Title:

Brief History:

Established in 1918 as the RAE (Royal Aircraft Establishment) using the facilities of the former Royal Aircraft Factory. Later, additional specialist aircraft test organisations under Air Ministry - later MoD(PE) - control included the A&AEE (Aircraft & Armament Experimental Establishment), and the MAEE (Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment). The RAE became the DRA (Defence Research Agency) on 1 April 1991, and the A&AEE became part of the DTEO (Defence Test & Evaluation Organisation). The Defence Evaluation & Research Agency (DERA) was formed on 1 April 1995 from an amalgamation of the DRA, DTEO and other MoD(PE) agencies. On 2 July 2001 DERA was renamed Qinetiq (pronounced 'kinetic') to reflect its more commercial outlook.

National Markings:

Main Marking		Fin Flash
The main marking is displayed in 6 positions (ie above and below each wing, and on each side of the fuselage) on aircraft - but on fuselage sides only on helicopters. The fin flash is displayed on the tailfin.

Main Headquarters:

Organisation:

Qinetiq comprises two main groups: the former DTEO organisation and the former DRA organisation, plus a number of specialist units, (the Empire Test Pilots School, the College of Aviation Medicine and the Meteorological Research Flight).

The former DTEO organisation was broken up into a number of multi-disciplinary sectors. The one which operates aircraft is the Aircraft Test & Evaluation Sector (ATES). This is divided into the following departments - Fast Jets Test Sqn (FJTS), Heavy Aircraft Test Sqn (HATS), Rotary Wing Test Sqn (RWTS).

The Aircraft Test & Evaluation Sector (ATES) is based at Boscombe Down, and operates the following aircraft:

Type	Quantity
BAC 1-11	2
BAe Harrier GR.7/9/T.8	1/1/1
BAe Harrier T.4 VAAC	1
BAe Hawk T.1	1
Boeing Chinook HC.2A	1
Boeing Chinook HC.3	(7 stored)
D-B-D Alpha Jet	7 (+ 5 spares)
EHI Merlin HM.1/HC.3	2/1
Hawker Siddeley Andover C.1	2
Hawker Siddeley HS.748	1
Lockheed Hercules C.4/C.5	1/1
North American Harvard IIB	1
Panavia Tornado F.2	1
Panavia Tornado GR.4	1
Piper Navajo	1
SEPECAT Jaguar T.2A	1
Westland Apache AH.1	2
Westland Gazelle HT.3	1
Westland Lynx HMA.8	1
Westland Lynx AH.7	2

The Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) is based at Boscombe Down, and operates the following aircraft:

Type	Quantity
HS Andover C.1	1
Alpha Jet	- (loaned from AT & E)
AS.335F1 Twin Squirrel	1 (leased)
BAC.111-479	1
Beagle Basset CC.2	1
Westland Gazelle HT.3	2
BAe Hawk T.1	2
BAe Hawk T.1 ASTRA	1
BAe Jaguar T.2A	1
Westland Lynx AH.7	1
Westland Sea King HU.5/HC.4	1/1
Shorts Tucano T.1	2

The RAF College of Aviation Medicine/Aviation Medicine Flight (RAFCAM/AMF) is based at Boscombe Down, and operates the following aircraft:

Type	Quantity
BAe Hawk T.1	2

The Meteorological Research Flight (MRF) is based at Boscombe Down, and operates the following aircraft:

Type	Quantity
BAE SYSTEMS BAE 146-301	1

Bibliography:

• DERA/Qinetiq Bibliography

• Qinetiq Official Website
  (Qinetiq info, news, products & services, case studies, links)

• FAAM - Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurement

• World Air Power Journal No.2 p.152-153
• Air Forces Monthly November 1996
• Air International August 1997
• Air International September, October, November 1994