This is a subscription only section
Want to read more? It's only €10/year.
No account yet? Just Create an account first and head to the shop
This is a subscription only section
Want to read more? It's only €10/year.
| Amberley, Qld. (YAMB) | ||||||
RWY 04/22, 15/33 POS 27°38'26"S 152°42'43"E ELEV 91 ft | ||||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge | ||
82 Wing |
1 Squadron 1sq |
F/A-18F | Videmus Agamus (We Seek and We Strike) |  |
||
| 6 Squadron 6sq |
EA-18G | Nous Reviendrons (We Shall Return) |  |
|||
84 Wing |
33 Squadron 33sq |
KC-30A | Enduring |  |
||
86 Wing |
35 Squadron 35sq |
C-27J | Adept |  |
||
| 36 Squadron 36sq |
C-17A | Sure |  |
|||
KC-30 A39-006 was welcome visitor to Amsterdam-Schiphol in April 2022.
(Amsterdam-Schiphol, April 2022, Dino van Doorn)
The Leonardo C-27J Spartan is in service since 2015. Ten aircraft are operated by 35sq at RAAF Base Amberley. They bridge the capability gap between Army helicopters and larger RAAF transport aircraft. A34-010 was noted on approach to RAAF Base Darwin in August 2018.
(Darwin, August 2018, Jurgen van Toor)
| Butterworth (Malaysia) (WMKB) | ||||||
RWY 18/36 POS 05°27'58"N 100°23'28"E ELEV 8ft | ||||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge | ||
| Reserve Base |
none |  |
||||
| Former RAAF Butterworth was handed back to Malaysian control in 1970, but the RAAF has always remained a co-tenant. The RMAF base has received improvements, so it is prepared for fighter and support aircraft deployments. | ||||||
| Canberra, ACT (YSCB) | ||||||
RWY 12/30, 17/35 POS 35°18'30"S 149°11'38"E ELEV Elev:1888 | ||||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge | ||
| 84 Wing |
34 Squadron 34sq |
B737-8 (BBJ) Falcon 7X |
Eo et Redeo (I Go and I Return) |  |
||
RAAF's VIP transport squadron, 34sq, is based at Canberra (ACT) and nowadays operates a fleet of three Falcon 7X business jets and two Boeing 737-700s. The Falcons, reported as leased, were delivered in 2019. The business jets, powered by three P&W PW307A engines, represents a major capability leap from its predecessor, the smaller CL-604. Seen here landing at RAAF Base Darwin on 26 August 2022 is A56-003.
(Darwin, August 2022, Hans van Herk)
34 Squadron used operates two Boeing 737-700s. These aircraft were delivered in 2002. They have been replaced by new B737-8 BBJs in August 2024. A36-002 was photographed whilst landing at RAAF Base Darwin on 26 August 2022.
(Darwin, August 2022, Hans van Herk)
| Curtin, WA (YCIN) | ||||||
RWY 11/29 POS 17°34'53"S 123°49'42"E ELEV 300 ft | ||||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge | ||
| Reserve Base RB |
Bare base | |
||||
| The RAAF maintains three well equipped and provisioned ‘Bare Bases’ along the northern coastline. RAAF Bases Curtin and Learmonth in Western Australia and RAAF Base Scherger in Queensland. These are maintained by a minimum number of personnel and no aviation elements are based, but can be scaled up quickly during exercises or wartime. | ||||||
| Darwin/Intl, NT (YPDN) | ||||||
RWY 11/29, 18/36 POS 12°24'53"S 130°52'36"E ELEV 103 ft | ||||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge | ||
| Reserve Base |
|
|||||
| RAAF Base Darwin is a fully equipped main forward mounting base with no RAAF aircraft permanently assigned. It is used many times a year for (inter)national exercises, of which the large biennial Pitch Black exercise is the most notable one. Since 2012, the US Marines Corps maintains a 6-month deployment (usually from March through October) with about 1,500—2,000 troops and a unit of MV-22B Ospreys from VMM-268 'Red Dragons' ('YQ-xx') from Kaneohe Bay MCAF, Hawaii. | ||||||
| East Sale, Vic. (YMES) | ||||||
RWY 04/22, 09/27 POS 38°05'56"S 147°08'58"E ELEV Elev:23 ft | ||||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge | ||
| 84 Wing |
32 Squadron 32sq |
Beech 350 | Adaptable |  |
||
| Training Command |
1 Flying Training School 1FTS |
PC-21 | Qui Docet Discit (He Who Teaches Learns) |  |
||
| Australian display team 'The Roulettes' is also based here, using aircraft from 1FTS.
