List of aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and Royal New Zealand Navy


This is a list of aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and Royal New Zealand Navy. For active aircraft see List of active New Zealand military aircraft.

Aircraft

A

B

C

D

ModelVariantsNumberOriginRoleService periodNotes
de Havilland DH.42Two-seat advanced pilot trainer biplane1919–1929Imperial Gift aircraft
de Havilland DH.93Two-seat advanced pilot trainer biplane1923–1929Imperial Gift aircraft. On loan to private companies 1921–23
de Havilland DH.50ADH.50A1Five-seat aerial survey, communications, transport biplane1927–1930Five-seat communications aircraft
de Havilland MothDH.60G, DH.60M28Two elementary pilot trainer, utility biplane.1929–1943
de Havilland Puss MothDH.80A4Three-seat aerial survey, utility aircraft1931–1936, 1939–1946
de Havilland Tiger MothDH.82A, Mk II335Two-seat elementary pilot trainer biplane1939–1956The Tiger Moths were operated by No. 1 Squadron RNZAF, No. 2 Squadron RNZAF, No. 3 Squadron RNZAF, No. 4 Squadron RNZAF and No. 42 Squadron RNZAF
de Havilland Fox MothDH.831Four-seat cabin biplane.1943–1948One civilian aircraft was impressed into RNZAF service in 1943. Used for communications.
de Havilland DragonDH.84 Dragon II2Twin-engine radio and navigation trainer, transport biplane1939–1943Two civilian aircraft were impressed into RNZAF service in 1939. See Union Airways of N.Z. Ltd
de Havilland Express AirlinerDH.863Four-engine navigation trainer, reconnaissance, transport biplane1939–1943, 1945–1946Three civilian aircraft were impressed into RNZAF service. The aircraft were operated by No. 4 Squadron RNZAF and No. 42 Squadron RNZAF. See Union Airways of N.Z. Ltd
De Havilland Dragon RapideDH.89, DH.89A Dragon Rapide, DH.89B Dominie II14Twin-engine navigation trainer, reconnaissance, transport biplane1939–1953Also known as the Dominie. The aircraft were operated by No. 4 Squadron RNZAF and No. 42 Squadron RNZAF
de Havilland Moth MinorDH.945Two-seat trainer, communications aircraft1940–1946Five civilian aircraft were Impressed into RNZAF service in 1940.
de Havilland MosquitoFB 6, FB 40, T 3, T 4389Two-seat twin-engine fighter bomber aircraft.1943–1955Four were lost during delivery. The Mosquitos were operated by Nos 14, 75, 487, 488 and 489 Squadrons. RAF variants were the Mosquito FB Mk VI fighter bomber, NF Mk XII, NF Mk XIII, NF Mk 30 night fighters and T Mk III trainers.
de Havilland VampireFB 5, FB 9, FB 52, T 11, T 5563Single-seat fighter bomber aircraft.Two-seat advanced pilot trainer, instrument continuation trainer aircraft.1951–1972The RNZAF's first operational jet aircraft. The Vampires were operated by No. 14 Squadron RNZAF and No. 75 Squadron RNZAF. Also a number of FB 9 and T 11 aircraft were loaned by the RAF to No. 14 Squadron in Cyprus.
de Havilland Devon / DoveDH.10430Twin-engine light transport, pilot, navigation and radio trainer aircraft1948–1981Operated by No. 42 Squadron RNZAF
de Havilland VenomFB 148Single-seat fighter bomber aircraft1955–1958The aircraft were loaned to No. 14 Squadron RNZAF by the RAF. The Venoms saw action during the Malayan Emergency.
de Havilland BeaverDHC-21Single engine light transport aircraft1956–1960Acquired for use in Antarctic.
de Havilland Canada OtterDHC-31Single-engine light transport aircraft1960–1963Acquired for use in Antarctic
Douglas DC-6DC-63Four-engine long range transport aircraft1961–1968Three ex-TEAL aircraft, operated by No. 40 Squadron RNZAF.
Douglas Boston?1942–?1943RAF aircraft loaned to 487 Squadron
Douglas DakotaC-47, C-47A, C-47B49Twin engine medium range transport, VIP transport, target tug aircraft1943–1977The Dakotas were operated by No. 40 Squadron RNZAF, No. 41 Squadron RNZAF and No. 42 Squadron RNZAF. Used as a transport, target tug, paratroop and VIP transport aircraft.
Douglas DauntlessSBD-3, SBD-4, SBD-569Two-seat dive bomber aircraft1943–1944Operated by No. 25 Squadron RNZAF in the South Pacific. Total includes one lost on delivery

E

ModelVariantsNumberOriginRoleService periodNotes
English Electric Canberra.B2, B.12, T.4, T.1331Twin-engined medium bomber, strike bomber aircraftTwin-engined type conversion trainer aircraft1959–1970The Canberras were operated by No. 14 Squadron RNZAF and No. 75 Squadron RNZAF. Total included 11 RAF B.2 and T.4 aircraft loaned to No. 75 Squadron in Singapore.

