Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Aircrew Forums > Military Aviation
Reload this Page >

10 most important RAF aircraft of the Cold War

Military Aviation A forum for the professionals who fly military hardware. Also for the backroom boys and girls who support the flying and maintain the equipment, and without whom nothing would ever leave the ground. All armies, navies and air forces of the world equally welcome here.

10 most important RAF aircraft of the Cold War

Old 19th Oct 2021, 00:45
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Vendee
Posts: 145
Received 20 Likes on 11 Posts
10 most important RAF aircraft of the Cold War

I had never heard of this site until a colleague sent the link. Great pics of RAF aircraft. https://hushkit.net/2021/09/30/10-mo...-the-cold-war/


Last edited by Uncle Fred; 19th Oct 2021 at 01:19.
Uncle Fred is online now  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 04:45
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere
Posts: 1,956
Received 50 Likes on 15 Posts
Originally Posted by Uncle Fred
I had never heard of this site until a colleague sent the link. Great pics of RAF aircraft. https://hushkit.net/2021/09/30/10-mo...-the-cold-war/
Cool site, got a few hours on the Nimrod.......
Gordy is online now  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 06:47
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Reading, UK
Posts: 15,786
Received 196 Likes on 90 Posts
A list of important Cold War aircraft that starts with the Spitfire ...
DaveReidUK is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 09:23
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Farnham Surrey
Age: 74
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Seeing the Vulcan at Farnborough as a small child and then having it with us down south, makes one proud.
Mallan is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 09:53
  #5 (permalink)  

Avoid imitations
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,560
Received 402 Likes on 210 Posts
Seems that the author "writes off" a number of aircraft types because they didn't see combat. This is unfair - the Cold War was all about deterrence.
ShyTorque is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 10:50
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Royal Berkshire
Posts: 1,725
Received 76 Likes on 38 Posts
What a bizarre list.....

No Lightning, no Buccaneer, no F-4, no Harrier and perhaps most surprisingly, no C-130!!

GeeRam is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 11:13
  #7 (permalink)  
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Peripatetic
Posts: 17,229
Received 1,498 Likes on 678 Posts
No mention of the Javelin when, reputedly, it scored the RAF’s last kill during the Indonesian confrontation. And why no mention of the Strikemaster, extensively used in combat in Cold War theatres such as the Dhofar.

Ignoring the Buccaneer as not being used in combat ignored the use b6 the SAAF against communist insurgencies, unless you consider these as not part of Russian funded Cold War confrontations with Cuba providing much of the manpower support.

The other main omission is the DC3 used extensively, along with other types, in the Berlin airlift during 1948, perhaps one of the most pivotal post-war moments at the start of the Cold War.
ORAC is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 11:24
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Southampton
Posts: 858
Received 33 Likes on 16 Posts
Was there an unimportant aircraft?

Even a Chipmunk was important to those starting off as pilots.
Saintsman is online now  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 11:31
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 192
Received 7 Likes on 3 Posts
Random aircraft photos
1771 DELETE is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 12:07
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,468
Received 2,594 Likes on 1,098 Posts
Each and everyone had their role to play, no matter how small.

Personally I think I would have started the ball rolling by listing those types nuclear weapons capable, from fast jets, bombers and helicopters, because at the end of the day that was the main deterrent that stopped the cold war becoming a hot one, very hot in fact.. then next those aircraft that backed them up.. and work down the line from there.

Last edited by NutLoose; 19th Oct 2021 at 16:09. Reason: Corrected my bowl rolling lol
NutLoose is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 13:13
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: England
Posts: 741
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 1 Post
Well at least they got the right decision for the number 1
Miles Magister is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 13:16
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: virginia, USA
Age: 56
Posts: 1,060
Received 15 Likes on 10 Posts
It was RAF aircraft, thus no Buccaneer....

Of course the list should have gone:
10- Chipmunk
9- Meteor
8- Harrier
7- C-130
6- Canberra
5- Phantom
4- Tornado
3- Nimrod
2- Hunter
1- Vulcan

I agree with the author on excluding the Lightning. Iconic and blistering speed? yes....most important? no. At the risk of folks getting the pitchforks out- over-rated.
sandiego89 is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 13:19
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Narfalk
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Jaguar, from that Tornado actually got a datum to be built. Carried the tactical Nuke deterent in RAFG for ten years. Available in enough numbers to be effective. Hushkit lists always are alternative mind.
Cat Techie is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 13:32
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: In the State of Denial
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 0
Received 126 Likes on 26 Posts

It was RAF aircraft, thus no Buccaneer..
I’m pretty sure the RAF operated the Buccaneer for just a bit...!
Ken Scott is online now  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 13:46
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 79
Posts: 7,786
Received 129 Likes on 58 Posts
A later attack by five Egyptian Spitfires resulted in all five being destroyed, three by ground fire, two by British Spitfires (the last of which remains the most recent victory in air combat by an RAF pilot in an RAF aircraft).
Mogwi may wish to comment, although I guess most FI kills weren’t actually shooting back.
MPN11 is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 14:13
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: virginia, USA
Age: 56
Posts: 1,060
Received 15 Likes on 10 Posts
Originally Posted by Ken Scott
I’m pretty sure the RAF operated the Buccaneer for just a bit...!
Of course- very negligent of me, but in the waning days of the cold war, and would not include it in the RAF top ten.

MPN, the Sea Harrier was a FAA aircraft, no mater what color coveralls the pilot wore in the cockpit....
sandiego89 is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 14:46
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 2,451
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 5 Posts
sandiego89,
With pitchfork sharpened.
Most of the cold war (aircraft) was based on deterrence, thus V force.
The Lightning and Javelin were defending the deterrent, and to a limited extent deterred the manned bomber. With improving intermediate range missiles and bombers with standoff missiles, the roles changed, and over time new aircraft came to the fore.
I was trained on the Chipmunk for the cold war, and at the end I flew a Meteor, but neither were key aircraft in the period.
There; no blood spilt.
safetypee is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 15:26
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Zummerset
Posts: 1,041
Received 13 Likes on 5 Posts
Vulcan, Victor (Deterrent and tanking), Phantom, Lightning (Q), C130, Chinook (Tac Lift), Tornado GR1/Harrier (BAI, Strike, CAS), Nimrod (MR) and Canberra (proper MRCA). Covers a broad capability church, and recognises some of those types with South Atlantic salt and Iraqi sand on their wheels……would have liked to include the Chippy and JP which made it all possible but ran out of fingers…..

Last edited by Evalu8ter; 19th Oct 2021 at 15:28. Reason: Can’t count…..
Evalu8ter is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 15:38
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Baston
Posts: 3,196
Received 415 Likes on 191 Posts
Much as I loved the Harrier in BFG, I did wonder if the CONOPS was feasible in war. Fortunately we never found out. Deterrent again.
langleybaston is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2021, 15:58
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: England
Posts: 1,459
Received 34 Likes on 20 Posts
Chipmunk in the cold war

BRIXMIS Chipmunk Over East Berlin | BRIXMIS | AJ
ericferret is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.