regions
F.2b Fighter  United Kingdom biplane fighter 1918 1919 67[8] operated by 1, 3, and 7 Sqns. AFC
F-111C Aardvark  United States jet medium-range interdictor/ Tactical Strike 1973 2010 24 Ordered in 1963 to replace the ageing English Electric Canberra Bombers. Delivery not received until 1973, RAAF used leased F-4 Phantoms while the U.S. produced the first F-111Cs
F-111G Aardvark  United States jet medium-range interdictor/ Tactical Strike 1992 2007 15 former USAF aircraft, attrition replacements for the F-111C
F.E.2b  United Kingdom biplane trainer 1917 1920 1[3] operated by Central Flying School[3]
F.K.3  United Kingdom biplane trainer 1917 1917 4[9] briefly operated by the AFC
Lincoln Mk.30[10]  United Kingdom prop bomber 1946 1961
Lincoln Mk.31[10]  United Kingdom prop LRN (long Range Navigation Bomber) 1946 1961 "Long Nose" Lincoln was unique to Australian service, featuring a 6' 6" nose extension[10]
Maurice Farman Hydro-Aeroplane  France floatplane trainer 1914 1917 1[3] operated by Central Flying School as CFS7[3]
M.F.7 Longhorn  France biplane trainer 1916 1918 1[3] operated by Central Flying School as CFS15[3]
M.F.11 Shorthorn  France biplane trainer 1916 1919 5[3] operated by Central Flying School[3]
Mirage IIIO(A & F)  France jet interceptor 1964 1988 100 built by Government Aircraft Factories; replaced by the AF-18A Hornet
Mirage III D  France jet operational trainer 1964 1988 16 built by Government Aircraft Factories; replaced by the AF-18B Hornet
Scout D  United Kingdom biplane utility 1916 1926 1[3] operated by Central Flying School and No. 1 Flying Training School RAAF[3]
UH-1B Iroquois  United States helicopter utility transport 1966 1989 replaced by the S-70 Black Hawk
UH-1D Iroquois  United States helicopter utility transport 1989 replaced by the S-70 Black Hawk
UH-1H Iroquois  United States helicopter utility transport 1989 replaced by the S-70 Black Hawk

Australian Flying Corps 1913–1920

Fighters and fighter-bombers

Bombers

Maritime

Army Cooperation

Aircraft type Variant Origin Role Service period Notes
De Havilland DH.9 & DH.9A: UK 1920–1930
Hawker Audax UK 1940–1941
Westland Lysander UK 1940
Piper Cub USA 1943–1944
Taylorcraft Auster AOP UK 1944–1959
Cessna 180 USA 1959–1974 (RAAF, Army)
Pilatus Turbo Porter Switzerland 1968–1992 (Army)
Cessna L-19 Bird Dog USA 1984–1990 (Army): one aircraft

Trainers

Helicopters

Aircraft type Variant Origin Role Service period Notes
Sikorsky S-51 Dragonfly USA 1947–1964 Three in service
Bristol Sycamore UK 1951–1965 Two used for general support duties at the Woomera Rocket Range in South Australia.
Bell UH-1 Iroquois USA 1962–1989
Bell Kiowa USA 1971–present
Bell Sioux USA 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		 USA 1974–1989, 1995–present
Aerospatiale AS.350B Squirrel France 1984–1990
Sikorsky S-70A Blackhawk USA 1988–1989 8 UH-60L (S-70A-9), transferred to Australian Army in 1989.

Reconnaissance and intelligence

Aircraft type Variant Origin Role Service period Notes
Republic P-43 Lancer USA 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 USA 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 USA 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 UK
Australia		 British and Australian built de Havilland Mosquito's served in the Photographic Reconnaissance role.
General Dynamics F-111C RF-111C USA 1973–2010 Four aircraft were purchased.
Dassualt Mirage IIIO(A) Reconnaissance (R) France 1969-1988 Reconnaissance noses were fitted to several Mirage aircraft to serve as photography aircraft. Controversy used in the famous Tasmanian Dams case
Gates Learjet USA 1982–1987
Boeing 737 AEW&C "Wedgetail" USA 2009–present

