InsideAIR

RAF - Royal Air Force

A 'behind the wire' view of the Royal Air Force, its people, technology and operations. Official podcast of the RAF in the UK.

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147 episodes
Updated Today

Episodes147

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Today · 26 min
Ep 147: Exercise RIMPAC in Hawaii
In this episode of InsideAIR, we're heading to one of the most important military locations in the Pacific, Hawaii, for Exercise RIMPAC 2026. Every other year, the island of Hawaii hosts a huge exercise with personnel from more than 30 nations working together across the air, sea and land domains. A multinational exercise like RIMPAC takes a significant amount of planning and preperation, as InsideAIR's Squadron Leader Amy Casey discovered when she joined some of those taking part.
July 21 · 50 min
Ep 146: The Work of the Mobile Met Unit
In this episode, we'll catch up with the meteorologists from the Mobile Met Unit to find out about their work and we'll hear how military met forecasting came into being. Flt Lt Chris Sully chats to a current forecaster about the support they offer for operations and planning and we hear about arguably the most important forecast in history ahead of the release of a film telling the story in the lead up to D-Day.
July 7 · 54 min
Ep 145: Defence Science & Technology Laboratory
Since we last caught up, the Defence Investment Plan, or DIP, has been published, focussing on the move toward the RAF becoming Europe's first sixth-generation air force. Technology will be front & centre of the future RAF and with that comes even closer ties with our industry & research partners. Amongst those partners is the Defence Science & Technology Laboratory, known as DSTL, and in this episode of InsideAIR, Flight Lieutenant Chris Sully goes behind the wire at their Porton Down Base in Wiltshire to see how that might look.
June 22 · 23 min
Ep 144: Hidden In Plain Sight - RAF Reservists
In this episode we'll hear about a unique presentation of a bronze Employer Recognition Scheme award which took place 20,000 feet above the ground on an easyJet flight from Luton to Jersey The Employer Recognition Scheme is an MOD initiative to encourage and recognise companies which demonstrate an outstanding commitment to supporting serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families. Recently easyJet earned bronze status and the presentation took place onboard one of their flights, piloted by RAF Reservists and fulltime commercial pilots. Sqn Ldr Lesley Woods joined the flight from Luton Airport
June 9 · 24 min
Ep 143: Only Way in by Parachute – a Doctor's Story
The slogan says, 'no ordinary job'. So, imagine being asked to parachute into a tiny, remote island in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean for a lifesaving mission, oh, and you've never jumped out of an aircraft before. In this week's InsideAir, Sqn Ldr Amy speaks with an RAF doctor who did just that. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.
May 26 · 31 min
Ep 142: Operation BILOXI in Romania
Operation BILOXI in Romania has seen the Royal Air Force deploy again, all be it to a new airfield, in support of NATO's air policing mission in the region. The four month deployment is at the very heart of the RAF strategy to be ready to fly & fight, showing that the Royal Air Force is always agile, integrated and ready.
May 16 · 15 min
Ep 141: InsideAIR Special - Ukrainian Students Graduate RAF Elementary Flying Training
The latest cohort of Ukrainian students has successfully graduated from the RAF Elementary Flying Training programme. Hear what they thought of RAF training in this InsideAIR special. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.
May 12 · 43 min
Ep 140: Salisbury Poisonings and the RAF Regiment's Response
Channel 4's documentary 'Salisbury Poisonings: The Untold Story' explores one of the most significant domestic incidents in recent UK history. InsideAIR speaks with Group Captain Chez who led the UK Defence response to the incident. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.
April 28 · 52 min
Ep 139: The RAF Warfighters Guide to AI
The impact of artificial intelligence is being felt in everyday life, the media and the military, but how is it changing the RAF, its people, technology and operations? InsideAIR speaks to AI expert, Sqn Ldr Ben, to find some answers. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.
April 15 · 30 min
Ep 138: Exercise Malta March
In this episode, we find out how WWII lessons are shaping today's RAF operations. 35 Royal Auxiliary Air Force personnel have spent a week in Malta, exploring historic sites, war graves, and museums connected to WWII's legacy with modern RAF operations. In this special edition of InsideAIR two reservists, Ash & Louise, take over to share the highlights and insights from Exercise Malta March.
