Showing 1 to 10 of 10 search results

Hawker Hunter FGA9

Aircraft & Exhibits, OCT 1956-OCT 1985, London, Hangar Three/Four, 1990/0698/A

The Hunter was the first high-speed jet fighter with radar and fully-powered flying controls to go into widespread service with the Royal Air Force. It was one of the most successful of the British post-war jet fighters; over 1000 were purchased by the Royal Air Force. Entering service in July 1954 it became the Royal Air Force’s standard single-seat fighter, replacing Meteor, Sabre and Venom aircraft. From 1960 Lightnings began to supersede the Hunter in Fighter Command.

Image pending

Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer CC.2

Aircraft & Exhibits, JUN 1958-FEB 1969, London, Hangar Three/Four, 69/A/217

Known as the ‘Twin Pin’, the Twin Pioneer was a follow-up to the same company’s single-engined short take-off and landing (STOL) transport, the Pioneer, and like the latter required an area only 30m (99ft) by 275m (902ft) in which to operate. The Twin Pioneer was initially designed as a 16-passenger civil transport aircraft and first flew in June 1955. Following the success of the Pioneer, the RAF ordered 39 of the new type, the first examples entering service in October 1958 with No.78 Squadron in Aden, air-lifting troops and supplies in the Protectorate.

Twin-engined aircraft with brown/sand desert camouflage scheme and black underside., © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan / (c) RAF Museum/ Iain Duncan

Westland Belvedere HC1

Aircraft & Exhibits, MAR 1962-AUG 1969, London, Hangar Three/Four, 74/A/15

The Belvedere was the Royal Air Force’s first twin engined, twin rotor helicopter to enter service. During its operational service Great Britain began the slow and sometimes painful task of withdrawing from its Empire and this aircraft was involved in many of those operations in the Middle and Far East.

Twin-rotor helicopter, green/grey camouflage with lighter underside, © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan / (c) RAF Museum/ Iain Duncan

Armstrong Whitworth Argosy C.1

Aircraft & Exhibits, APR 1962-APR 1988, Cosford, Hangar Four, 1988/0098/A

The Argosy was a medium range transport, paratroop and supply aircraft. Powered by four Rolls-Royce Dart turbojet engines, and with a distinctive twin boom tailplane design, it became known as the “Whistling Wheelbarrow” in RAF service.

Armstrong Whitworth Argosy C Mk1 from elevated position., © RAF Museum/Iain Duncan

Recorded interview with Flight Lieutenant John Holton, 5 November 2019

Film & Sound, In Storage, X008-5624

Interview with John Holton, who served as an RAF navigator in Meteor night fighter aircraft, as an instructor on Brigand and Balliol aircraft and as an operations officer at Khormaksar.

Image pending

Recorded interview with Master Aircrew Paul Challice, 18 September 2018

Film & Sound, In Storage, X008-4799

Interview with Paul Challice, who was a radio operator in Beverley transport aircraft and as crewman, winchman and winch operator in Wessex, Whirlwind and Sea King search and rescue helicopters.

Image pending

Recorded interview with Flight Lieutenant Harry Apiafi, 20 November 2025

Film & Sound, In Storage, X008-9918

Harry Apiafi gives an account of his RAF career, initially as an aircraft electrician before becoming a pilot in Hercules transport aircraft with 47 Squadron and on weather reconnaissance operations.

Image pending

Recording of an interview with Group Captain Leonard Snaith, 14 October 1975

Film & Sound, In Storage, SC85/42

Interview with Group Captain Leonard Somerville Snaith, who served in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force as a draughtsman, aero-engine fitter and pilot from 1917.

Image pending

Recorded interview with Wing Commander Ian Cathal Macmillan, 18 May 2017

Film & Sound, In Storage, X008-3360

Recorded interview with Ian Macmillan, who was a navigator in Argosy, Belfast and VC10 transport aircraft, and in C-141 transport aircraft during an exchange tour with the US Air Force.

Image pending

Recorded interview with Flight Lieutenant Chris Mead, 24 April 2013

Film & Sound, In Storage, X005-6742/012

Interview with Chris Mead, who flew as a navigator in Beverley and Hercules transport aircraft. He remembers the introduction of Hercules to RAF service and compares it to the Beverley.

Image pending