RAAF
Aircraft Callsigns
Includes most Australian Army & Navy Aircraft Callsigns as well as all the RAAF and some NZ, Singapore & UK Calls as well.
Notes: Each call sign will be heard on air as “Bushranger 310”
“Bushranger”
is the ‘root word’ and the digits “310”, which represent the
mission call sign allocated to the task being undertaken.
For
example the Bushranger’s pilot(s) would have been told of their mission and be
given a number (310) to add to their call sign.
The
RAAF callsigns can be heard on both civil aviation and military aviation radio
bands
|
Callsign |
Operator |
Aircraft Type |
Freq |
|
Adder |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Aladdin |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Albatross |
Australian Army |
UH 1H Iroquois |
|
|
Amber |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Anson |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Apache |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
376.6000 |
|
Army |
Australian Army |
Unassigned Army Aircraft |
|
|
Ascot |
(RAF) |
RAF when it’s aircraft are
in Australia |
|
|
Aussie |
RAAF |
RAAF Aircraft Callsign
when overseas |
|
|
Backduck |
RAAF |
Caribou |
|
|
Badger |
Australian Army |
UH-1H Iroquois |
|
|
Baldock |
(RAN) |
Learjet-Fleet Support |
|
|
Bara |
Australian Army |
GAF Nomad |
|
|
Baron |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet (3 Squadron) |
|
|
Bassett |
Australian Army |
UH-1H Iroquois |
|
|
Beagle |
Australian Army |
UH-1H Iroquois |
|
| Beeufort | RAAF | King Air (32Squadron Hercules) | |
|
Bear |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Bearcat |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC-9 (The
“Roulettes”) |
|
|
Bison |
RAAF |
Caribou |
|
|
Black |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Blackbird |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Blackhawk |
Australian Army |
S70A Blackhawk |
|
|
Blacknight |
Australian Army |
S70A Blackhawk |
|
|
Blue |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Boomer |
RAAF |
Caribou |
|
|
Brewster |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Brolga |
RAAF |
Caribou |
|
|
Bronco |
Australian Army |
S70A Blackhawk |
|
|
Brown |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Brumby |
RAAF |
Caribou |
|
|
Buck |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Buckshot |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Buffalo |
Australian Army |
S70A Blackhawk |
|
|
Bush |
RAAF |
Caribou |
|
|
Bushranger |
RAAF |
Caribou |
|
|
Buzzard |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Cannon |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Canter |
RAAF |
C130 Hercules |
|
|
Carbine |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Castle |
RAAF |
Boeing 707 Mid-Air Fuel Tanker
Aircraft |
|
|
Cavalier |
Australian Army |
Multiple Army Aircraft on
a mission. |
|
|
Central |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC-9 (The
“Roulettes”) |
|
|
Charger |
RAAF |
C130 Hercules |
|
|
Charlie |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC-9/MB 326 Macchi |
|
|
Cheetah |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC-9 |
|
|
Chieftain |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC-9: Chief Of Air
Staff |
|
|
Chopper |
Australian Army |
Bell 412 |
|
|
Classic |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Claw |
RAAF |
F111-C |
|
|
Coastwatch |
Australian Customs |
Various Customs-owned
aircraft |
|
|
Cobra |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Cobweb |
Australian Army |
Learjet-Fleet Support |
|
|
Colt |
RAAF |
F111-C |
|
|
Condor |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Consort |
RAAF |
Mystere Falcon (Prime
Minister’s Transport) |
|
|
Corsair |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC-9 |
|
|
Cougar |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Cruiser |
Australian Army |
S70A Blackhawk |
|
|
Cutlass |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Dagger |
RAAF |
Winjeel |
|
|
Dash |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Defence |
RAAF |
C-47 Dakota (ARDU) |
|
|
Delta |
RAAF |
Various aircraft (ARDU) |
|
|
Demon |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Despot |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Destrier |
Australian Army |
Various Australian Army
aircraft |
|
|
Devil |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Dirk |
