All articles tagged with #raf
Ukrainian pilots are undergoing early-stage flight training in the United Kingdom with the Royal Air Force to sharpen basic handling, build English proficiency, and adopt Western-style decision-making before continuing to advanced F-16 training abroad.
Chimaev says he won’t wrestle Olympic champ Kyle Snyder in RAF, calling the potential match a distant “super fight” with little point right now, while Snyder remains hopeful of facing him someday in RAF and focuses on his World Championships; Chimaev is preparing for UFC 328 against Strickland and even floated a $200,000 spar challenge for top wrestlers.
RAF 07 from USF Tampa aired on FOX Nation with Arman Tsarukyan defeating Georgio Poullas 2 by decision (9-3) in the main event and Colby Covington defeating Dillon Danis by tech-fall (14-4) in the co-main; the stacked card also featured four title fights and ongoing live results, highlights, and discussion throughout the night.
Olympic wrestling great Kyle Snyder, now 30, targets the 2026 World Championships and the 2028 Olympics, preparing for a rematch with Akhmed Tazhudinov at RAF 7 and insisting he’s not interested in wrestling UFC fighters, preferring to challenge the best in the world.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch urged the UK to authorise RAF strikes on Iranian missile launch sites, arguing that targeting the source is necessary to stop attacks. The government says current actions are defensive and rely on US strikes from British bases, with no plans to strike Iran itself. Labour and Liberal Democrats called for clarity amid a broader debate over defence spending and UK involvement as the crisis unfolds, while additional UK assets and measures are being deployed in the region.
In 1966, RAF Lyneham engineer Walter “Taffy” Holden accidentally took off in an English Electric Lightning during a ground test, without a helmet, canopy, or radio and with the ejector seat disabled. After a tense ~12 minutes aloft and two failed landing attempts, he managed to land the jet safely, and the aircraft XM135 later went on display at the Imperial War Museum Duxford.
British RAF jets conducted their first Nato air defense mission over Poland in response to Russian drone incursions, demonstrating allied support and readiness to defend eastern NATO members amid escalating tensions with Russia.
Gilbert Clarke, a 98-year-old RAF veteran from Jamaica, recalls the thrill of seeing planes overhead on D-Day 80 years ago. Clarke, who served as a radar technician, is among the many Black volunteers from the British Empire whose contributions to the war effort are often overlooked. Despite facing racism, these volunteers played crucial roles in the Allied victory. Clarke hopes that sharing his story will help combat ongoing discrimination and remind people of the significant contributions made by Black veterans.
Kate Middleton and Prince William released a statement expressing their condolences following the death of RAF pilot Mark Long in a spitfire crash. This rare public statement from Kate comes amid her ongoing cancer treatment and time away from public duties. The crash occurred during a Battle of Britain event, and the Royal Air Force holds personal significance for Prince William, a former RAF and air ambulance pilot.
Kate Middleton and Prince William issued a heartfelt statement expressing their condolences after the death of a Spitfire pilot from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in Lincolnshire. The pilot died in a crash near RAF Coningsby, and the royal couple extended their thoughts to the pilot's loved ones and the wider RAF family.
A World War II-era Spitfire fighter plane crashed near RAF Coningsby in eastern England, killing the pilot. The crash occurred just days before commemorations for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The cause of the crash is currently unknown.
A pilot has died after a World War Two-era Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight crashed in a field near RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. Emergency services responded to the incident, and a comprehensive investigation is underway. The pilot's family has been informed, and tributes have been paid by the Prince and Princess of Wales. Road closures are in place around the crash site.
A study by the RAF Benevolent Fund has revealed a significant increase in the number of RAF children seeking mental health support due to challenges such as frequent home moves, separation from serving parents, and disruptions to education. The charity reported a 131% rise in children and young people seeking help for depression, anxiety, and isolation between 2020 and 2023, as well as a 93% increase in family counselling. Financial assistance for childcare and children's needs also saw a 70% increase in 2023. The charity released these figures to highlight the growing welfare demands and emotional wellbeing of children in the RAF, emphasizing the need for tailored support for military families.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) has provided training to nine Ukrainian military firefighters on how to operate specialist fire engines at RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire. The training was conducted on 17 firefighting vehicles donated by the UK to help Ukraine respond to damage caused by Russian aerial attacks. The vehicles, including rapid intervention and foam vehicles, are more modern and capable than the Soviet-era vehicles currently used by Ukraine. The Ukrainian firefighters received a condensed and intense five-day training package and will use their new skills to increase their operational capability upon returning home.
RAF Typhoon fighters providing Quick Reaction Alert for the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission in Estonia have intercepted 21 Russian aircraft in the last 21 days, including fighter aircraft, VIP and other transport aircraft, intelligence collection aircraft, and long-range bombers. The RAF Typhoons launch to monitor the Russian aircraft when they do not talk to air traffic agencies, making them a flight safety hazard. The NATO Baltic Air Policing mission was established in 2014 after Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. The RAF will continue to conduct NATO’s Air Policing Mission in Estonia with 1 (F) Sqn Typhoons until August, when they will hand over to the Spanish Air Force.