Liaison/Communications

Transport and utility

Type Variant Origin Dates in Service
Westland Wapiti1929–1943
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide1935–1938, 1940–1944
Tugan Gannet1935–1945
Avro Anson1937–1955
De Havilland DH.86A1939–1945
Airspeed Oxford1940–1953
De Havilland Fox Moth1941–1945
Bristol Bombay1942–1944
De Havilland Dragonfly1942 only
De Havilland Australia DHA.G2 Glider1942–1950
Dornier Do 24K1942–1944
Grumman Goose1942 only
Northrop Delta1942–1944
Junkers G 311942–1946
Junkers W34d1942–1946
Junkers W34f1942–1946
Ford 5-AT-B Trimotor1942–1946
Lockheed LodestarUnited States1943–1947
Douglas DC-2United States1940–1946
Douglas DC-3United States1939–1940
Douglas C-47 Dakota (RAAF, RAN)United States1943–1990
Martin Mariner1943–1946
Noorduyn Norseman1943–1946
Avro YorkUnited Kingdom1945–1947
Percival Proctor1945–1947
Vickers VikingUnited Kingdom1947–1951
Bristol Freighter1949–1967
De Havilland Canada DHC-2 BeaverCanada1955–1964
Convair 440 Metropolitan1956–1968
Lockheed C-130 HerculesUnited States1958–present
De Havilland Canada DHC-3 OtterCanada1961–1967
De Havilland Canada DHC-4 CaribouCanada1964–2009
Vickers ViscountUnited Kingdom1964–1969
BAC One ElevenUnited Kingdom1967–1990
Hawker Siddeley HS 748 (RAAF, RAN)United Kingdom1967–2004
Dassault Falcon 20France1967–1989
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter (Army)
GAF Nomad (Army, RAAF)Australia1975–1993
Boeing 707United States1979–2008
Dassault Falcon 900France1989–2003
Beechcraft Super King Air (Army, RAAF)B200/B200C 1997–2006

B350 2004– (RAAF from 2009)

Lockheed Martin C-130J Super HerculesUnited States1999–present
Boeing Business JetUnited States2003–present
Bombardier Challenger 604Canada2003–present
Boeing C-17 Globemaster IIIUnited States2006–present
Alenia C-27J SpartanItaly2015–present

Prototypes

Aircraft type Variant Origin Role Service period Notes
Avro 707A UK 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 Variant Origin Role Service period Notes
Albatros D.Va Germany One captured German aircraft, on display at Australian War Memorial in Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Halberstadt CL.II Germany One captured German aircraft.
Pfalz D.III Germany One captured German aircraft, on display at Australian War Memorial in Canberra, ACT, Australia.

World War II

Aircraft type Variant Origin Role Service period Notes
Breda Ba.25 Italy
Caproni Ca.100 Italy
Caproni Ca.309 Ghibli Italy
Fiat CR.42 Italy
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Germany
Macchi MC.205 Italy
Messerschmitt Bf 109 Bf 109 G-6 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 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 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 Japan
Mitsubishi Ki-21 Japan
Mitsubishi Ki-51 Japan
Tachikawa Ki-54 Japan

Drones/RAV

Aircraft type Variant Origin Role Service period Notes
GAF Jindivik Mk.1, Mk.2, Mk.3
Mk.3A, Mk.3B		 Australia Target drone 1952–1986, 1997 Name is from an Aboriginal Australian word meaning the hunted one
IAI Heron Israel ISR MALE UAV 2009–2017 Operated by No. 5 Flight RAAF

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "The Inter-war years 1921 to 1939". Royal Australian Air Force. Archived from the original on September 30, 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
  2. ↑ Cowan, Brendan; Batman; Mark, Mark (8 September 2014). "Avro 504A/B/J/K". Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History. adf-serials.com.au. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Crick, Darren; Cowan, Brendan; Edwards, Martin (28 February 2015). "Aircraft of Central Flying School 1909 - 1918". Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History. adf-serials.com.au. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  4. 1 2 Cowan, Brendan; Lax, Mark (2 September 2014). "AFC Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c & B.E.2e". Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History. adf-serials.com.au. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  5. ↑ Cowan, Brendan; Lax, Mark (29 September 2014). "AMC/Airco D.H.1". Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History. adf-serials.com.au. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  6. ↑ Cowan, Brendan (27 August 2015). "AFC Airco D.H.5". Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History. adf-serials.com.au. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  7. ↑ Crick, Darren (31 March 2016). "RAAF A1 de Havilland D.H.9a". Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History. adf-serials.com.au. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  8. ↑ Cowan, Brendan; Lax, Mark (25 April 2015). "AFC Bristol Fighter F.2b". Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History. adf-serials.com.au. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  9. ↑ Cowan, Brendan (2015). "AFC Armstrong Whitworth FK.3". Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History. adf-serials.com.au. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 Wilson, Stuart. Military Aircraft of Australia. Weston Creek, ACT: Aerospace Publications. pp. 27–28. ISBN 1-875671-08-0.
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