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RAF Eurofighter Typhoon (Image: Aviation Media Agency)

RAF Scrambles QRA Jets as Russian Bomber spotted off UK coast

26/02/2020 2 minute read
Written by: Nick Harding

The Royal Air Force (RAF) has scrambled Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth to intercept a Russian TU95 Bear Bomber which flew close to UK airspace earlier today. The QRA Eurofighter Typhoons are constantly on alert to launch to intercept aircraft that threaten UK airspace and as normal, [read more]

First RAF Poseidon arrives in Scotland

04/02/2020 2 minute read
Written by: Nick Harding

The first of nine Royal Air Force (RAF) Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft has arrived at RAF Kinloss in Scotland today. The Boeing P-8A is the UK’s new maritime patrol and submarine hunter aircraft designed to protect the waters around the UK and on overseas operations. The UK hasn’t had a [read more]

Image shows the first RAF P-8A Poseidon taxiing at NAS Jacksonville after being delivered to the RAF as the first P-8A Poseidon. © Crown copyright 2019

UK takes delivery of first RAF Poseidon MRA1

31/10/2019 2 minute read
Written by: Nick Harding

The UK’s Ministry of Defence has taken delivery of the first Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Boeing P-8 Poseidon MRA1 submarine hunter. ZP801 is the first of nine state-of-the-art maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft which will help the UK track hostile maritime objects as well as supporting the UK’s continuous at-sea [read more]

RAF Red Arrows Synchro Break (Image: Aviation Media Agency)

Fatigue contributed to Red Arrows fatal crash

11/10/2019 < 1 minute read
Written by: Nick Harding

An inquiry has found that fatigue and reduced situational awareness contributed to the crash of a Red Arrows BAe Hawk at RAF Valley last year in which an engineer was killed. The Special Inquiry Panel found that Flight Lieutenant David Stark, who survived the accident, had a daily routine that [read more]

A Boeing B-52H lands at RAF Fairford (Image: TransportMedia UK.)

US Bombers bound for RAF Fairford

10/10/2019 2 minute read
Written by: Nick Harding

Another flight of the US Air Force’s B52 Heavy Bombers is currently en route to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire according to Global Strike Command. The first aircraft from the Bomber Taskforce mission will arrive from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana later this evening and are understood to be B52-H’s [read more]

Pictured is the Virgin Orbit 'Cosmic Girl' launch aircraft flying in formation alongside the Red Arrows Hawk jets. (© Crown Copyright 2019)

Red Arrows go Cosmic as RAF pilot selected for Virgin Orbit

04/10/2019 2 minute read
Written by: UK Aviation News

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (RAFAT), The Red Arrows, have gone Cosmic in the USA as they flew with the former Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747, “Cosmic Girl”. The 747 recently left the Virgin Atlantic fleet to start her new life as the launch platform for Virgin Orbit‘s LauncherOne system. [read more]

UK withdraws from Canadian Fighter Jet project

02/09/2019 2 minute read
Written by: Nick Harding

The Ministry of Defence has said it is withdrawing from Canada’s Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP) along with Airbus Defence and Space and has informed the Canadian Government accordingly. The project will see Canada purchase 88 advanced fighter aircraft in order to maintain Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged; as well [read more]

A United States Air Force B2 Spirit, currently deployed to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, flies above the English countryside near Dover with two RAF F-35 jets. For the first time, UK F-35 Lightning jets have been conducting integration flying training with the B-2 Spirit stealth bombers of the United States Air Force as part of their deployment to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK. The USAF deployment of the B-2’s from the Bomber Task Force Europe is long-planned. Whilst deployed to the UK the aircraft will conduct a series of training activities in Europe. During this deployment, RAF F-35B Lightning fighters are conducting sorties with the USAF B-2 bombers. Both are 5th generation aircraft and this is the first time that USAF B-2’s have trained with non-US F-35’s. RAF Fairford routinely hosts deployments and exercises by US strategic aircraft. These regular deployments reinforce the US Air Force Europe and the Royal Air Force’s unique and complementary partnership and our collective contribution to NATO. Imagery captured by a USAF Exchange Pilot.

RAF F35’s train with USAF B2 Stealth Bombers

31/08/2019 3 minute read
Written by: Nick Harding

The Royal Air Force’s latest aircraft the F-35B Lightning is being put through its paces alongside the B2-A Spirit Stealth Bomber in the skies around Britain. The United States Air Force (USAF) has deployed 3 B2 Stealth Bombers to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire which in itself is a rare event [read more]

The B2 Stealth Bombers are back in Gloucestershire

29/08/2019 2 minute read
Written by: Nick Harding

If you have seen strange shapes in the skies over Gloucestershire this week then you could be forgiven for thinking a UFO is to blame but the chances are it is the US Air Forces most secret aircraft, the B2 Stealth Bomber. A flight of 3 Northrop Grumman B2 Stealth [read more]

First RAF P-8A Poseidon takes flight

16/07/2019 < 1 minute read
Written by: Nick Harding

The first Boeing P-8A Poseidon for the Royal Air Force has taken its first flight from Renton, Washington. The maritime poatrol aircraft, designated ZP801, took off and underwent a 90-minute test flight from the Boeing factory at Renton during which the aircraft underwent key testing. The aircraft has now moved [read more]