Military Wiki
Register
Advertisement

This is a list of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA).

On 1 April 1918 the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was merged with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) to form the Royal Air Force (RAF) which directly operated and controlled all naval aircraft. On 1 April 1924 the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force was created as a distinct component of the RAF, which existed until 24 May 1939 when command of the Fleet Air Arm was transferred back to Royal Navy control. Coastal Command patrol aircraft, including most large seaplanes, remained with the RAF despite their operations in a naval environment. Prototypes were largely under the control of the Air Ministry and not the Fleet Air Arm until their introduction into service.

Conventional Aircraft[]

Acronyms in table

ASW; Anti-submarine warfare
ECM; Electronic counter measures
EW; Electronic Warfare aircraft
Model Role Origin In Service Withdrawn Notes
Fairey IIID & F Spotter/target tug Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1918 1940
Avro 652 Transport Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1941 1942 2 impressed airliners
Fairey Albacore Torpedo/dive bomber Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1940 1943
Avro Anson Trainer/Communications Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1942 1955
Supermarine Attacker Fighter/fighter-bomber Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1951 1957
Hawker Audax Trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1941 1945 4 ex-RAF
Grumman Avenger/Tarpon Torpedo bomber/ASW/EW Flag of the United States US 1943 1962 Lend-lease and MDAP
British Aerospace BAe 125 VIP transport Flag of the United Kingdom UK ? n/a
Blackburn Baffin Torpedo bomber Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1934 1946
Martin Baltimore Medium bomber Flag of the United States US 1944 1946 ex-RAF
Fairey Barracuda Torpedo/dive bomber Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1943 1953
Fairey Battle Trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1939 1944 3 ex-RAF
Bristol Beaufighter Torpedo bomber Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1943 1946
Bristol Beaufort Torpedo bomber/minelayer/trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1943 1946
Avro Bison Spotter Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1922 1929
Brewster Bermuda Dive bomber Flag of the United States US n/a n/a 5 for evaluation only
Blackburn Blackburn Spotter Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1923 1931
Bristol Blenheim Trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1941 1944 ex-RAF
Douglas Boston Medium bomber Flag of the United States US 1943 1945 ex-RAF
Blackburn Buccaneer Strike Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1962 1978
Brewster Buffalo Fighter Flag of the United States US 1940 1941 ex-Belgian
English Electric Canberra Trainer/target tug/drone Flag of the United Kingdom UK ? 1992
Vought-Sikorsky Chesapeake Torpedo bomber/trainer Flag of the United States US 1941 1944
De Havilland Chipmunk Trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1965 ? ex-RAF
Curtiss Cleveland Dive bomber Flag of the United States US n/a n/a 1 for evaluation only
Vought Corsair Fighter Flag of the United States US 1943 1947 Lend-lease
Douglas Dakota Transport Flag of the United States US 1944 1946
Blackburn Dart Torpedo bomber Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1922 1935
Douglas Dauntless Dive bomber Flag of the United States US 1944 1946
Eurocopter AS.365N-2 Dauphin 2 Trainer Flag of France France 1999 n/a
Boulton Paul Defiant Target tug Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1943 1946
De Havilland DH.86 Transport/trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1940 1945 6 impressed/ex-RAF
De Havilland Dominie Trainer/transport Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1940 1963 Some impressed
Westland Dragonfly Air-sea rescue Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1951 1960
Airspeed Envoy Transport/trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1941 1941 1 ex-RAF
Beechcraft Expeditor/Navigator Transport Flag of the United States US 1943 1954 Lend-lease
Miles Falcon Six Communications Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1940 1941 1 impressed
Blackburn Firebrand Torpedo-fighter Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1944 1956
Fairey Firefly Fighter/night fighter/ASW/trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1943 1956
De Havilland Flamingo Transport Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1940 1946 2 impressed
Fairey Flycatcher Fighter Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1923 1934
De Havilland Fox Moth Communications Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1941 1943 1 impressed
Fairey Fulmar Fighter/night fighter Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1940 1945
Fairey Gannet ASW/Airborne Early Warning/transport/EW/trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1954 1979
Westland Gazelle Trainer/utility Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1974 2010
De Havilland Gipsy Moth Trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1940 1943 1 impressed
