Hi,
Am in need of some help for a piece I am trying to write. What are the general classifications used by air forces. The only ones I know are squadron and wing.
If any of you know any more, please let me know and list them in order (smallest to largest in size).
Thanks.
Air Force classifications
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This is both the wrong forum and wrong type of board to ask such questions. However generally you have an eliment, which is two planes. Two of these combind to make a flight which has four planes. Heavy bombers somtimes fly in three's, but fighters are always in even numbers.
Then you move up to the squadron. Classic squadrons had 12 planes, three flights, but today's generally have more, 16-24 aircraft, arranged in as many flights as needed. But the flights always have four planes.
Three squadrons are normally in a wing but it can vary, four or five is somewhat common, espically with wings that have more then one aircraft type in them.
As a result some wings might have twenty advanced recon planes like the SR-71 while another might have seventy two F-4 Phanton fighter bombers
Once you get above the wing level you generally have regional commands like 9th Airforce or 11th Airforce if you r using the USAF system. These can have dozen or up into the thousands of planes depending on whats assigned. An airforce is basically a headquarters that gets assigned aircraft as needed. Sometimes the aircraft move with the HQ, sometime they don't.
Then you move up to the squadron. Classic squadrons had 12 planes, three flights, but today's generally have more, 16-24 aircraft, arranged in as many flights as needed. But the flights always have four planes.
Three squadrons are normally in a wing but it can vary, four or five is somewhat common, espically with wings that have more then one aircraft type in them.
As a result some wings might have twenty advanced recon planes like the SR-71 while another might have seventy two F-4 Phanton fighter bombers
Once you get above the wing level you generally have regional commands like 9th Airforce or 11th Airforce if you r using the USAF system. These can have dozen or up into the thousands of planes depending on whats assigned. An airforce is basically a headquarters that gets assigned aircraft as needed. Sometimes the aircraft move with the HQ, sometime they don't.
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This is taken from United States Air Force pamphlrt 36-2241: Promotion Fitness Examination.
MAJCOMS-major command
NAF-numbered air force, tatical echelons that provide operational leadership and supervision. A NAF is assignrd subordinate units such as wings, groups and squadrons
Wing- wing has approximatley 100 to 500 persons and a distinct mission with significant scope. It is responsible for maintaning the instillation or has several squadrons in more than one independant group. A wing may be an operational wing, an air base wing, or specialized missio wing
Groups-tactical echelon without significant staff support, usually with two or three subordinate units
Squadron-squadrons are the basic unit in the Air Force. It may be a mission unit such as a operation flying squadron, or a functional unit, such as civil engineer or security forces. Squadrons vary in size according to responsibility
Flight-a numbered flight is the lowest level unit in the air force. A flight primarily incorporates smaller elements into an organized unit.
Alpha Flights are part of a squadron(usually a mission squadron) and composed of several elements performing identical missions.
Functional flights are usually part of a squadron and composed of elements performing specific missions
If internal subdivision is required, a flight may be consost of sections then elements.
Dont know if this helps or not, but this is from an official AF text on Air Force Structure
MAJCOMS-major command
NAF-numbered air force, tatical echelons that provide operational leadership and supervision. A NAF is assignrd subordinate units such as wings, groups and squadrons
Wing- wing has approximatley 100 to 500 persons and a distinct mission with significant scope. It is responsible for maintaning the instillation or has several squadrons in more than one independant group. A wing may be an operational wing, an air base wing, or specialized missio wing
Groups-tactical echelon without significant staff support, usually with two or three subordinate units
Squadron-squadrons are the basic unit in the Air Force. It may be a mission unit such as a operation flying squadron, or a functional unit, such as civil engineer or security forces. Squadrons vary in size according to responsibility
Flight-a numbered flight is the lowest level unit in the air force. A flight primarily incorporates smaller elements into an organized unit.
Alpha Flights are part of a squadron(usually a mission squadron) and composed of several elements performing identical missions.
Functional flights are usually part of a squadron and composed of elements performing specific missions
If internal subdivision is required, a flight may be consost of sections then elements.
Dont know if this helps or not, but this is from an official AF text on Air Force Structure