Wattay Air Base, Vientiane Seno Air Base, Savannakhet
Nickname(s)
RLAF (AVRL in French)
Colors
Blue-gray
Anniversaries
28 January (RLAF Day)
Engagements
Laotian Civil War
Commanders
Notable commanders
Thao Ma Sourith Don Sasorith Bouathong Phothivongsa
Insignia
Roundel
Fin Flash
Aircraft flown
Attack
T-6, T-28, AC-47
Electronic warfare
EC-47D
Reconnaissance
MS 500 Criquet, O-1 Bird Dog, U-6 (L-20), U-17
Trainer
T-6, T-28, T-41
Transport
Aero Commander 560, De Havilland Dove, Lisunov Li-2, C-47, C-123K, Alouette II, Alouette III, H-19, H-34, UH-1, Mil Mi-4
Military unit
The Royal Lao Air Force (Lao: ກອງທັບອາກາສຣາຊອານາຈັກລາວ; French: Aviation Royale Laotiènne – AVRL), best known to the Americans by its English acronym RLAF, was the air force component of the Royal Lao Armed Forces (FAR), the official military of the Royal Lao Government and the Kingdom of Laos during the Laotian Civil War between 1960 and 1975.
The original Lao military aviation establishment was the 'Laotian Aviation' (Aviation laotiènne), established by the French on 28 January 1955 as a small aerial observation and transport arm of the then National Lao Army (ANL). As the French withdrew from Indochina, the Lao Aviation was supported by American aid. With the addition of offensive capabilities, it morphed into the Royal Lao Air Force (RLAF).
The RLAF struggled into existence in the face of its enemies, while dealing with its own internal divisions as well as bucking a tide of pilot and aircraft losses. As it expanded from its 1960 foundation, and as the fighting power of the Royal Lao Army was diminished and broken during the 1960s, the RLAF came to carry the weight of the battle against Vietnamese communist invaders and local Pathet Lao insurgents. Despite its continual drain of heavy pilot and aircraft losses, the RLAF grew to the point where it flew 30,000 combat sorties annually against its enemies in the years 1970 through 1972, as well performing essential logistics duties.
The RLAF began its operations as a liaison, logistics and transport unit. Its initial stock were a melange of French and American supplied rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft inherited from its predecessor, Aviation Laotienne. On 9 January 1961, the new RLAF was supplied with six AT-6 Texans as its first strike aircraft. Although these were quickly lost, they were replaced by five T-28 Trojans. Despite ongoing losses, the T-28 inventory would eventually burgeon under American auspices to 75 Trojans on board in 1973. It would also acquire ten AC-47 gunships for a time. Pilot procurement for the swelling fleet would always be problematic, with the inadequate roster of Lao and Hmong pilots being filled out with Thai mercenary pilots, and a few Americans from Air America. By the time American aid was withdrawn in 1973, dooming the force, the RLAF would total 180 aircraft, both fixed wing and helicopters.
and 22 Related for: Royal Lao Air Force information
The RoyalLaoAirForce (Lao: ກອງທັບອາກາສຣາຊອານາຈັກລາວ; French: Aviation Royale Laotiènne – AVRL), best known to the Americans by its English acronym RLAF...
The RoyalLao Army (Lao: ກອງທັບລາດຊະອານາຈັກລາວ; French: Armée royale du Laos – ARL), also designated by its anglicized title RLA, was the land component...
The RoyalLao Armed Forces (Lao: ກອງທັບຣາຊອານາຈັກລາວ; French: Forces Armées du Royaume), best known by its French acronym FAR, were the official armed...
supported by the CIA proprietary airline Air America, Thailand, the RoyalLaoAirForce, and a covert air operation directed by the United States ambassador...
The following tables present the ranks of the RoyalLao Armed Forces from 1955 to 1975, which, as a former French dominion, follow a rank system similar...
The RoyalLao Police (Lao: ກຣົມຕຳຮວຈລາວ; French: Police Royale Laotiènne – PRL), was the official national police force of the Kingdom of Laos from 1949...
The RoyalLao Navy (Lao: ກອງທັບເຣືອພຣະຣາຊອານາຈັກລາວ; French: Marine Royale Laotienne – MRL) was the naval component of the RoyalLao Armed Forces (FAR)...
against the Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese positions. The group was funded by the CIA and was part of the regular RoyalLaoAirForce, but took orders...
Udorn Royal Thai AirForce Base (Udorn RTAFB) is a Royal Thai AirForce (RTAF) base, the home of 23rd Wing Air Command. It is in the city of Udon Thani...
gendarmeries Leese, Capt. Robert. "Afghan National Army Air Corps now Afghan National Army AirForce". US AirForce, 14 June 2010. Archived 22 July 2011 at the Wayback...
stationed at LS 36, a dirt air strip near Na Khang, Laos; he directed air strikes by the RoyalLaoAirForce while riding in Air America helicopters, or...
from the merger of two existing airlines namely, RoyalAirLao and LaoAir Lines. The company became Lao Aviation in 1979.[citation needed] In 2000, a joint...
fighter-bomber pilot. From 1959 to 1966, Thao Ma was the commander of the RoyalLaoAirForce (RLAF), and was noted for his charisma and aggressiveness. However...
T-28 Trojan was extensively used by the Vietnamese AirForce and the RoyalLaoAirForce for close air support and other bombing missions. Upon occasion...
The Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Navy Base (NKP), formerly Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai AirForce Base, is a Royal Thai Navy facility used for riverine patrols...
the RoyalLao Army to go on the offensive. In April, Phoumi arranged for the RoyalLaoAirForce to receive eight T-28 Trojans from the Royal Thai Air Force...
Takhli Royal Thai AirForce Base (IATA: TKH, ICAO: VTPI) is a Royal Thai AirForce (RTAF) facility in central Thailand, approximately 144 miles (240 km)...
Global Information
Kingdom of Laos
