InsideAIR

The UK has some of the most congested airspace in the world. Ensuring military and civilian aircraft don't get in the way of each other is just one the reasons why 78 Squadron is co-located at National Air Traffic Services (NATS). Flight Lieutenant Chris Sully went to the air traffic control centre in Swanwick, to hear about the 'swivel chair interaction' that keeps jet setting holiday makers a sa...

His job could be described as both getting the RAF in the news and keeping the RAF out of the news – neither are easy. This week's InsideAIR heads to Main Building in the Ministry of Defence to hear from Wing Commander Martin 'Tinny' Tinworth, Chief Press Officer for the Royal Air Force. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.

Which is the best profession in the Royal Air Force? If you said Pilot, Aircraft Technician, or Regiment Gunner, Chef Warrant Officer Chris Beavis, might disagree. InsideAIR dropped into the Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess at RAF Benson to find out why WO Beavis loves being a Chef and to find out what life is like feeding the RAF. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Re...

Juggling a Reserve commitment with a busy civilian job is something that's part and parcel of life for the thousands of Reserves currently serving in the RAF. Someone who knows that first hand is the Chief Medical Officer of Scotland Professor Sir Gregor Smith, but far from saying it can be too hard for NHS staff to find the time, he's urging more of them to join the RAF Medical Reserves,  saying...

In this episode, we'll hear from the team at RAF Marham in Norfolk, about how their 'BeReady' strategy is ensuring that the whole force team is coming together to deliver success and proving they are 'always ready to fly and fight.'  The station, which is home to the RAF's F-35B Lightning fleet, is into the second round of its 'BeReady' strategy, a drive to bring together the whole force, with ser...

In this episode, we catch up with the Air Officer Wales and find out how his passion for the sport of orienteering ties in directly with life in the Royal Air Force. The sport of orienteering is one which helps not just with fitness and mental health wellbeing, but which also connects directly with the objectives of a career in the RAF, through skills such as preparation, flexibility and adaptabil...

The hope is there won't be another Battle of Britain. However, should the unthinkable happen, what has changed since the last battle, how might an Integrated Air and Missile Defence system help, and how could changing the way we think prepare us for such a conflict.  InsideAIR speaks with Dr Sophy Antrobus, Research Fellow and Co-Director of the Freeman Air and Space Institute, to hear an academic...

In this episode, we're talking about the next generation of aircraft to enter into service with the Royal Air Force. Tempest, GCAP and FCAS.. want to know what it all means for the 6 th generation of aircraft planned for service with the RAF? We'll be hearing from Leonardo, Rolls-Royce and the RAF itself, as Sqn Ldr Peter Lisney gets an InsideAIR update. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air For...

Have you ever crewed, been flown in or serviced a Puma? March sees the retirement of this medium support helicopter that has carried troops, supplies and humanitarian aid in operations and exercises around the world since 1971. InsideAIR goes to RAF Benson, to say farewell. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.

In the second instalment of our two part feature about Channel 4's documentary on the RAF we rejoin InsideAIR's Air Specialist 1 Emma Kirwan as she goes behind the scenes of Top Guns: Inside the RAF.  InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.

How do you make a TV documentary on a busy, operational and in places, secretive RAF station? Balancing the needs and wishes of the people being filmed, the film crew and ultimately the viewers, is no easy task. InsideAIR's Air Specialist 1 Emma Kirwan spoke to the people behind and in front of the cameras of the second series of Top Guns: Inside the RAF.  InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air F...

Acquiring new platforms, upgrading current platforms so they remain relevant, and ensuring the support solutions, supplies and spares are in place. This is the unsung role of Defence Equipment and Support. Squadron Leader Peter Lisney talks with DE&S's Director Fixed Wing and Director Rotary Wing, UAS and Air Enablers, to find out how they deliver war fighting capability to the RAF, and hears what...

