List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm
Wikimedia list article
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.
Aircraft
Acronyms in table
ASW; Anti-submarine warfare
AEW; Airborne Early Warning
ECM; Electronic counter measures
EW; Electronic Warfare aircraft
List of minor aircraft of the Royal Navy
Helicopters to support the Royal Marines
Westland Gazelle AH.1 - 12 helicopters (1974-2005)
Agusta-Bell Sioux/Westland-Bell Sioux AH.1 - 14 helicopters (1968-1975)
Westland Lynx AH.1, Lynx AH.7 and Lynx AH.9, Lynx AH.9A - (1982-2013)
Westland Scout AH.1 - Six helicopters (1968-1982)
AgustaWestland Merlin HC4/4A
AgustaWestland Wildcat AH.1 - (2014- )
Airships and balloons
List of British airships
Barrage balloons
R80 (airship) - One airship
Operation Outward
UAVs and drones
AeroVironment Puma - (2019- )
AeroVironment Wasp III - (2019- )
QinetiQ Banshee 80+ - (2023- )
Schiebel Camcopter Peregrine - (2024)
Obsolete UAVs and drones
ARSAERO CT 10 target drone - (early 1950s)
Boeing Insitu ScanEagle - (2014-2017), Operated by No.700 Naval Air Squadron.
Northrop Chukar D.1 and Chukar D.2 target drone - 98 aircraft (1980s- )
Northrop Sheldduck D.1 target drone - (1959-1980s)
RAE Larynx cruise missile - (1920s)
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)
Prototypes and minor aircraft
Airspeed Fleet Shadower - Three-seat carrier-based maritime reconnaissance aircraft. One aircraft
Armstrong Whitworth A.W.16 - Single-seat naval fighter biplane.
Armstrong Whitworth Starling II - Single-seat fighter biplane. Naval variant of the Armstrong Whitworth Starling.
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