RAF Planes Flashcards
What are 4th gen aircraft
Designed to bridge the gap between the developments of the 1960/1970s to the 2000s
Key characteristics:
high maneuverability
Supersonic dash
Fly by wire controls
Mechanically scanned radar
A look-down shoot-down air to air capability
More than 46 individual types
RAFs Typhoon
What are 5th gen aircraft
Combine new developments such as:
Thrust vectoring
Composite materials
Supercruise
Low observable technology
Advanced electronically scanned radar and sensors
Integrated avionics to improve crews situational awareness
Only 5 operational in the world
UK’s F-35B Lightning II
F-35B Lightning Info
RAF Marham
Stealth aircraft
operates alongside typhoon
air-to-surface, electronic warfare, intelligence gathering, air-to-air missions simultaneously
short take-off, vertical landing
2 AAMs, 2 bombs, 6800kg underwing pylons
Typhoon Info
RAF Lossiemouth, Coningsby
Multi-role combat aircraft
Main role is quick reaction alert
27mm cannon, ASRAAM, meteor and ARMAAM missiles. precision-guided bombs, ATG missiles
Globemaster C-17 Info
RAF Brize Norton
long-range heavy-lift transport aircraft
100,000lb, 4500nm
Voyager Info
RAF Brize Norton
RAF’s sole air-to-air refuelling tanker
Can act as civilian aircraft (291)
60,000kg of fuel
Atlas C.1 (A400M) Info
RAF Brize Norton
37-tonne payload, 2000nm
short unprepared strips
116 fully equipped troops
Vehicles & Chinook
Delivers by parachute, gravity extraction, or landing
max range 4100 nm
Poseidon MRA1 Info
RAF Lossiemouth
Multi-role maritime patrol aircraft
Sensors & weapons for submarine warfare (torpedos)
Surveillance and search and rescue missions
surveillance ceiling 41,000 ft
Chinook Info
JHC FS Aldergrove
RAF Odiham, Benson
Support Heli
55 troops / 10-tonne mixed cargo
Search & Rescue
Name ISTAR Aircraft
Poseidon MRA1
RC-135W Rivet Joint (RAF Waddington)
Reaper (MQ-9A) (RAF Waddington, remote-piloted)
Shadow R1
Wedgetail AEW MK1 (in the future)
