Aircraft Deployed in Aden and the Rafdan
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.
Armstrong Whitworth Argosy
Avro 694 Lincoln
Avro 748
Avro Shackleton M.R.2
BAC Canberra
Beaver AL Mark 1
Bristol Type
164 Brigand
Blackburn
Beverley
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
Vickers Valetta
Bristo (later Westland) Belvedere
Westland Scout
Westland Wessex
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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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
|
| 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
|
| 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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|
Beaver AL Mark 1
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Light Utility Aircraft |
| Powerplant: |
Pratt and Whitney Wasp R-985 Junior 450bhp |
| Speed (Km/h): |
262 |
| Range (Km): |
1078 |
| Wingspan (m): |
14.63 |
| Length (m): |
9.27 |
| Combat Weight
(Kg) |
2450 |
| Crew: |
6 or 7 |
| Notes etc: |
The aircraft is used as a general liaison and communications aircraft. |
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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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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 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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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
|
| 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: |
Served with the Army Air Corps |
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|
Douglas
Dakota DC3
|
| 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
| Role: |
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
|
| 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 |
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|
Vickers
Valetta
|
| 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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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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|
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 |
| Aramment: |
Varied can include machine guns, reconnaissance flares, Air to surface missiles |
| Crew: |
1 plus 4 passengers |
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|
Westland Wessex
|
| Aircraft Type: |
Transport and SAR helicopter |
| Powerplant: |
Two 1007kW R.R. Gnome Mk.110/111 |
| Speed (Km/h): |
212km/h at ceiling |
| Range (Km): |
540km |
| Service Ceiling (m): |
3050 |
| Rotor Diameter (m): |
17.07m |
| Length (m): |
20.09 with rotors turning |
| Maximum Take Off Weight
(Kg) |
6123kg |
| Crew: |
2 |
| Notes: |
18 seats or 1814kg load |
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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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|
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