List of historic Estonian Air Force aircraft

The Estonian Air Force had more than 130 aircraft in the middle of the 1930s.[1] Estonian engineers had previously designed and constructed several trainer and light fighter aircraft types, of which the most famous is the PTO-4 which entered service in 1938 as a military training aircraft.[2]
Before the Soviet occupation, Estonia had placed an order for 12 Supermarine Spitfire fighters and 2 Westland Lysander aircraft from Britain, and was also seeking to purchase 12 Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters from Germany.[citation needed] Deliveries were interrupted by the start of World War II and the Spitfires later served in the Royal Air Force.

Aircraft

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1918-1940: From independence to Soviet occupation of 1940

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This is a list of aircraft formerly used by the Estonian Õhukaitse during the period starting from the Estonian independence of 1918 to the Soviet occupation of 1940:[1][3]

Reconnaissance aircraft
Trainer aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Bomber aircraft
Multi-role aircraft
Flying Boat

1991-present: After the end of Soviet occupation

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This is a list of aircraft used and in use by Estonian Air Force after the end of post-WW2 Soviet occupation and resumption of Estonia's de facto independence in 1991 (de jure independence having been continuous during Soviet occupation due to Estonia's government in exile):

Transport aircraft
Helicopters
Jet Trainer aircraft
Trainer aircraft

See also

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Notes and references

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  1. ^ a b Humberstone 41-45
  2. ^ Gerdessen, Frederik; Kitvel, Toivo and Tilk, Johannes. "Aeg, mehed, lennukid" Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus 2001
  3. ^ Eesti kaitseväe väljaõpe[permanent dead link], (Training and equipment of the Estonian Defence Forces)
  4. ^ a b c d "World Air Forces - Historical Listings Estonia (EST)". Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Estonian Air Force to get two M-28 transport aircraft from US". Baltic Times. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
  6. ^ a b c "Õhuvägi saab kingiks neli USA väikekopterit". www.postimees.ee (in Estonian). 30 October 2001. Archived from the original on 2018-01-27. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  7. ^ "Rebtech completes Estonia Air Force's R44 helicopter upgrade".
  8. ^ "Two Estonian Air Force planes accidentally violated Finnish airspace". Republic of Estonia Defense Forces. 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  • Gerdessen, Frederik "Estonian Air Power 1918 - 1945". Air Enthusiast No 18, April - July 1982. Pages 61–76. ISSN 0143-5450.
  • Humberstone, Richard. Estonian Air Force, 1918-1940 (Insignia Air Force Special No.3). London: Blue Rider Publishing, 1999.
  • Gerdessen, Frederik; Kitvel, Toivo and Tilk, Johannes. "Aeg, mehed, lennukid" Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus 2001
  • Kitvel, Toivo and Tilk, Johannes ""Eesti lennukroonika: tekste ja pilte aastani 1940" Tallinn: Aviopol 2003