RAAF |
Winjeel |
|
|
Diver |
Australian Army |
S70A Blackhawk |
|
|
Drifter |
RAAF |
Crash Boat at Williamtown,
NSW |
|
|
Eagle |
Australian Army |
S70A Blackhawk |
|
|
Emu |
RAAF |
Caribou |
|
|
Enfield |
RAAF |
Caribou |
|
|
Envoy |
RAAF |
(Prime
Minister’s & VIP Transporter) |
|
|
Fairway |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Falcon |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Fang |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Firebird |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Fury |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Gold |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Green |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Griffin |
Australian Army |
Various Australian Army
aircraft |
|
|
Harrier |
Australian Army |
UH-1H Iroquois |
|
|
Hawk (1) |
Australian Army |
UH-1H Iroquois |
|
|
Hawk (2) |
Australian Army |
Eurocopter Aussie Tiger
(Available late 2004) |
|
|
Hawkeye |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Heritage |
RAAF |
Decommissioned/museum aircraft not in use |
|
|
Hero |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Hipshot |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Homburg |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Hoodoo |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Hornet (1) |
Army |
Various RAAF aircraft |
|
|
Hornet (2) |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Howlette |
RAAF |
HS 748 |
|
|
Hudson |
RAAF |
HS 748 |
|
|
Hunter |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Hydrant |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Iron |
RAAF |
Caribou |
|
|
Iroquois |
Australian Army |
UH-1H Iroquois |
|
|
Jackson |
Australian Army |
Various Army aircraft |
|
|
Kestrel |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC-9 |
|
|
King |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC-9 |
|
|
Kiowa |
Australian Army |
Bell Kiowa |
|
|
Kiwi Gold |
(RNZAF) |
A4G Skyhawk-Formation |
|
|
Kiwi Red |
RNZAF |
A4G Skyhawk-Formation |
|
|
Kiwi |
RNZAF |
RNZAF when outside New
Zealand |
|
|
Kiwi Silver |
RNZAF |
A4G Skyhawk-Formation |
|
|
Lambda |
RAAF |
Various Aircraft (ARDU) |
|
|
Lancer |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Leopard |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Lifter |
Australian Army |
S70A Blackhawk |
|
|
Lion |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Loiters |
RAAF |
Crash boat, Williamtown,
NSW |
|
|
Lynx |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Magnum |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Magpie |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Manta |
RAAF |
Caribou |
|
|
Maple |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Mariner |
RAAF |
P3C Orion |
|
|
Marlin |
Australian Army |
Various Aircraft |
|
|
Marshal |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Maverick |
RAAF |
C130 Hercules |
|
|
Mentor |
RAAF |
Winjeel |
|
|
Merlin |
RAAF |
Winjeel |
|
|
Minor |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Mustang |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC-9 |
|
|
Navy |
(RAN) |
Various aircraft |
|
|
Nostalgia |
RAAF |
Retired, museum aircraft |
|
|
Oggy |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Omega |
RAAF |
Various Aircraft (ARDU) |
|
|
Oxford |
Australian Army |
Various Aircraft |
|
|
Pacer |
RAAF |
C130 Hercules |
|
|
Panther |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Panther (2) |
Australian Army |
BAE Hawk (Currently in
testing- Feb 2003) |
|
|
Pegasus |
Australian Army |
Various Aircraft |
|
|
Phantom |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Pistol |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Possum |
Australian Army |
Bell Kiowa |
|
|
Puma |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Raider |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Ramp |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Ramrod |
RAAF |
F 111C and FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Ranger |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Regal |
RAAF |
Boeing 707 Mass Soldier
Transport Aircraft |
|
|
Regent |
RAAF |
(Prime
Minister’s & VIP transporter) |
|
|
Roller |
RAAF |
Winjeel |
|
|
Roulettes |
RAAF |
Display Team in Pilatus
PC-9s |
|
|
Sabre |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Savage |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Sealion |