The Central Flying School (CFS) is using 1FTS aircraft for Flying Instructor Training. | ||||||
A dozen Beechcraft 350 & 350i King Air are operated by 32 Squadron at RAAF Base East Sale. They are extensively used for Air Force and Navy mission training as well as passenger and cargo transport. This A32-348 is seen on approach to RAAF Base Williamtown in August 2018.
(Aug 2018, Jurgen van Toor)
The Pilatus PC-21 joined the RAAF in the pilot training role in 2017 and is based at RAAF Base Pearce and RAAF Base East Sale. All the PC-21s at the latter base are painted in ‘The Roulettes’ demo team colours for the ease of interoperability, as demonstrated on A54-039, seen in August 2022.
(September 2022, Jurgen van Toor)
| Edinburgh, SA (YPED) | ||||||
RWY 18/36, HEL POS 34°42'09"S 138°37'15"E ELEV Elev:67 ft | ||||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge | ||
92 Wing |
11 Squadron 11sq |
P-8A | Shepherd or Destroy |  |
||
| 292 Squadron (OCU) 292sq (OCU) |
P-8A | Prepare the hunter |  |
|||
| Air System Development and Test Wing |
Aircraft Research and Development Unit ARDU |
PC-21 |
Prove to accomplish |  |
||
The successor to the Lockheed P-3 Orion is the Boeing P-8A Poseidon. Twelve airliners were ordered and the first was delivered in 2016. Compared to its predecessor, which during a large part of its career carried no markings, the P-8s carry unit markings on the tail and the full registration.
(Paya Lebar, October 2021, Hans Jacobs)
| Learmonth, WA (YPLM) | ||||||
RWY 18/36 POS 22°14'00"S 114°05'37"E ELEV 19 ft | ||||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge | ||
| Reserve Base RB |
Bare base | |
||||
| The RAAF maintains three well equipped and provisioned ‘Bare Bases’ along the northern coastline. RAAF Bases Curtin and Learmonth in Western Australia and RAAF Base Scherger in Queensland. These are maintained by a minimum number of personnel and no aviation elements are based, but can be scaled up quickly during exercises or wartime. | ||||||
| Pearce, WA (YPEA) | ||||||
RWY 05/23, 18L/36R, 18R/36L, HEL POS 31°40'04"S 116°00'54"E ELEV 150 ft | ||||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge | ||
78 Wing |
79 Squadron 79sq |
Hawk Mk127 | Born for Action |  |
||
| Training Command |
2 Flying Training School 2 FTS |
PC-21 | Seek the Heights |  |
||
| Since 1993 the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s 130 Squadron has undertaken pilot training at RAAF Base Pearce. To that end, a number of Singaporean Pilatus PC-21s are currently stationed at the base. | ||||||
RAAF pilots will commence their training first on the PC-21. Their first experience with jets will be on the Hawk with 76sq and 79sq. The Hawk is the lead-in trainer for the F-35A Lightning II, EA-18G Growler and F/A-18F Super Hornet.
(Avalon, March 2013, Jeroen Oude Wolbers)
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules has a long history in Australia. Most basic transport variants have been utilized by the RAAF: the C-130A, E, H and currently the C-130J-30. Although the latest variant has been in service only since 1999, the latest plans call for a replacement of these C-130J-30s by… another batch of C-130J-30s, as the RAAF sees this aircraft as the only type suitable for its replacements. There are indications that the C-27Js might also be replaced and a Hercules tanker capability might be added which will result in the procurement of 24 C-130J-30s and six KC-130Js.