A joint RAF & RNLI exercise took place recently off the coast of the Isle of Man with a 202 Squadron Jupiter helicopter from RAF Valley playing the lead role. Flight Lieutenant Chris Sully watched the winching operations from the deck of the Port St Mary lifeboat and caught up with both teams to find out what was involved. The exercise took place in mid-December, at the end of the RNLI's bicentena...

' When will I be promoted, how much will I be paid, does the job still make me happy?' If you're already serving in the RAF, these career related questions might sound familiar.  Squadron Leader Peter Lisney spoke with members of the RAF Career Management team to find out how the new Pan-Defence Skills Framework could play a major role in finding the answers.  InsideAIR is produced for the Royal A...

2024 saw the 60 th anniversary of the formation of the RAF Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows. InsideAIR's Flight Lieutenant Amy Casey finds out why they were founded, gets a tour of their famous Hawk Mk T1 aircraft, and meets pilots, groundcrew and their fans as the Red Arrows embark on their summer tour. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Se...

When the Atlas C.1 A400M entered service with the RAF ten years ago, many asked whether this tactical airlift aircraft would ever be as good as the much loved C-130 Hercules. Who better then to pass judgement than a pilot who has flown both aircraft for almost equal lengths of time. InsideAIR met with Flight Lieutenant Seb Davey to find the answer. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by...

According to the RAF's Chief Modelling and Simulation Officer, 'Commercial' is actually about delivering capability at pace that the war fighter needs. Group Captain Rauri Henderson-Begg and Tom Purser from Commercial X talk to InsideAIR about rapid capability development for a 5 th Gen Air Force. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Service...

In this episode, we'll step behind the scenes at the Air Historical Branch at Northolt to check out the huge variety of work they undertake going back through time and in making sure that today's RAF events are properly captured for the future. Flight Lieutenant Chris Sully spoke with the Head of the Air Historical Branch, Seb Cox, to find out more. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by...

On InsideAIR this week, we get the latest on flying training. As Head of Flying Training for the Royal Navy, Army and RAF, Air Commodore Rob Caine's job is to get as many aircrew as possible through flying training to the front line. He told Squadron Leader Peter Lisney of InsideAIR, how the system has been changing and how augmented reality and psychological skills training are now both playing a...

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (RAFAT), the Red Arrows, have just returned from a very successful six-week tour of Canada on 'Maple Hawk'. The RAF Waddington based team are celebrating their own 60th anniversary and were invited to help mark the Royal Canadian Air Force's Centennial year. InsideAIR's Flight Lieutenant Mark McKinstry joined them behind the scenes.  

In this 100 th episode special, Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Richard Knighton joins Squadron Leader Peter Lisney to look back at some of the significant events and achievements that have happened for the RAF, its people, technology and operations, since InsideAIR's first episode in January 2021. They also look ahead to what we can expect in the RAF by the time episode 200 is released in 2028. Insid...

This summer, two Poseidon MRA.1 (P-8A) Maritime Reconnaissance Attack aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth flew to Hawaii for the world's largest international maritime exercise. Called Exercise Rim of the Pacific, or RIMPAC for short, it involved 29 nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, more than 150 aircraft and 25,000 personnel. InsideAIR went to find out more. InsideAI...

The RAF normally employs its Typhoon jet fighters for land-based NATO Air Policing missions. However, this year, 617 Squadron's F-35 B Lightnings took on the job for the first time. InsideAIR's Flt Lt Amy Casey went to Iceland to see how they got on.  InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, have set off to help the Royal Canadian Air Force celebrate its centenary.  What does it take to move the aircraft, pilots, engineers, ground and support crew along with several tonnes of equipment across the Atlantic? InsideAIR's Flt Lt Mark McKinstry caught up with them as they prepared to depart. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force b...

Speaking about the RAF's contribution to NATO air and space power, Air Marshal Johnny Stringer says, "There's no point in having an air show air force; you've got to be ready to turn up and do the difficult stuff". Listen to the full interview with the Deputy Commander of NATO's Allied Air Command. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Servic...