RAAF |
PC3 Orion |
|
|
Searcher |
Australian Army |
Used when Army helping
with Search & Rescue |
|
|
Shadow (1) |
Australian Navy |
HS 748 |
|
|
Shadow (2) |
RAAF |
C130 Hercules |
|
|
Shark |
Australian Navy |
HS 817 |
|
|
Shepherd |
RAAF |
PC3 Orion |
|
|
Shogun |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Shot |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Shrike |
Australian Army |
UH-1H Iroquois |
|
|
Sigma |
RAAF |
Various Aircraft |
|
|
Silver |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Simitar |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Singa |
(RSAF) |
Used when RSAF outside
Singapore |
|
|
Sonic |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Spad |
RAAF |
Winjeel |
|
|
Sparrow |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Spectre |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Spider |
RAAF |
Learjet –Fleet Support |
|
|
Spitfire |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC9 |
|
|
Spur |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Squirrel |
Australian Army |
AS350 Squirrel |
|
|
Stallion |
RAAF |
C130 Hercules |
|
|
Steel |
RAAF |
Caribou |
|
|
Stingray |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Striker |
RAAF |
PC3 Orion |
|
|
Sword |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Taipan |
Australian Navy |
HU223 |
|
|
Talon |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Tango |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC9 |
|
|
Tester |
RAAF |
Various Aircraft |
|
|
Theta |
RAAF |
Various Aircraft |
|
|
Thunder |
RAAF |
C130 Hercules |
|
|
Tiger (1) |
Australian Navy |
HS816 |
|
|
Tiger (2) |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Torch |
RAAF |
HS 748 |
|
|
Tornado |
RAAF |
C130 Hercules |
|
|
Toxin |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Trident |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Tripod |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Trojan |
RAAF |
C130 Hercules |
|
|
Valiant |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC9 |
|
|
Vampire |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC9 |
|
|
Vanguard |
RAAF |
Caribou |
|
|
Vantage |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC 9 |
|
|
Vengeance |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC 9 |
|
|
Viper |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC 9 |
|
|
Vixen |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC 9 |
|
|
Voodoo |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC 9 |
|
|
Vulcan |
RAAF |
Pilatus PC 9 |
|
|
Wallaby |
RAAF |
Caribou |
|
|
Warhorse |
Australian Army |
Various Aircraft |
|
|
Warlock |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
|
|
Wedge |
Australian Army |
UH-1H Iroquois |
|
|
Werewolf |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Wheeler |
Australian Army |
S70A Blackhawk |
|
|
Whiptail |
RAAF |
Caribou |
|
|
White |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Windsor Castle |
RAAF |
Boeing 707 Fuel Tanker |
|
|
Windsor |
RAAF |
Boeing 707 Government
Officials Transport |
|
|
Winjeel |
RAAF |
Winjeel |
|
|
Wisdom |
RAAF |
HS 748 |
|
|
Wizard |
RAAF |
Caribou |
|
|
Wolf |
RAAF |
F 111C |
|
|
Wombat |
RAAF |
MB-326 Macchi |
|
|
Zulu |
RAAF |
FA-18/A Hornet |
By
Ashley Geelan, a lot of the information contained within this article was
originally researched by
Bob Bell was a major contributor to the now-defunct Radio &
Communications Magazine and avid military listener.
Notes:
1.
The
Bell Kiowa (ALL) and UH-1H Iroquois (Only Gun Iroquois) will be replaced in
late 2004 by 22 new Eurocopter “Aussie Tigers”
2.
The
Replacement for the F-111C and F/A 18-8, the F35 “Joint Strike Fighter will not
be available in Australia until approx 2015.
3.
I
personally spoke with RAAF, USAF and Republic Of Singapore Air Force at the
2003 Avalon Air Show and was able to check most of these callsigns as correct.
4.
RAAF
aircraft calling civilian air traffic controllers on VHF Air Band still use
these callsigns to identify their aircraft to ATC.
These
callsigns will only ever be added to as new aircraft are purchased, though this
won’t happen until the Federal Government actually purchases more and new
military aircraft, when new callsigns will be needed for the new aircraft, so
keep an eye on the daily news for reports of new military aircraft. Some are
due in 2004 and some 2010 and 2015.