Please
note that this not a complete list of Aircraft deployed in Aden and the
Rafdan. We will add to the list as more information becomes available.
If you have information on Aircraft that are not listed below,
please feel free to email us Also please e-mail if you find any of the information below
to be incorrect. We appreciate your input.
Thanks to Ben Cartwright for his help with the information on several of these aircraft.
Armstrong Whitworth Argosy
Auster AOP Mk 9
Avro 694 Lincoln
Avro 748
Avro Shackleton M.R.2
BAC Canberra
Blackburn Beverley
Bristol (later Westland) Belvedere
Bristol Type 164 Brigand
Bristol Sycamore
de Havilland Vampire F.B.5
de Havilland Venom FB4s
De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
Douglas Dakota DC-3
Gloster Meteor FR9s
Hawker Hunter FGA9s, FR10s and T7s
Hawker Tempest
Hunting Percival Pembroke
Scottish Aviation Pioneer
Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer
Skeeter AOP 11
Vickers Valetta
Westland Scout
Westland Sioux AH 1
Westland Wessex
Westland Wessex HAS1
Westland Whirlwind HAR10
|
Armstrong Whitworth Argosy
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Transport |
| Powerplant: |
4 1506kw Rolls-Royce Dart Mk 526 Turboprop engines |
| Speed (Km/h): |
451 at optimum altitude |
| Range (Km): |
3219 |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
6100 |
| Wingspan (m): |
35.05 |
| Length (m): |
26.44 |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
39916 |
| Crew: |
4-5 |
| Payload: |
Payload 28000lb or 89 passengers, rear loading ramp. |
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|
Auster AOP Mk 9
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Air observation aircraft |
| Powerplant: |
One Blackburn Cirrus Bombardier 203 inline piston engine, 180hp |
| Speed (Km/h): |
204 |
| Range (Km): |
389 |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
5945 |
| Wingspan (m): |
11.10 |
| Length (m): |
7.24 |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
1057 |
| Payload: |
|
| Crew: |
3 |
| Notes: |
Operated by 13 Flight Army Air Corps, prior to 1965. Two non-fliers were still there when I arrived in Jan 1965. |
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|
Avro
694 Lincoln
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Long-range bomber |
| Powerplant: |
4 1750hp Rolls-Royce Merlin
85 inline piston engines |
| Speed (Km/h): |
475 at 4750m; cruise 346km/h
at 6100m. |
| Range (Km): |
2366 with maximum bombload |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
9295 |
| Wingspan (m): |
36.58 |
| Length (m): |
23.86 |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
34019 |
| Guns: |
2 .50in machine guns in
each of nose, dorsal and tail turrets. |
| Bombs etc: |
14000lb of bombs |
| Crew: |
7 |
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|
Avro
748
|
| Aircraft Type: |
VIP and communications |
| Powerplant: |
2 Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 536-2 turboprops |
| Speed (Km/h): |
451 |
| Range (Km): |
1456 with full payload |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
7260 |
| Wingspan (m): |
30.02 |
| Length (m): |
20.42 |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
23133 |
| Crew: |
2 |
| Notes etc: |
Two aircraft, XS 790 and XS 791 were used for VIP and communication duties around the Gulf and East Africa. |
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|
Avro
Shackleton M.R.2
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Maritime Reconnaissance and Strike |
| Powerplant: |
4 Rolls-Royce Griffon 58,
V-12 liquid cooled, 2435hp |
| Speed (Km/h): |
286 mph at 12,000 ft |
| Range (Km): |
1720 nautical miles at 5000
ft at 190 mph |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
5,730 |
| Wingspan (m): |
36.57 |
| Length (m): |
26.6 |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(kG) |
39,000 |
| Guns: |
2 20mm cannon |
| Bombs etc: |
15,000lb ordnance |
| Crew: |
10 |
| Notes: |
Details for MR2 version |
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|
BAC Canberra
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Reconnaissance and Strike |
| Powerplant: |
Two Rolls-Royce Avon 206 turbojets of 11,250lb st |
| Speed (Km/h): |
917 at 12192m |
| Range (Km): |
4274 |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
14,630 |
| Wingspan (m): |
19.49 |
| Length (m): |
19.96 |
| Bombs etc: |
8,000lb ordnance |
| Crew: |
3 |
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|
Blackburn
Beverley
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Transport |
| Powerplant: |
4 Bristol Centaurus 273,
18-cylinder, air-cooled, radials, 2850hp |
| Speed (Km/h): |
383 at 1,740m |
| Range (Km): |
2,090 |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
4,880 |
| Wingspan (m): |
49.38 |
| Length (m): |
30.30 |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
64,865 |
| Payload (Kg): |
94 passengers or 45,000lb |
| Crew: |
5-6 |
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|
Bristol (later Westland)
Belvedere
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Short range tactical transport
helicopter |
| Powerplant: |
Two 1,300 shp Napier Gazelle
N.Ga.2 |
| Speed (Km/h): |
138mph |
| Range (Km): |
75 miles with 6,000lb payload.