(Darwin, August 2018, Jurgen van Toor)
| Richmond, NSW (YSRI) | ||||||
RWY 10/28 POS 33°36'02"S 150°46'51"E ELEV Elev:67 ft | ||||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge | ||
| 86 Wing |
37 Squadron 37sq |
C-130J-30 | Foremost |  |
||
| Scherger, Qld. (YBSG) | ||||||
RWY 12/30 POS 12°37'26"S 142°05'12"E ELEV Elev:145ft | ||||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge | ||
| Reserve Base RB |
Bare base | |
||||
| The RAAF maintains three well equipped and provisioned ‘Bare Bases’ along the northern coastline. RAAF Bases Curtin and Learmonth in Western Australia and RAAF Base Scherger in Queensland. These are maintained by a minimum number of personnel and no aviation elements are based, but can be scaled up quickly during exercises or wartime. | ||||||
| Tindal, NT (YPTN) | ||||||
RWY 14/32 POS 14°31'16"S 132°22'40"E ELEV 443 ft | ||||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge | ||
81 Wing |
75 Squadron 75sq |
F-35A | Seek and Strike |  |
||
| 92 Wing |
9 Squadron 9sq |
MQ-4C | |
|||
| Wagga Wagga, NSW (YSWG) | ||||||
RWY 05/23, 12/30 (grass), grass strips POS 35°09'55"S 147°27'59"E ELEV Elev:724 f | ||||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge | ||
| Training Command |
School of Technical Training (SoTT) |
Various aircraft | Staunch |  |
||
| Williamtown, NSW (YWLM) | ||||||
RWY 12/30 POS 32°47'42"S 151°50'04"E ELEV 30 ft | ||||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge | ||
42 Wing |
2 Squadron 2sq |
E-7A | Consilio et Manu (To Advise and to Strike) |  |
||
| 78 Wing |
76 Squadron 76sq |
Hawk Mk127 | Attack |  |
||
| 2 Operational Conversion Unit 2 OCU |
F-35A | Juventus Non Sine Pinnis (The Young Shall Have Wings) |  |
|||
| 81 Wing |
3 Squadron 3sq |
F-35A | Operta Aperta (Secrets Revealed) |  |
||
| 77 Squadron 77sq |
F-35A | Swift to Destroy |  |
|||
| 82 Wing |
4 Squadron 4sq |
PC-21 | Cooperate to Strike |  |
||
| A Request for Information for the replacement for the four 4 Squadron PC-21s was issued in July 2021. The RAAF is not completely satisfied with the PC-21 in the Forward Air Control role and is looking for a replacement. | ||||||
| Willliams, Vic. (YMPC) | ||||||
RWY 04/22, 08L/26R (grass), 08R/26L (grass), 17/35 POS 37°55'56"S 144°45'12"E ELEV 14 ft | ||||||
| Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge | |||
| 100 Squadron 100sq |
various historic aircraft | |
||||
The Boeing E-7A Wedgetail has a distinctive shape with the Multi-role electronically scanned array radar on its back. Six were acquired at the end of the last century and were a completely new capability for the RAAF. All are based at RAAF Williamtown and A30-002 is seen here on approach to RAAF Base Darwin in August 2022.
(Darwin, August 2022, Hans van Herk)
The RAAF has transitioned to the Lockheed F-35A Lightning II fairly quick, and the last classic Boeing F/A-18 Hornets were retired on 29 November 2021. This 2OCU F-35A took part in the Pitch Black exercise at RAAF Base Darwin in August 2022.
(Darwin, August 2022,Jurgen van Toor)
| Woomera, SA (YPWR) | ||||||
RWY 18/36 POS 31°08'39"S 136°49'01"E ELEV 548 ft | ||||||
| Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge | |||
| Reserve Base |
|
|||||
| Although no aircraft are stationed at RAAF Base Woomera, the base is an active RAAF station. The base provides operational support to the Woomera Range Complex, where weapons trials are conducted. | ||||||
As a member you get access to all our
premium content and benefits learn more