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Wednesday, 01 February 2012
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Raf, Raf Filmography


RELEASE


ALBUMS


Numeri (Released 2011)

Metamorfosi (Released 2008)

Passeggeri distratti (Released 2006)

TuttoRaf (Released 2005)

Ouch (Released 2004)

Iperbole (Released 2001)

La prova (Released 1998)

Collezione temporanea (Released 1996)

Manifesto (Released 1995)

Cannibali (Released 1993)


Cosa resterà ... (Released 1989)

Svegliarsi un anno fa (Released 1988)

Self Control (Released 1987)

RELEASE


ALBUMS


Make changes yourself !



Funny RAF Regiment Video
Funny RAF Regiment Video
  • Order:
  • Duration: 3:04
  • Published: 05 Aug 2007
  • Uploaded: 17 Jan 2012
  • Author: jeffwalker2
A video showing British troops in Iraq
http://wn.com/Funny_RAF_Regiment_Video
RAF Typhoon Airshow Display - In-cockpit - Narrated by Pilot
RAF Typhoon Airshow Display - In-cockpit - Narrated by Pilot
  • Order:
  • Duration: 4:25
  • Published: 27 Sep 2006
  • Uploaded: 16 Jan 2012
  • Author: IainPlanesTV
www.planestv.com The full RAF Typhoon Display sequence from the Waddington Airshow 2006 DVD. Including views from our 2 cockpit mini-cams, onboard sound and narration from the display pilot.
http://wn.com/RAF_Typhoon_Airshow_Display__In-cockpit__Narrated_by_Pilot
Dara O'Brian - Driving, Sex and the RAF
Dara O'Brian - Driving, Sex and the RAF
  • Order:
  • Duration: 9:55
  • Published: 05 May 2008
  • Uploaded: 13 Jan 2012
  • Author: MrHoldall
Dara O'Brian at the theatre royal
http://wn.com/Dara_O'Brian__Driving,_Sex_and_the_RAF
From Manchester City FC to the RAF Regiment.
From Manchester City FC to the RAF Regiment.
Lee Crooks began his career with Manchester City Football Club in 1994. In 2008, he retired from professional football. In 2012 he will be on the front line of Operations in Afghanistan with the RAF Regiment.
http://wn.com/From_Manchester_City_FC_to_the_RAF_Regiment
RAF TORNADO GR4 ATTACK DEMO (enhanced version) - airshowvision
RAF TORNADO GR4 ATTACK DEMO (enhanced version) - airshowvision
Airshowvision present the Royal Air Force Tornado Role Demonstration 2010, featuring two XV Squadron GR4s from RAF Lossiemouth. Watch as they demonstrate the art of low level precision bombing using this awesome swing-wing beast of a jet. Tornado may be old, but it bristles with the latest up to the minute lazer guided & precision GPRS munitions which can attack tanks & underground bunkers to an accuracy of under one metre. If this comes after you, there is quite literally no escape. It's quite frightening just standing next to it when it begins it's take off run and the afterburners kick in! Sadly it look as if this scenario you see here will be played out for real in Libya over the coming months; as the Tornados & Typhoons head for the Middle East to help enforce the Un "No-Fly Zone". Let us all hope it doesn't last long for everyone's sake... Sadly, since this video was uploaded it has been brought to my attention that the lead aircraft in this video - 138, was destroyed in a crash in January off Loch Ewe in Scotland, (the crew members ejecting successfully). Hopefully this video will be a permanent reminder of this particular airfame to all who flew her and maintained her.
http://wn.com/RAF_TORNADO_GR4_ATTACK_DEMO_enhanced_version__airshowvision
Monty Python RAF Banter
Monty Python RAF Banter
  • Order:
  • Duration: 4:29
  • Published: 01 May 2007
  • Uploaded: 17 Jan 2012
  • Author: bakerco502
secretly why I put a RAF impression together hahah
http://wn.com/Monty_Python_RAF_Banter
Video of RAF Tornado jets mid-air refueling en route to Libya
Video of RAF Tornado jets mid-air refueling en route to Libya
  • Order:
  • Duration: 1:45
  • Published: 23 Mar 2011
  • Uploaded: 16 Jan 2012
  • Author: RussiaToday
