Fleet Air Arm: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
Article Images
Content deleted Content added
| (2 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown) | |||
Line 1: {{short description|Aviation arm of the Royal Navy}} {{for|the FAA|Federal Aviation Administration}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2011}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} Line 67: ===Beginnings=== {{main|Royal Naval Air Service}} British naval flying started in 1909, with the construction of an [[airship]] for naval duties.<ref name=FAAA>{{cite web |url=http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/History/Index.htm |title=Naval Aviation history and the Fleet Air Arm Origins |work=fleetairarmarchive.net |access-date=8 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519005147/http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/History/Index.htm |archive-date=19 May 2015 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> In 1911 the Royal Navy graduated its first aeroplane pilots at the [[Royal Aero Club]] [[RAF Eastchurch|flying ground near Eastchurch]], [[Isle of Sheppey]] under the tutelage of pioneer aviator [[George Bertram Cockburn]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1911/1911%20-%200418.html?search=cockburn |title=Training of Naval Officers at Eastchurch |issue=124 |volume=III |page=420 |journal=[[Flight International|Flight]] |date=13 May 1911 |access-date=8 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525013959/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1911/1911%20-%200418.html?search=cockburn |archive-date=25 May 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 1912, naval and army aviation were combined to become the [[Royal Flying Corps]] (RFC). The Naval Wing of the RFC lasted until July 1914 when the Royal Navy reformed its air branch, under the [[Air Department]] of the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]], naming it the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS).{{sfn|Roskill|1969|p=156}} By the outbreak of the First World War, in August 1914, the RNAS had more aircraft under its control than the remaining RFC.{{sfn|Bradbeer|2014|p=}}{{page needed|date=March 2020}} The roles of the RNAS were fleet reconnaissance, patrolling coasts for enemy ships and submarines, attacking enemy coastal territory and defending Britain from enemy air raids, along with deployment along the Western Front. In April 1918 the RNAS, which at this time had 67,000 officers and men, 2,949 aircraft, 103 airships and 126 coastal stations, merged with the RFC to form the [[Royal Air Force]].{{sfn|Boyne|2003|p=70}} Line 244 ⟶ 245: ===Unmanned=== As of 2024, the Royal Navy operated a number of small UAVs, including the [[AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma|AeroVironment Puma AE]] and Ebee Vision.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2024/september/20/240920-royal-navy-tests-technology-in-portugal | title=A range of drones and uncrewed vessels are deployed on a major international exercise in Portugal as the Royal Navy looks to push its latest technology to its limits. |website=Royal Navy |date=20 September 2024 | access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.supplycore.com/catalog/unmanned-systems-counter-uas/drones/ebee-vision/ | title=eBee VISION |website=SupplyCore | access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://campaign.ageagle.com/ebee-vision-drone | title=eBee VISION |website=AgEagle | access-date=25 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2020/august/17/200817-700x-three-new-flights|title = Navy's drone experts 700X NAS ready to deploy on warships}}</ref> In 2024, the Navy reported that there were a total of nine qualified Puma teams, six of which were dedicated to supporting the Royal Marines in [[40 Commando|40]] and [[45 Commando|45 Commando]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2024/october/08/20241008-700x-5th-anniversary | title=Royal Navy experts are embracing the next generation tech as they celebrate five successful years operating drones on the front line. |work=Royal Navy |date=8 October 2024 |access-date=8 October 2024}}</ref> ===Future=== | |||