490 mile ferry range |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
17,300ft |
| Rotor Diameter (m): |
48'8'' |
| Length (m): |
Overall: 54'4'' |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
8,636 |
| Crew: |
2 |
| Notes: |
18 fully armed troops or
freight. Bristol Helicopters merged with Westland in 1961. |
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|
Bristol
Type 164 Brigand
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Ground Attack Bomber |
| Powerplant: |
2 2470hp Bristol Centaurus
57 radial piston engines |
| Speed (Km/h): |
576 at 4875m; Cruise 501
km/h |
| Range (Km): |
4506 with drop tanks |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
7925 |
| Wingspan (m): |
22.05 |
| Length (m): |
14.15 |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
17690 |
| Guns: |
Four fixed 20mm nose cannon |
| Bombs etc: |
Underwing racks for rockets
or upto 2002lb bombs |
| Crew: |
3 |
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|
Bristol 171 Sycamore
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Light utility helicopter |
| Powerplant: |
One 410kW Alvis Leonides 73
|
| Speed (Km/h): |
205km/h |
| Range (Km): |
|
| Service Ceiling (m): |
|
| Rotor Diameter (m): |
14.81m |
| Length (m): |
14.07m |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
2540kg |
| Crew: |
4 |
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|
de
Havilland Vampire F.B.5
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Fighter/Bomber |
| Powerplant: |
1 de Havilland Goblin 2
turbojet |
| Speed (Km/h): |
882 at 9145m |
| Range (Km): |
1960 |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
13410 |
| Wingspan (m): |
11.58 |
| Length (m): |
9.37 |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(kG) |
5,620 |
| Guns: |
4 20mm cannon |
| Bombs etc: |
2002lb |
| Crew: |
1 |
| Notes: |
Details for F.B.5 |
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|
de
Havilland Venom FB4s
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Night-fighter |
| Powerplant: |
1 de Havilland Ghost 104
turbojet |
| Speed (Km/h): |
1013 |
| Range (Km): |
1610 |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
15000 |
| Wingspan (m): |
12.7 |
| Length (m): |
11.17 |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(kG) |
7166 |
| Guns: |
4 20mm cannon in nose |
| Bombs etc: |
2,000lb on some versions |
| Crew: |
2 |
| Notes: |
Details for NF.3 |
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|
De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
Picture Courtesy of Christopher R Nethercoat's My Aden Story
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Communications |
| Powerplant: |
One 450hp Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-14B Wasp Jr. |
| Speed (Km/h): |
258km/h |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
5486 |
| Wingspan (m): |
14.6 |
| Length (m): |
9.2 |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
2185 |
| Payload: |
7 passengers |
| Crew: |
1 pilot |
| Notes: |
The aircraft is used as a general liaison and communications aircraft.
