Royal New Ingerland Air Force

Royal New Ingerland Air Force
Badge of the Royal New Ingerland Air Force
Founded	1 March 1928 (1928-03-01)
Type	Air force
Size	7,229
Headquarters	Gatehouse Square Kingsbury, CENT
Motto	Ad Astra Per Aspera
March	Aces High (Listen)
Mascot	New Ingerland Eagle (Aquila guelphii)
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	Geoffrey VII
Commander	Colin Perrott
Chief of Staff	AVM John Westcott
Insignia
Roundels
Ensign	File:Ensign RNIAF.png

The Royal New Ingerland Air Force or RNIAF is the air branch of the New Ingerland Defence Force. The RNIAF has a small but potent combat force that has a proud history of proving itself to be capable against much larger forces.

The present size of the RNIAF reflects the small size of the New Ingerland Defence Force in general. However, the RNIAF is able to boast a capable force of over 7,200 personnel and 500 aircraft, making is perfectly capable of defending New Ingerland's air space against an infraction from a foreign power. The professional head of the Royal New Ingerland Air Force is the Chief of the Air Force Staff, currently Air Marshal John Westcott, who is assisted by the Air Commander to oversee the five operational groups that make up the modern air force. The Chief of the Air Force Staff in turn reports to the Chief of the Defence Force Staff, and is a member of the Joint Defence Headquarters Chiefs of Staff Council.

Doctrine

The strength and size of the RNIAF reflects Ingerland's commitment to a doctrine of Total Defence, as outlined in the Defence Readiness Act. The RNIAF is required to maintain its capability of defending and maintaining superiority over the airspace of the realm from an external threat, and in tandem with the Navy and Army, neutralise any threat as it emerges.

The Total Defence doctrine also requires the RNIAF to maintain an active reserve force of appropriate size, and train a number of national serviceman each year in order to keep the active reserve force fully capable.

History

Formation and the prewar period

Unlike other Ingerish Commonwealth armed forces, neither the Royal New Ingerland Navy nor the New Ingerland Army maintained any flying units before the Great War. The Ministry of Defence rejected proposals to establish air arms from both services, believing that it would redirect precious funds away from providing the high quality equipment the government existing units on the field of battle. Where New Ingerland's forces required air cover,it was expected that units from Ingerland would fulfil this role.

Organisation

Further information: Structure of the Royal New Ingerland Air Force

Current strength

Personnel

Presently, the RNIAF has 1,716 permanent full-time personnel, and 4,904 part-time active reserve personnel. Until it was suspended in 2016, the air force also typically conscripted around 600 national servicemen each year.

Aircraft

The Royal New Ingerland Air Force currently operates 141 aircraft, with 57 fixed wing and 84 helicopters in service.

Bases

Aside from three major airbases, the RNIAF also operates a number of smaller auxiliary sites around the country. These minor sites include reservist stations, radar and surveillance facilities, and training colleges for various technical purposes.

Base	Location
	Codrington, ILUN
AFS St Collen	St Collen, CENT
AFS Te Piha	Te Piha, DEVX
Royal Air College

Ranks and uniform

Symbols, flags, and emblems

As is traditional in all services of the New Ingerland Defence Force, the Royal New Ingerland Air Force has adopted symbols to represent it, act as a rallying point for its members and encourage esprit de corps. To that end, the principal emblems of the RNIAF are the ensign and the roundel.