Official Publications

One of our largest collections is the series of manuals – known as Air Publications – issued by the RAF and its predecessors, of which we hold around 60,000 volumes.

These include technical manuals for virtually every type of aircraft and engine used by the RAF, policy material such as the RAF War Manual and training material for most RAF trades. Recruiting pamphlets and official histories are also held.

Complementing the Air Publications are Air Diagrams: training posters issued from the First World War onwards which cover a multitude of topics ranging from the operation of piston engines and weapons to flight safety and fighter operations.