The 90th anniversary of the formation of the RAF marks a significant milestone
By Air Chief Marshal Glenn Torpy
Over the past 25 years, whether it’s been the Falkland Islands, the Gulf Wars, Bosnia or Kosovo, it’s easy to forget that the RAF has been involved heavily. In fact, planes have been flying virtually continuously in the Middle East for the past 17 years. This highlights the essential role that airpower delivers today. For example, the first operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq were about gaining control of the air – essential so that the land and maritime components could carry out their operations.
But while the delivery of air superiority remains fundamental for us, we’re also about gathering intelligence, providing strategic and tactical support, using helicopters and large strategic transport aircraft. We also provide close air support and precision strikes for the troops on the ground. It’s also important to remember the RAF Regiment, which provides an absolutely key protection task at our major airfields.
But our anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on our heritage. Enormous strides have been made since 1918. I doubt if there were many who witnessed those first spindly wood and fabric aircraft flying over the trenches in 1918, who could have really imagined the likes of the Typhoon and unmanned air vehicles like the Reaper being flown in such a relatively short period of time. And who knows what the next 90 years will bring? I doubt if many people today can imagine what the RAF will be like in 2098...