Gloster Gladiator Fighter Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1938 1945
Grumman Goose Transport Flag of the United States US 1942 1946 Lend-lease
British Aerospace Harrier II Strike Flag of the United Kingdom UK 2006 2011
Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow Transport Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1942 1943 ex-RAF
Hawker Hart/Hart Trainer Trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1939 1942 ex-RAF
North American Harvard Trainer Flag of the United States US 1943 1955
Douglas Havoc Medium Bomber Flag of the United States US 1941 1943 9 ex-RAF
Hawker Siddeley Hawk Trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1994 n/a
Grumman Hellcat/Gannet Fighter/night fighter Flag of the United States US 1943 1946
Curtiss Helldiver Dive bomber Flag of the United States US 1943 1945 Lend-lease
Hawker Henley Target tug Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1939 1944 7 ex-RAF
De Havilland Hornet Moth Communications Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1939 1945 1 impressed & 4 from Canada
Vought-Sikorsky Hoverfly I Training/rescue/utility Flag of the United States US 1944 1948?
Vought-Sikorsky Hoverfly II ? Flag of the United States US ? ?
Hiller HT Trainer/communications Flag of the United States US 1963 1975
Lockheed Hudson Transport Flag of the United States US 1944 1945 4 ex-RAF
Hawker Hunter Trainer/drone Flag of the United Kingdom UK ? 1994
Hawker Hurricane Fighter Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1941 1945
BAe Jetstream Trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1979 2011 ex-RAF
Beechcraft King Air Avenger Trainer Flag of the United States US 2011 n/a
Vought Kingfisher Reconnaissance Flag of the United States US 1942 1943 Lend-lease
Avro Lancaster Heavy bomber Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1945 1947 ex-RAF
De Havilland Leopard Moth ? Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1940 1946 2 impressed
Westland Lynx ASW/air-sea rescue/transport Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1976 n/a
Westland Lysander Target tug Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1940 1944 67 ex-RAF
Miles Magister Trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1937 1945
Miles Martinet Target tug Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1943 1947
Martin Maryland Medium bomber/target tug Flag of the United States US 1940 1944 7 ex-RAF
Miles Master Trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1940 1948
Westland Merlin ASW/Transport Flag of the United Kingdom UK 2000 n/a
Gloster Meteor Trainer/target tug Flag of the United Kingdom UK ? ?
North American Mitchell Medium bomber Flag of the United States US 1943 1943 1 for evaluation only
Miles Monitor Target tug Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1945 1955 ex-RAF
De Havilland Mosquito various Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1944 ?
De Havilland DH.60M Moth Trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1939 1943 6 impressed/ex-RAF
Gloster Nightjar Fighter Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1920 1924
Hawker Nimrod Fighter/utility Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1932 1942
Hawker Osprey Fighter/reconnaissance Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1931 1940
Airspeed Oxford Trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1942 1954 ex-RAF
Bellanca Pacemaker Communications Flag of the United States US 1939 1940 1 impressed
Parnall Panther Spotter Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1919 1926
Parnall Peto Submarine-borne reconnaissance Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1926 1932
Percival Petrel Transport Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1939 1944 4 impressed/ex-RAF
McDonnell Douglas Phantom Fighter/ground attack Flag of the United States US 1968 1978
Parnall Plover Fighter Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1923 1924 Operational evaluation
Percival Proctor Trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1939 ?
De Havilland Puss Moth Communications Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1940 1943 1 impressed
De Havilland Queen Bee Target drone Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1941 1946 5 examples
Miles Queen Martinet Target drone Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1945 1946 3 examples
Stinson Reliant Trainer/communications Flag of the United States US 1944 1946 Lend-lease
Blackburn Ripon Torpedo bomber/reconnaissance Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1929 1935
Blackburn Roc Fighter Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1938 1943
Supermarine Scimitar Fighter/tanker Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1957 1970
Boulton Paul Sea Balliol Trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1952 1963
De Havilland Sea Devon Transport Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1955 1981
Hawker Sea Fury Fighter Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1947 1962
Gloster Sea Gladiator Fighter/communications Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1939 1945
British Aerospace Sea Harrier Fighter/reconnaissance/ground attack/trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1979 2006