Britain's Royal Air Force jet fighters participating in operations against Libya were seen being refuelled in midair as they flew in the skies over Cyprus on Wednesday. RAF Akrotiri, one of two British military bases on Cyprus' southern coast, is hosting VC-10, RAF E3D and Sentinel surveillance aircrafts which provide refuelling capability to help enforce the no-fly zone. RT on Facebook: www.facebook.com RT on Twitter: twitter.com
http://wn.com/Video_of_RAF_Tornado_jets_mid-air_refueling_en_route_to_Libya
RAF airman pulls WRAF at the bop.
RAF airman pulls WRAF at the bop.
  • Order:
  • Duration: 1:58
  • Published: 01 Feb 2011
  • Uploaded: 12 Jan 2012
  • Author: huggy617
RAF airman takes a WRAF back to the block after a night out at the station's weekly bop.
http://wn.com/RAF_airman_pulls_WRAF_at_the_bop
RAF Sentry Mission over Libya
RAF Sentry Mission over Libya
Rushes package showing a sortie by a Royal Air Force E-3D Sentry aircraft. The Sentry was controlling multi-national aircraft as part of NATO's Operation Unified Protector. Images show start up, departure, take-off (inside and outside the cockpit), activity during the mission, landing, and the crew disembarking. Read more about the RAF Sentry here: www.mod.uk
http://wn.com/RAF_Sentry_Mission_over_Libya
Chinook CH-47 RAF HC Mk2/2A Boeing helicoptor-tactical, landing with reverse takeoff!
Chinook CH-47 RAF HC Mk2/2A Boeing helicoptor-tactical, landing with reverse takeoff!
  • Order:
  • Duration: 1:00
  • Published: 21 Oct 2007
  • Uploaded: 18 Jan 2012
  • Author: capney
Boeing HC Mk2/2A Chinook air show display with the aircraft landing and doing a reverse take off with front gear off the runway. (pinnicle landing) Display Team is made up of personnel from 18(B) Squadron, and is supported by a team of engineers from 18/27 Engineering Squadron, all based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire.
http://wn.com/Chinook_CH-47_RAF_HC_Mk2/2A_Boeing_helicoptor-tactical,_landing_with_reverse_takeoff!
RAF release dramatic ship rescue footage
RAF release dramatic ship rescue footage
  • Order:
  • Duration: 1:44
  • Published: 27 Nov 2011
  • Uploaded: 04 Dec 2011
  • Author: itnnews
Dramatic video of a helicopter rescue after a ship sank in the Irish Sea has been released. Report by Tony Ricketts. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com
http://wn.com/RAF_release_dramatic_ship_rescue_footage
Raf - Ossigeno
Raf - Ossigeno
  • Order:
  • Duration: 4:25
  • Published: 25 Oct 2009
  • Uploaded: 16 Jan 2012
  • Author: RAFVEVO
Music video by Raf performing Ossigeno. (C) 2008 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (Italy) SpA
http://wn.com/Raf__Ossigeno
Armstrong & Miller - WWII RAF Sketch
Armstrong & Miller - WWII RAF Sketch
  • Order:
  • Duration: 1:48
  • Published: 27 Oct 2007
  • Uploaded: 18 Jan 2012
  • Author: JCoquillon
Armstrong and Miller take the WWII film spoof to new levels of mirth.
http://wn.com/Armstrong_Miller__WWII_RAF_Sketch
Hercules bid farewell to RAF Lyneham
Hercules bid farewell to RAF Lyneham
  • Order:
  • Duration: 1:26
  • Published: 01 Jul 2011
  • Uploaded: 06 Nov 2011
  • Author: itnnews
Wing Commander Pete Cochrane and his C130 planes thank the people of Wiltshire for their support over the last 44 years. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com
http://wn.com/Hercules_bid_farewell_to_RAF_Lyneham
Armstrong & Miller - WWII RAF Sketch 2
Armstrong & Miller - WWII RAF Sketch 2
  • Order:
  • Duration: 1:16
  • Published: 27 Oct 2007
  • Uploaded: 16 Jan 2012
  • Author: JCoquillon
Armstrong and Miller in another WWII sketch
http://wn.com/Armstrong_Miller__WWII_RAF_Sketch_2
WorldofDance.com | WOD San Diego 2011 | RAF Crew from France
WorldofDance.com | WOD San Diego 2011 | RAF Crew from France
World of Dance San Diego was non stop action. One amazing performance after another. From hard hitting moves to theatre style performances that had the audience in a daze WOD SD was great! Celebrity dance crew RAF crew, former winners of Hip Hop International, gave the World of Dance crowd in San Diego a new bar to take their performances to. Stay tuned for more from your favorite dance crews and freestyle dancers. Join the movement. Subscribe now. www.youtube.com/worldofdancetour For more videos like this go to: www.worldofdance.com
