British Military Aviation in 1987

January
Operation Swift Sword (Saif Sareea) in Oman sees the first air-to-air refuelling of a passenger aircraft. A Tristar K1 of No.216 Squadron, RAF Brize Norton. This British exercise also saw the first operational turn round of Panavia Tornados from No.617 Squadron and No.229 Operational Conversion Unit.

March
The Royal Air Force (RAF) plays a vital role in the air and sea rescue operation after the Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes at Zeebrugge.

April
Yorkshire University Air Squadron based at RAF Finningley claims to be the first to recruit girls and the first to send a girl solo in the Bulldog.

April
A Vickers VC10 tanker of No.101 Squadron breaks the record for non-stop flying time between the United Kingdom and Australia, completing the 9000 mile flight in 16 hours 1½ minutes.

June
Royal Air Force fire tenders revert to red paint after many years "toned down in olive drab and yellow side stripes".

July
Operation Hardy Crab sees No.1 Squadron British Aerospace (BAe) Harrier aircraft and personnel deploy to HMS Ark Royal for a weeks operational training.

24 September
The first unrefuelled transatlantic crossing by a British fighter is made by a Panavia Tornado F3 returning to the United Kingdom from Arizona. The aircraft covered the 2200 nautical miles from Canada in 4 hours 45 minutes.

October
The first award of the Queen's Medal to a woman officer. The award was made to the officer graduating from the RAF College, Cranwell assessed as the most outstanding officer cadet of the year. It was presented to 23 year old Flight Officer Susan Forbes of the Engineering Branch.