Hawker Sea Hawk Fighter/fighter-bomber/ground attack Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1953 1969
de Havilland Sea Heron Transport Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1961 1981 Bought second hand
de Havilland Sea Hornet Fighter/night-fighter/reconnaissance Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1947 1954
Hawker Sea Hurricane Fighter Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1941 1944
Westland Sea King ASW/air-sea rescue/transport Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1969 n/a
De Havilland Sea Mosquito Strike/target tug Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1946 1950s
Supermarine Sea Otter Air-sea rescue/reconnaissance/spotting Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1944 1950
Hunting Sea Prince Trainer/transport Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1953 1978
de Havilland Sea Vampire Fighter/trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1948 1968
de Havilland Sea Venom Fighter/electronic countermeasures Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1954 1961
de Havilland Sea Vixen Fighter Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1958 1972
Supermarine Seafire Fighter/reconnaissance Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1942 1954
Fairey Seafox Spotting/reconnaissance Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1937 1943
Fairey Seal Spotter/reconnaissance Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1933 1943
Curtiss Seamew Reconnaissance Flag of the United States US 1944 1945 Never used operationally
Short Seamew ASW/Maritime patrol Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1956 1957 Evaluation only
Blackburn Shark Torpedo bomber/target tug Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1934 1944
Blackburn Skua Fighter/dive bomber/target tug Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1938 1941
Douglas Skyraider Airborne Early Warning Flag of the United States US 1951 1960
Supermarine Spitfire Fighter Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1942 1945
Short Sturgeon Target tug Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1951 1959
Fairey Swordfish Torpedo bomber Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1936 1946
Grumman Tigercat Fighter Flag of the United States US 1944 1945 2 for evaluation only
De Havilland Tiger Moth Trainer/communications Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1939 1965 113 ex-RAF
Beech Traveller Communications Flag of the United States US 1944 1946 Lend-lease
Avro Tutor Trainer Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1937 1942
Grob G 115 Tutor Trainer Flag of Germany Germany ? ?
Hawker Typhoon Fighter/ground attack Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1943 1943 1 for evaluation only
de Havilland Vampire Fighter/fighter-bomber Flag of the United Kingdom UK ? ?
Percival Vega Gull Communications Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1939 1945 7 impressed
Vultee Vengeance Dive bomber/target tug Flag of the United States US 1944 1947 Lend-lease
Lockheed Ventura Medium bomber Flag of the United States US 1942 1942 1 for evaluation only
Supermarine Walrus Spotter/air-sea rescue/ Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1936 1946
Westland Walrus Spotter/reconnaissance Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1921 1925
Westland Wasp ASW Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1963 1980
Vickers Wellington Trainer/transport Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1942 1946 Ex-RAF
Westland Wessex ASW/air-sea rescue/transport Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1961 1983
Sikorsky Whirlwind ASW/transport/air-sea rescue Flag of the United States US 1952 1969 MDAP
Westland Whirlwind ASW/air-sea rescue/transport Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1956 1977
Miles Whitney Straight Communications Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1940 1943 1 impressed
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Trainer/transport Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1942 1947
Grumman Widgeon Transport Flag of the United States US 1943 1946
AgustaWestland Wildcat Attack Flag of the United Kingdom UK n/a n/a Expected to enter service 2015
Grumman Wildcat/Martlet Fighter Flag of the United States US 1940 1944 Lend-lease
Westland Wyvern Torpedo fighter/trainer/strike Flag of the United Kingdom UK 1953 1958

Royal Marines Helicopters[]

Airships and balloons[]

  • Barrage balloons
  • HMA R.27
  • HMA R.29
  • HMA R.31
  • HMA R.32
  • HMA R.33
  • HMA R.34
  • HMA R.38
  • HMA R.80

UAVs and drones[]

Gliders[]

  • Akaflieg München Mü13 - One former Luftwaffe (1945–1957)
  • DFS SG 38 Schulgleiter - Three (1947–1952)
  • Eliotts Olympia I - One (1946–1955)
  • DFS Kranich I - One (1946–1960)
  • DFS Kranich II - One (1946–1953)
  • Schneider Grunau Baby - Six (1946–1952)
  • Slingsby Cadet - One (1946–1949)
  • Slingsby Prefect - One (1953–1956)

Missiles[]

Air-to-air missiles[]

Air-to-surface missiles[]

Surface-to-surface missiles[]

Maritime surface-to-air missiles[]

See also[]

External links[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm and the edit history here.
Advertisement