RAAF F-35, FA-18F and FA-18G flying in formation March 2022

Many aircraft types have served in the

Royal Australian Air Force "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...

(RAAF) since it was formed in March 1921. 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 is a list of the current Royal Australian Air Force aircraft in operation: Current aircraft Heritage aircraft Ownership of 12 historic aircraft was transferred from Temora Aviation Museum to the RAAF in July 2019; they continue to be ...

By type

, - ,

Avro 504 The Avro 504 was a First World War biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the war totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind tha ...

, United Kingdom , biplane , trainer , 1916 , , 132 , several variants used, including at least 8 504A, 7 504J, and 56 504K , - , B.E.2a , United Kingdom , biplane , trainer , 1914 , 1918 , 2 , operated by Central Flying School as CFS1 and CFS2 , - , B.E.2c , United Kingdom , biplane , reconnaissance , , , 27 , operated by No. 1 Sqn. , - , B.E.2e , United Kingdom , biplane , trainer , , 1920 , 1 , operated by 1, 4, and 7 Sqns.; 1 operated by Central Flying School from 1918 to 1920 , - ,

Blériot XI The Blériot XI is a French aircraft of the pioneer era of aviation. The first example was used by Louis Blériot to make the first flight across the English Channel in a heavier-than-air aircraft, on 25 July 1909. This is one of the most fa ...

, France , prop , trainer , 1915 , 1917 , 1 , operated by Central Flying School as CFS6; primarily for ground instruction , - , Boxkite , United Kingdom , prop , trainer , 1913 , 1917 , 2 , 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 , built by Grahame-White Aviation Company; operated by Central Flying School , - , CA-25 Winjeel , Australia , prop , trainer , 1955 , 1995 , 62 Production + 2 Prototypes , 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 The Pacific Aerospace Corporation CT/4 Airtrainer series is an all-metal-construction, single-engine, two-place with side-by-side seating, fully aerobatic, piston-engined, basic training aircraft manufactured in Hamilton, New Zealand. History ...

, New Zealand , prop , trainer , 1975 , 1992 , 51 , Served as a Central Flying School trainer, Became replaced by contracted BAE Systems CT-4B's, until BAE contract was lost. 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.30-32 , Australia , jet , fighter , 1956 , 1971 , 112 , license-built by

Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) was an Australian aircraft manufacturer. The CAC was established in 1936, to provide Australia with the capability to produce military aircraft and engines. History In 1935 the Chief General Manager ...

; replaced by the Mirage III , - ,

Caudron G.III The Caudron G.3 was a single-engined French sesquiplane built by Caudron, widely used in World War I as a reconnaissance aircraft and trainer. Development The Caudron G.3 was designed by René and Gaston Caudron as a development of their earl ...

, France , biplane , trainer , 1916 , 1917 , 1 , operated by Central Flying School , - ,

Deperdussin Type A The 1910 Deperdussin monoplane was the first aircraft to be built in significant quantities by Aéroplanes Deperdussin. The type was produced in a number of variants which were flown successfully in air races and gained several records during 1 ...

, France , prop , trainer , 1913 , 1918 , 2 , built by British Deperdussin; operated by Central Flying School as CFS4 and CFS5 , - , DH.1a , United Kingdom , biplane , fighter , 1916 , 1916 , 1 , built by Savages; operated by 1 Sqn AFC; returned to UK , - , DH.5 , United Kingdom , biplane , fighter , 1917 , , 78 , operated by 2 & 6 Sqns AFC , - ,

DH.6 The Airco DH.6 was a British military trainer biplane used by the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. Known by various nicknames, including the "Clutching hand" and "Skyhook", many survived to be used as a civil light aircraft in the p ...

, United Kingdom , biplane , trainer , 1918 , 1919 , 28 , 2 additional aircraft ordered by Central Flying School but lost at sea during delivery; operated by 5, 7, and 8 Sqns RFC , - ,

DH.9A The Airco DH.9A was a British single-engined light bomber designed and first used shortly before the end of the First World War. It was a development of the unsuccessful Airco DH.9 bomber, featuring a strengthened structure and, crucially, repl ...

, 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 , - , 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 , 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 The English Electric Canberra is a British first-generation, jet-powered medium bomber. It was developed by English Electric during the mid- to late 1940s in response to a 1944 Air Ministry requirement for a successor to the wartime de Havil ...

Bombers. Delivery not received until 1973, RAAF used leased F-4 Phantoms while the U.S. produced the first F-111Cs , - , width=150, F-111G Aardvark , width=130, 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 , operated by Central Flying School , - , F.K.3 , United Kingdom , biplane , trainer , 1917 , 1917 , 4 , briefly operated by the AFC , - , Lincoln Mk.30 , United Kingdom , prop , bomber , 1946 , 1961 , , , - , Lincoln Mk.31 , United Kingdom , prop , LRN (long Range Navigation Bomber) , 1946 , 1961 , , "Long Nose" Lincoln was unique to Australian service, featuring a 6' 6" nose extension , - , Maurice Farman Hydro-Aeroplane , France , floatplane , trainer , 1914 , 1917 , 1 , operated by Central Flying School as CFS7 , - , M.F.7 Longhorn , France , biplane , trainer , 1916 , 1918 , 1 , operated by Central Flying School as CFS15 , - , M.F.11 Shorthorn , France , biplane , trainer , 1916 , 1919 , 5 , operated by Central Flying School , - , Mirage IIIO(A & F) , France
Australia , jet , interceptor , 1964 , 1988 , 100 , built by

Government Aircraft Factories Government Aircraft Factories (GAF) was the name of an aircraft manufacturer owned by the Government of Australia. The primary factory was located at Fishermans Bend, a suburb of Melbourne in Victoria. It had its origins in the lead-up to Worl ...

; replaced by the AF-18A Hornet , - , Mirage III D , France
Australia , jet , operational trainer , 1964 , 1988 , 16 , built by

; replaced by the AF-18B Hornet , - ,

Scout D Scout may refer to: Youth movement *Scout (Scouting), a child, usually 10–18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement **Scouts (The Scout Association), section for 10-14 year olds in the United Kingdom **Scouts BSA, sectio ...

, United Kingdom , biplane , utility , 1916 , 1926 , 1 , operated by Central Flying School and No. 1 Flying Training School RAAF , - , 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 Central Flying School 1913-1919

Australian Flying Corps The Australian Flying Corps (AFC) was the branch of the Australian Army responsible for operating aircraft during World War I, and the forerunner of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The AFC was established in 1912, though it was not until ...
1913–1920

Australian Air Corps 1920-1921

Fighters and fighter-bombers

Bombers

Maritime Reconnaissance

Army Cooperation

Trainers

Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School 1993-2019

Helicopters

Reconnaissance and intelligence

Liaison/Communications

Transport and utility

Prototypes

Civilian aircraft operating under contract

Hot air balloons

Captured enemy aircraft

World War I

World War II

Drones/RAV

List of weapons of the Royal Australian Air Force

Guided Missiles

Unguided rockets

Free fall bombs

Machine-guns

Notes

Bibliography

External links

* {{commons category-inline, Aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Air Force lists

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...

Aircraft in Royal Australian Air Force service