Why is the RAF backing a merchandise campaign ?

This question is best answered by the RAF Communications Director, Group Captain Andy Turner:

"Our goal is to raise awareness of the Royal Air Force and its capabilities, roles and deployments. It is important that the public understands what we do on their behalf. The merchandising initiative is one of a number of complementary projects that will promote that understanding and awareness.

We want to reinforce our reputation and profile � the RAF is a smaller organisation than in yesteryear and our footprint on the nation can no longer be taken for granted.

By associating our brand marks, including the RAF logo, on high-end leisure products we build up our image around the UK and globally and just as importantly bring us to the attention of young people who are the next generation of RAF personnel. The service celebrates its 90th birthday next year and we feel these products hit the mark and at the right time.

The Merchandising Initiative is not about raising cash and the profits will all go to the RAF Museums at Hendon and Cosford."

Please would you tell me where the RAF collection clothes are made? Do the people who stitched the clothes have good working conditions and decent wages? How is that verified? Is the cotton organic and are environmentally friendly dyes used?

All of the factories used to produce the RAF collection have worldwide certifications for ethical working. The clothes are produced in Europe and the Far East. As you may be aware suppliers to the fashion industry are making huge efforts to develop organic cottons and environmentally friendly dyes, and whilst these are not yet available for use in the RAF collection it is our intention to use such products as soon as they become readily commercially available.

Where can I see your product other than on the web site ?

The RAF Collection is available at RAF Hendon and RAF Cosford Museum shops. For the spring summer season, it will be available in some additional outlets, we will advise.

The RAF collection is due to be available at certain high end department stores from Autumn next year we will update you when exact locations have been confirmed.

We will also be exhibiting at many shows. When our timetable is set, we will post this information on the �where can you find us tab�

Where were the photographs taken ?

We would like to give special thanks to all the people at Duxford and RAF Cottesmore, for the use of their facilities.

Do RAF personnel get any discount ?

Yes, please check your internal press for the source code in order to claim this discount

Where do the Underwood brothers fit in ?

Both Rory and Tony have strong links to the cockpit, Rory spent 18 years in the RAF and Tony is a long haul pilot for Virgin Atlantic.

�RAF albatross�. There has always been disagreement within the RCAF, and its successor in the Canadian Armed Forces, about the identity of the bird depicted in the badge, but it has always been verified that it is an eagle, not an albatross. In the case of the RAF, however, the heraldic description is clearly �an eagle volant�. It is thus surprising to see it referred to as otherwise..??

The Royal Air Force and have concluded that the description of the RAF insignia as an albatross has inadvertently slipped in. We are aware of it�s occasional use in RAF slang but you are correct that the Air Ministry Order A.666/49 describes it as "... an eagle volant and affronte, the head lowered to the sinister

Please note that current summer sale offers can not be used in conjunction with any other offers.