The origins of the Royal Australian Air Force extend back to the early days of aviation, and we have made important contributions to defence and peacekeeping initiatives across the globe ever since.
1920-1929
Formation of the Australian Air Force
First Air Force Non Technical Training course
First around Australia aerial survey flight
Aircraft production begins in Australia

Opening of the RAAF Experimental Section
Experimental aircraft design and testing section of the Royal Australian Air Force.
Opening of the RAAF Experimental Section
The Experimental Section was an experimental aircraft design and testing section of the Royal Australian Air Force formed at Randwick, Sydney and produced a number of aircraft designs before closing in 1930. The Commanding Officer of the Station was Lawrence Wackett who was an early trainee pilot at Point Cook and became the leading figure in Australian aircraft design and construction.
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First freefall parachute jump in Australia
The first freefall parachute in Australia.
First freefall parachute jump in Australia
Flight Lieutenant Ellis Wackett made a freefall parachute jump from a D.H.9a over RAAF Base Richmond, the first time this had occurred in Australia.
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Air Force Cross awarded to Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm
Charles Kingsford Smith crosses the Pacific Ocean.
Air Force Cross awarded to Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm
In recognition of their achievement in crossing the Pacific Ocean by air in the tri-motor Southern Cross, Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm were awarded the Air Force Cross and appointed to honorary rank in the Air Force, following a precedent set with Bert Hinkler earlier in the year.
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1940-1949
Air Force Nursing service established
Formation of the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
Bombing of Darwin
Australia's first Indigenous fighter pilot
Introduction of helicopters to Air Force

First test flight of a jet aircraft in Australia
Squadron Leader Derek (‘Jell’) Cuming flies an ex-RAF Meteor F.3 at RAAF Base Laverton.
First test flight of a jet aircraft in Australia
An ex-RAF Gloster Meteor F.3 took off from Laverton, Victoria, on the first test flight of a jet aircraft in Australia. It was flown by Squadron Leader Derek (‘Jell’) Cuming, who earlier that year became the first RAAF officer to complete the Empire Test Pilots course. The Meteor had been received at No 1 Aircraft Depot the previous month and was provided on loan by the British War Ministry to enable the RAAF to gain experience in operating a radical new type. Two days later the aircraft was taken on RAAF strength with the tail number A77-1 and allotted to No 1 Aircraft Performance Unit for trials. Australia did eventually acquire the Meteor for squadron service, but only in 1951. By that time the de Havilland Vampire had already become, in 1949, the first jet acquired in numbers for the RAAF.
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Test flight from mainland Australian to edge of the Antarctic zone
A Lincoln A73-2 conducted a pioneering flight from RAAF Base Point Cook to the edge of the Antarctic zone.
Test flight from mainland Australian to edge of the Antarctic zone
Lincoln A73-2 from No 1 Air Performance Unit at Point Cook, Victoria, conducted a pioneering flight from mainland Australia to the edge of the Antarctic zone, collecting meteorological data and photographing Macquarie Island which lies 1466 kilometres south of Tasmania. The aircraft was airborne for 14 hours 35 minutes and completed the flight in deteriorating weather. This effort was seen as an essential precursor to the scientific voyages launched by the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE) from December 1947.
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1950-1959
War in Korea
Air Force introduces the Women’s Royal Australian Air Force replacing the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force
Introduction of the Sabre
RAAF Roundel adopted
End of the biplane era
RAAF's first C-130 Hercules

First around the world flight by the RAAF
Three Neptune maritime patrol aircraft from No 11 Squadron arrived back at Richmond, New South Wales, after completing Operation Westbound—the first round-the-world flight by the RAAF.
First around the world flight by the RAAF
Three Neptune maritime patrol aircraft from No 11 Squadron arrived back at Richmond, New South Wales, after completing Operation Westbound—the first round-the-world flight by the RAAF. The aircraft had departed on 20 February.
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2010-2019
Air Force introduced new aircraft to the fleet to enhance capability
Goodbye F-111
First Indigenous elder of the RAAF
General purpose uniforms (GPU)
Extensive humanitarian assistance by Air Force through disasters such as floods in Pakistan, MRH370 search, Bushfires and COVID-19 response

C-17A Globemaster III trial flight to Antarctica
A RAAF C-17A Globemaster III undertook a trial flight to Antarctica on this day, as part of plans to explore the use of the aircraft in delivering cargo for the Australian Antarctic Division.
C-17A Globemaster III trial flight to Antarctica
A RAAF C-17A Globemaster III undertook a trial flight to Antarctica on this day, as part of plans to explore the use of the aircraft in delivering cargo for the Australian Antarctic Division. This led to a successful joint operational mission with the Australian Antarctic Division and Royal Australian Air Force to East Antarctica later in November, with a C-17A delivering heavy lift cargo to Wilkins Aerodrome in support of the Australian Antarctic programme. The C-17A flew the 3450km, landing at Wilkins Aerodrome near Casey station on 21 November 2015 where it unloaded cargo, including a brand new Hägglunds, a dual cab vehicle that operates over snow and infrastructure building materials.
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