1. Uncontrolled copy not subject to amendment
Airmanship Knowledge for Air Cadets Learning Outcome 3 Know How to Identify Military Aircraft Part 6: Historic Aircraft
Revision 3.00

2. Contents Lancaster Spitfire Hurricane Dakota Lightning Vulcan
Buccaneer
Phantom

3. 1. Lancaster
Reporting Name: Lancaster Role Letters and Marks: B1 Role: Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
BBMF – Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

4. Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster first flew in January 1941
7,377 Lancasters were built in the UK and Canada, with a peak of 293 made in one month during August 1944
Famous operational changes to the Lancaster included structural alterations to accommodate the massive 9,979kg Grand Slam bomb and the Barnes Wallis “bouncing bomb” as used by No 617 Dambusters Squadron

5. Technical Data
Wing Span: 31M Length: 21M Crew: 7 Maximum Speed: 238kts (442km/h) at sea level Engines: Four Rolls-Royce Merlin Piston Engines

6. Lancaster

7. 2. Spitfire
Reporting Name: Spitfire Role: Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
BBMF – Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

8. Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire was a development of a famous Schneider trophy racing aircraft designed by R.J. Mitchell
It was vital to the defence of the United Kingdom, and ultimately victory, in the Second World War
It is a tribute to R.J. Mitchell’s design, that over 22,000 Spitfires were produced in 36 separate marks
Distinctive because of the elliptical shaped wing and the roar from the powerful piston engine

9. Technical Data
Wing Span: 11.2M Length: 9.1M Crew: 1 Maximum Speed: 378kts (700km/h) at sea level Engine: 1 Rolls-Royce Merlin

10. Spitfire

11. 3. Hurricane
Reporting Name: Hurricane Role: Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
BBMF – Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

12. Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane stands alongside the Spitfire in the halls of fame
In fact, the Hurricane predates the Spitfire by some two years, being designed in 1934, by Sydney Camm who later designed the Hunter and Harrier aircraft
The Hurricane was the first monoplane fighter in RAF service and also the first to exceed 260 kts (482 km/h) in level flight
Although perhaps not quite as well known as the Spitfire, it contributed more to the Battle of Britain, by destroying a greater number of enemy aircraft
This was due partly to its better turning performance, and partly to its the more rugged and more damage-tolerant construction

13. Technical Data
Wing Span: 12.2M Length: 9.75M Crew: 1 Maximum Speed: 328kts (609km/h) at sea level Engine: 1 Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engine

14. Hurricane
BBMF – Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

15. 4. Dakota DC3
Reporting Name: Dakota Role Letters and Marks: DC3 Role: Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
BBMF – Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

16. Dakota DC3
One of the most famous American-built transport aircraft ever produced
Nearly 13,000 where made by the Douglas Corporation since the first aircraft flew in 1935
Several hundreds are still flying and working today
Renowned for its rugged construction, Dakotas have transported passengers and freight around the world
The fin and rudder appear large and the tail wheel juts out below the fin. On the ground the nose of this tail dragger sits high in the air, supported on the balloon tyres of the retractable main under- carriage
Another good feature is the rectangular window shape

17. Technical Data
Wing Span: 28.9M Length: 19.5M Crew: 2 Maximum Speed: 240kts (448km/h) at sea level Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney R D piston engines

18. Dakota

19. 5. Lightning Reporting Name: Lightning Role: Interceptor
BBMF – Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

20. Lightning
The English Electric Lightning was the first and last all-British supersonic fighter
Over 300 were built and the Lightning served with RAF Air Defence squadrons from 1959 until 1988
The Lightning could climb at 50,000 feet per minute and fly at speeds of up to Mach 2

21. Technical Data
Wing Span: 10.6M Length: 16.8M Crew: 1 Maximum Speed: Mach 2 (2,450km/h) at 36,000ft Engines: Two Rolls-Royce Avon Reheated Turbojets

22. Lightning

23. 6. Vulcan
Reporting Name: Vulcan Role Letters and Marks: B2 Role: Strategic Bomber
BBMF – Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

24. Vulcan
Built by Avro, the Vulcan formed part of the RAF’s V-Force of nuclear bombers along with the Valiant and the Victor
136 were built between 1956 and 1965, and the Vulcan remained in RAF service until 1984
The Vulcan was the RAF’s final purpose-built strategic bomber and saw action in the 1982 Falklands War
The Vulcan remains the largest delta-winged aircraft ever to fly

25. Technical Data
Wing Span 33.8M Length: 32.2M Crew: 5 Maximum Speed: Mach 0.92 (1,127km/h) at 45,000ft Engines: 4 Rolls-Royce Olympus Turbojet engines

26. Vulcan

27. 7. Buccaneer
Reporting Name: Buccaneer Role Letters and Marks: S2B Role: Strike
BBMF – Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

28. Buccaneer
Manufactured by Blackburn, the Buccaneer was initially a carrier-based strike aircraft later adopted by the RAF
The Buccaneer was designed as a low-level, high speed anti-shipping and nuclear strike aircraft
The Buccaneer served with the Royal Navy from 1962 until the decommissioning of HMS Ark Royal in 1978 when the Fleet Air Arm’s remaining Buccaneers were transferred to the RAF
The Buccaneer entered RAF service in 1969 and continued in service until 1993
Buccaneers saw service in the 1991 Gulf War performing laser designation for Tornado GR1s

29. Technical Data
Wing Span: 13.4M Length: 19.3M Crew: 2 Maximum Speed: 580kts (1,074km/h) at 200ft Engines: Two Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans

30. Buccaneer

31. 8. Phantom
Reporting Name: Phantom Role Letters and Marks: FG1 / FGR2 Role: Air Defence / Ground Attack
BBMF – Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

32. Phantom
Manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, the Phantom FG1 was a carrier-based interceptor for the Royal Navy and the Phantom FGR2 a ground-attack aircraft for the RAF
UK Phantoms were developed from the US Navy’s F-4J Phantom II, re-engined with Rolls-Royce Spey engines
The Phantom FG1 served with the Royal Navy from 1968 until the decommissioning of HMS Ark Royal in 1978 when the Fleet Air Arm’s remaining Phantom FG1s were transferred to the RAF
The Phantom FGR2 entered RAF service in 1969 and continued in service until 1989

33. Technical Data
Wing Span: 11.7M Length: 19.2M Crew: 2 Maximum Speed: Mach 2 (2,450km/h) at 40,000ft Engines: Two reheated Rolls- Royce Spey turbofans

34. Phantom

35. Any questions?