F

G

H

ModelVariantsNumberOriginRoleService periodNotes
Handley Page HampdenTwin-engine medium bomber aircraft1942–1943RAF aircraft used by 489 Squadron. The RAF variant was the Hampden Mk I.
Handley Page HastingsC.34Four-engine long range transport aircraft1952–1965The RNZAF's first long-range aircraft, operated by No. 40 Squadron RNZAF and No. 41 Squadron RNZAF
Hawker Siddeley AndoverC.110Twin-engine medium-range tactical transport, VIP transport aircraft1976–1998Ten ex-RAF aircraft. Operated by No. 1 Squadron RNZAF, later No. 42 Squadron RNZAF
Hawker HindHind, Hind Trainer78Two-seat army co-operation, advanced pilot trainer biplane1940–1943Only 63 actually received, 15 lost at sea due to enemy action in 1940. Operated by No. 22 Squadron RNZAF
Hawker HurricaneMk IIBSingle-seat fighter aircraft1942Additional aircraft were operated by 486 and 488 Squadrons; Apparently 75 Squadron also received at least one Hurricane as a hack – a pilot was posted as missing presumed killed while flying it. The RAF variants were the Hurricane Mk I, Mk IIA and Mk IIB.
Hawker TempestSingle-seat fighter, fighter bomber aircraft1944–1945RAF aircraft were operated by 486 Squadron. The RAF variant was the Tempest Mk V.
Hawker Tomtit4Two-seat elementary, intermediate pilot trainer biplane1931–1939
Hawker TyphoonSingle-seat fighter bomber, ground attack aircraft1942–1944RAF aircraft were operated by 486 Squadron. The RAF variant was the Typhoon Mk IB.

K

L

M

N

ModelVariantsNumberOriginRoleService periodNotes
NHIndustries NH908Medium utility transport helicopter2012–Current, operated by No. 3 Squadron RNZAF. Deliveries started 2012
Nakajima B5N2 "Kate"B5N21Captured enemy aircraft1945Captured in Rabaul, flown in theatre in 1945.
North American HarvardMk II, IIA, IIB, III202Two-seat advanced pilot trainer aircraft1941–1977Later used as an elementary training aircraft. The aircraft were operated by Nos 1 2, 3, 4, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 42 Squadrons, and the Red Checkers aerobatic team.
North American MustangP-51D 30Single-seat fighter, fighter bomber aircraft.1945–1951, 1951–1957In storage from 1945 to 1951. The Mustangs were operated by No. 1 Squadron RNZAF, No. 2 Squadron RNZAF, No. 3 Squadron RNZAF, No. 4 Squadron RNZAF and No. 42 Squadron RNZAF

P

ModelVariantsNumberOriginRoleService periodNotes
PAC CT/4CT/4B, CT/4E32Two-seat basic pilot trainer, aerobatic aircraft1976–2014Bought by the RNZAF as a replacement for the North American Harvard. Operated by the Central Flying School RNZAF, Pilot Training Squadron RNZAF and the Red Checkers aerobatic team.
Percival Gull1Utility aircraft1939–1940One civilian aircraft was impressed into RNZAF service in 1939.
Percival Vega GullP.10 Vega Gull1Three-seat light cabin aircraft1939–1946One civilian aircraft was impressed into RNZAF service in 1939.
Porterfield 35WModel 35W1Two-seat light cabin aircraft1939–1946One civilian aircraft was impressed into RNZAF service in 1939.

R

S

ModelVariantsNumberOriginRoleService periodNotes
Saro Cutty SarkA-17M1Twin-engine utility transport, trainer, communications flying boat.1930–1936
Short SingaporeMk III4Four-engine maritime reconnaissance flying boat1941–1943Operated by No. 5 Squadron RNZAF
Short StirlingFour-engine heavy bomber aircraft1942–1943RAF aircraft were operated by 75 Squadron. RAF variants were the Stirling Mk I, Mk II and Mk III.
Short SunderlandMk.3, MR.520Four-engine long-range transport Flying boatFour-engined maritime reconnaissance flying boat1944–1967The Sunderlands were operated by No. 5 Squadron RNZAF, No. 6 Squadron RNZAF and 490 Squadron. The RAF variant was the Sunderland Mk III.
Supermarine SeafireXV11945–Used as an instructional airframe.
Supermarine SpitfireSingle-seat fighter, fighter bomber aircraft.1941–1945RAF aircraft were operated by 485 Squadron. RAF variants were the Spitfire Mk IA, Mk IIA, Mk VB, Mk VC, Mk IX, LF Mk IX, LF Mk IXC, LF Mk XVI and LF XVIE.
Supermarine WalrusMk I11Three-seat reconnaissance spotter amphibian aircraftSingle-engine reconnaissance, pilot trainer amphibian aircraft1936–1947The aircraft were embarked on board the light cruisers and. All RN loan aircraft were either lost on service or returned to RN, RCAF, or RAAF.

V

ModelVariantsNumberOriginRoleService periodNotes
Vickers VildebeestMk II, Mk III, Mk IV39Three-seat general reconnaissance, advanced pilot trainer, target tug biplane.1935–1944The Aircraft were operated by Nos 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 Squadrons. See also Vincent
Vickers Vincent62Three-seat general purpose, bomber, general reconnaissance, advanced pilot trainer, target tug biplane.1939–1944The aircraft were operated by Nos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 42 Squadrons. See also Vildebeest
Vickers WellingtonMk I30Twin-engine medium bomber aircraft1939–1942Only 18 were taken on charge before all 30 aircraft and their crews were loaned to the RAF in August 1939, additional RAF aircraft were operated by 75 Squadron. RAF variants were the Wellington Mk I, MK IA, Mk IC and B Mk III.
Vought CorsairF4U-1, F4U-1D, FG-1D424Single-seat fighter, fighter bomber aircraft1944–1948The Corsair was operated by Nos 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 Squadrons in New Zealand and the South Pacific.

W

Guided missiles of the [RNZAF], [RNZN] and [New Zealand Army]

Royal New Zealand Air Force

New Zealand Army

Royal New Zealand Navy

Homing Torpedoes of the Royal New Zealand Air Force

Homing Torpedoes of the Royal New Zealand Navy

Unmanned aerial vehicles

New Zealand Army

List of Weapons of the Royal New Zealand Air Force

Free-Fall Bombs