March 31 · 52 min
Ep 137: Air and Space Combat Power PART 2
The Air and Space Combat Power Visit (ASCPV) gave guests from all branches of the UK's Armed Forces, British Government and military allies and partners globally an insight to how the RAF operates. In the final part this two-part feature, we take a look at Combat Air, Air to Air Refuelling with Voyager, and we hear from Joint Aviation Command, including their innovations with helicopter launched first person view drones. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.
March 19 · 1 hr 1 min
Ep 136: Air and Space Combat Power PART 1
Hosted by RAF Brize Norton, the Air and Space Combat Power Visit (ASCPV) gave guests from all branches of the UK's Armed Forces, British Government and military allies and partners globally an insight to how the RAF operates. In Part 1 of this two part feature, we hear from the Chief of the Air Staff and personnel from Space Command, Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting Acquisition and Reconnaissance, Global Enablement and Air Mobility. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.
March 6 · 56 min
Ep 135: AOC 2 Group - Vincemus
It's been two years since Air Vice-Marshal Jason Appleton was appointed as Air Officer Commanding 2 Group. So, before he moves on, the InsideAIR team thought it would be good to find out what 2 Group does and how it enables the RAF to fly, fight and win across the globe. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.
February 17 · 33 min
Ep 134: Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems
In this episode, we're talking Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems or C-UAS. What are they, how does it work and who makes up the team behind it all? InsideAIR's Flt Lt Chris Sully spoke with Sqn Ldr Dan Quayle, the Officer Commanding of Training & Standards at RAF Leeming to find out about their work in the UK and, recently in Belgium and Denmark.
February 3 · 37 min
Ep 133: Enabling Cyber within Airbases
In this episode, we're talking Air Cyberspace and the move toward the Airbase Enablement Force (AEF) From keeping our tech up-to-date and in good order, to future planning how we might engage with IT in the years ahead, the Air Cyberspace Services Centre team work behind the scenes around the clock as Flt Lt Chris Sully found out.
January 23 · 36 min
Ep 132: Increasing the RAF's IQ
There are some fantastic opportunities to learn and gain academic qualifications available through the Directorate of Defence Studies for the RAF, but they're for other people, not me, right? Wrong … One of the truly unique opportunities the Royal Air Force offers, is the chance to get paid whilst you study and gain academic qualifications. And the great news is that studying with Directorate of Defence Studies for the RAF is available to all RAF personnel, regular & reserve, regardless of rank. Sqn Ldr Peter Lisney caught up with some of the team which leads the Directorate of Defence studies for the RAF
January 6 · 34 min
Ep 131: 5 Years 'Behind the Wire'
After 131 episodes and 5,565 minutes of fortnightly content, the official podcast of the RAF is 5 years old. As we celebrate this milestone of the longest running regular podcast in the UK Armed Forces, we'll reveal the most downloaded episodes from each of the past 5 years. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.
Dec 23, 2025 · 38 min
Ep 130: RAF Medical Services Support & Opportunities
In the final episode of 2025, we head to High Wycombe to meet with some of the RAF Medical Services team. We'll hear about the support they provide to 'Fly & Fight' through nursing, paramedics and their Allied Health Professionals. Flt Lt Chris Sully also finds out about the unique career opportunities on offer with the RAF and how you can earn whilst you train. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.
Dec 9, 2025 · 59 min
Ep 129: Exercise Southern Sunrise Part 2
In this episode we're heading back to the Falkland Islands on exercise Southern Sunrise with the RAF Regiment reserves. We're back in the South Atlantic for the live firing phase and AS1 Chris Keen also explores the unique opportunities visiting troops can explore when the training is done. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.
Nov 25, 2025 · 55 min
Ep 128: Exercise Southern Sunrise Part 1
In this episode, we're going on exercise with the RAF Regiment Reserves to the South Atlantic. Exercise Southern Sunrise saw members of the RAuxAF Regiment deploy to the Falkland Islands to conduct overseas Annual Continuation Training or ACT. The aim was to cultivate and enhance a 'ready to fight' culture to optimise and integrate the RAuxAF Regt in support of operations, assigned tasks, contingencies, and warfighting. We sent AS1 Chris Keen along with them. InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.