The aircraft operated with a single pilot, but had dual controls and could have a co-pilot/aircrewman/observer. These two sat in fixed metal seats in the front of the aircraft. In the rear part of the cabin were four seats, comprising two detachable metal seats and two seats on a hammock type fitting, slung against the rear cabin wall. The rear seats were removable for freight or parachist carrying, but you would have been hard pushed to get four squaddies with parachutes and/or kit into that space. One of the front seats (observer) could be removed and two vertical stacked stretchers fitted. These were operated by 15 Flight Army Air Corps. Operated from 1964 to withdrawal. |
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|
Douglas
Dakota DC3
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Transport |
| Powerplant: |
Two 1200hp Pratt & Whitney
R-1830-92 |
| Speed (Km/h): |
368km/h at 2290m; Cruise
296km/h |
| Range (Km): |
3420 |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
7076 |
| Wingspan (m): |
28.96 |
| Length (m): |
19.64 |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
11805 |
| Payload: |
10,000lb payload or 28 troops
or 18 litters. |
| Crew: |
10 |
| Notes: |
Details for DC-3 |
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|
Gloster
Meteor FR9s
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Ground attack fighter |
| Powerplant: |
Two 3,500lb static thrust
Derwent 8 engines |
| Speed (Km/h): |
962 at 3,050m |
| Range (Km): |
965 |
| Wingspan (m): |
11.32 |
| Length (m): |
13.59 |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
7,122 |
| Weapons: |
Four 20mm Hispanio nose
cannon plus underwing weapons load |
| Crew: |
1 |
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|
Hawker
Hunter FGA9s, FR10s and T7s
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Fighter |
| Powerplant: |
1 Rolls-Royce Avon 203 turbojet |
| Speed (Km/h): |
1142 |
| Range (Km): |
3085 |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
15700 |
| Wingspan (m): |
10.26 |
| Length (m): |
13.98 |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(kG) |
8051 |
| Guns: |
4 30mm cannon with 100 rounds
each |
| Bombs etc: |
6000lb of ordnance |
| Crew: |
1 |
| Notes: |
Details for F.6 version, first frontline version. The T7 was a two-seat trainer version, all RAF squadrons had their own 2-seater for training purposes. |
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|
Hawker
Tempest
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Fighter/Bomber |
| Powerplant: |
1 (Mk V) 2180hp Napier Sabre
IIA inline piston engine |
| Speed (Km/h): |
686 at 5640m |
| Range (Km): |
2462 |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
11125 |
| Wingspan (m): |
12.5 |
| Length (m): |
10.26 |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
6142 |
| Guns: |
Four 20mm cannon |
| Bombs etc: |
Two 500lb bombs. two 1000lb
bombs or rockets |
| Crew: |
1 |
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|
Hunting Percival Pembroke
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Communications Aircraft |
| Powerplant: |
Two 540-560hp Alvis Leonides 127 |
| Speed (Km/h): |
224mph at 2,000ft; Cruise; 155mph at 8,000ft |
| Range (Km): |
1,150 miles |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
22,000ft |
| Wingspan (m): |
11.4m |
| Length (m): |
7.7m |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
6,136 |
| Crew: |
2 crew plus 8 passengers |
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|
Scottish Aviation Pioneer
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Army Co-operation Aircraft |
| Powerplant: |
One 520hp Alvis Leonides 502/4 |
| Speed (Km/h): |
145mph at 1,500ft |
| Range (Km): |
650 miles maximum |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
16,000ft |
| Wingspan (m): |
23.32m |
| Length (m): |
13.79m |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
2,636 |
| Crew: |
2 |
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|
Scottish
Aviation Twin Pioneer
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Army Co-operation Aircraft |
| Powerplant: |
Two 550hp Alvis Leonides
514 or 640hp Leonides 531 engines |
| Speed (Km/h): |
165mph at 2,000ft |
| Range (Km): |
398 miles with 16 passengers |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
65,616 |
| Wingspan (m): |
23.3 |
| Length (m): |
13.79 |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
6,636 |
| Guns: |
Two fixed Browning guns
forward or a movable Bren gun firing through the rear entry door |
| Bombs etc: |
Two 1,0000, four 250lb or
four 500lb bombs mounted externally |
| Crew: |
2 + Navigator or air despatcher |
| Notes: |
Can carry 11 men, 9 paratroops
or freight
An airframe fitter of 21 Sqn writes: I do remember once we had to rig a Twin Pin with wire guided missiles, for a particular attack profile against the Rebels. These missiles were installed on a stub wing, attached to the main landing gear strut.
78 Squadron Twin Pioneers were also fitted with the Nord Aviation SS11 wire guided missile.
|
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|
Skeeter AOP 11
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Air Observation Aircraft |
| Powerplant: |
|
| Speed (Km/h): |
|
| Range (Km): |
|
| Service Ceiling (m): |
|
| Wingspan (m): |
|
| Length(m): |
|
| Maximum Take Off Weight (Kg) |
|
| Crew: |
|
| Notes: |
This helicopter was trialled in Aden, though was never used in service. It was very lacking in power in the heat. |
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|
Vickers Valetta
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Transport; |
| Powerplant: |
2 Bristol Hercules Mark 230 rated @ 2000HP on T/O. |
| Speed
(Km/h): |
291mph @ 10,000 feet |
| Range
(Km): |
1400 miles |
| Service
Ceiling (m): |
22,200 feet |
| Wingspan
(m): |
89'3'' |
| Length
(m): |
65' 3'' |
| Maximum
Take Off Weight (Kg) |
36,500 lbs
|
| Crew: |
3 |
| Notes: |
Capacity
for 34 troops, 20 paratroops or 12,050 lbs payload. Details for C.1 version. C2 version was also in use in Aden on VIP duties. |
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|
Westland Scout AH Mark 1
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Scout helicopter |
| Powerplant: |
Rolls-Royce Bristol Nimbus 105 or 105 developing 710shp |
| Speed (Km/h): |
210 |
| Range (Km): |
507 |
| Rotor Diameter (m): |
9.83 |
| Length (with rotors turning) (m): |
12.29 |
| Combat Weight
(Kg) |
2404 |
| Armament: |
Varied can include machine guns, reconnaissance flares. |
| Crew: |
1 plus 4 passengers |
| Notes: |
As part of the passenger load, correctly given as up to four, one or two stretcher pods could be fitted onto the undercarriage skids for casualty evacuation. These were platforms, to carry a stretcher, with a large domed cover to protect the casualty from downdraught/sand, etc. The inside of the pod cover had a notice, for the benefit of a wounded casualty, who might recover conciousness, to tell them where they were. In addition, to two very small sideways looking windows gave some external reference. The Scout aircraft were operated by two Army Air Corps flights, namely 8 and 13. Operated from 1964 to withdrawal. |
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|
Westland Sioux AH 1
Image courtsey of
FreeFoto.com
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Scout helicopter |
| Powerplant: |
One turbocharged 209 kW Avco Lycoming TVO-435 |
| Speed (Km/h): |
Maximum 169, cruise 135 |
| Range (Km): |
395 |
| Rotor Diameter (m): |
11.32 |
| Length (with rotors turning) (m): |
9.63 |
| Maximum take-off Weight (Kg) |
1340 |
| Armament: |
Swivel machine gun |
| Crew: |
1 plus 2 passengers/crew |
| Notes: |
Could also carry a swivel machine gun and two "Stokes Litters", which was a lightweight metal framed stretcher for casualty evacuation. Operated by Independent Flights attached to individual regiments. Two infantry, two cavalry and one artillery, from 1965 to withdrawal. Image shown is one of the initial 50 built by Agusta for the British army contract, which were followed by 150 built by Westland under licence.
|
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|
Westland Wessex HC2
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Transport and SAR helicopter |
| Powerplant: |
Two Rolls-Royce Gnome H.1200 Mk.110/111 turboshafts developing 1,350 shp each |
| Speed (Km/h): |
213km/h at ceiling; cruise speed of 196 km/h |
| Range (Km): |
499km |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
3660 |
| Rotor Diameter (m): |
17.07m |
| Length (m): |
20.07 with rotors turning |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
6136kg |
| Crew: |
2 |
| Notes: |
16 troopers, 8 stretchers or 1814kg load; operated by 78 Squadron RAF in Aden |
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|
Westland Wessex HAS1
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Transport and anti-submarine helicopter |
| Powerplant: |
One Napier Gazelle Mk 161 1450shp |
| Speed (Km/h): |
212km/h at ceiling |
| Range (Km): |
630 km |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
4300m |
| Rotor Diameter (m): |
17.07m |
| Length (m): |
20.03 with rotors turning |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
5715kg |
| Crew: |
2 |
| Notes: |
Operated by 815 NAS in Aden |
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|
Westland Whirlwind HAR10
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Helicopter, Ambulance, Rescue. |
| Powerplant: |
Bristol Siddeley Gnome Free Turbine @ 1050 Shaft HP.
|
| Speed (Km/h): |
109 mph, cruise 104 mph |
| Range (Km): |
334 miles |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
16000 feet |
| Initial Climb (m): |
1220 feet per min. |
| Rotor Diameter (m): |
53 feet (3 blades) |
| Length (m): |
44' 2'' |
| height (m): |
14' 8'' |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
6123kg |
| Crew: |
2 on trooping duties, 3 as SAR. |
| Notes: |
18 seats or 2400 lbs payload |
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