http://wn.com/WorldofDancecom_|_WOD_San_Diego_2011_|_RAF_Crew_from_France
Great Rafale Display At RIAT RAF Fairford 2011.
Great Rafale Display At RIAT RAF Fairford 2011." Capt Brocard Best Solo Jet Display Award"
  • Order:
  • Duration: 5:09
  • Published: 16 Jul 2011
  • Uploaded: 12 Jan 2012
  • Author: Wonkabar007
Really enjoyed the Rafale display, its a very nimble aircraft with lots of power, great looking jet also. This display by Capt Brocard was the winner of the Paul Bowen trophy, for the best solo jet display at RIAT 2011.
http://wn.com/Great_Rafale_Display_At_RIAT_RAF_Fairford_2011_Capt_Brocard_Best_Solo_Jet_Display_Award
Infinito
Infinito
  • Order:
  • Duration: 4:55
  • Published: 23 Nov 2009
  • Uploaded: 17 Jan 2012
  • Author: rafofficial
Video Ufficiale
http://wn.com/Infinito
Combat camera: RAF Tornado missile strikes Gaddafi forces tank
Combat camera: RAF Tornado missile strikes Gaddafi forces tank
  • Order:
  • Duration: 1:36
  • Published: 08 Apr 2011
  • Uploaded: 16 Jan 2012
  • Author: RussiaToday
NATO released aerial footage on Friday showing operation Unified Protector forces using a missile to strike a pro-Gadhafi tank operating in Misrata. The images, filmed by a British Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 surveying the area before the strike, show the tank being used to spearhead an attack in the city, according to NATO. The RAF jet filmed the tank firing it's gun as it circled overhead. The moment of impact of the Brimstone missile appears clearly on the footage, creating a huge cloud of smoke which clears to show the burning debris of the tank. Ground forces can then been seen fleeing from the area near where the missile struck.
http://wn.com/Combat_camera_RAF_Tornado_missile_strikes_Gaddafi_forces_tank
Curtiss P-40 with the RAF, RNZAF and RAAF
Curtiss P-40 with the RAF, RNZAF and RAAF
  • Order:
  • Duration: 10:07
  • Published: 17 Dec 2007
  • Uploaded: 16 Jan 2012
  • Author: Bomberguy
Like it or not, the USAAF had only the P-40 available when it went to war. It rarely outperformed the fighters that it opposed, but it was one of the sturdiest fighters produced during World War II. Remembered as a "best second choice," innumerable pilots owe their lives to its rugged quality. The Curtiss P-40 was undoubtedly one of the most controversial fighters to serve in quantity during the Second World War. It was praised and abused, lauded and vilified, but the fact remains that, as the first American single-seat fighter to be manufactured on a mass-production basis, it bore much of the brunt of the air warfare over several battle fronts. Its performance was inferior to the performances of the majority of its antagonists, but this shortcoming was partly compensated for by its tractability and its sturdiness which enabled it to withstand a considerable amount of punishment. It was amenable to adaptation and it was available when most sorely needed. Not particularly good technically or in performance, though very durable, P-40s continued to be produced until the end of 1944, serving also with air force units of Turkey, South Africa, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Later versions were known as Kittyhawks to the RAF and its Allies. Not usually realized is that the name Warhawk applied only to the United States Army Air Force P-40s starting with the P-40F version, a much improved plane with a license built version of the British Rolls-Royce Merlin engine installed <b>...</b>
http://wn.com/Curtiss_P-40_with_the_RAF,_RNZAF_and_RAAF
Bournemouth Air Festival | Day 1 - RAF Red Arrows
Bournemouth Air Festival | Day 1 - RAF Red Arrows
Update: I dedicate this video to Flt Lt Jon Egging, his Wife Emma and the RAF Red Arrows team. Sadly, Red Arrow pilot Jon Eggins died today (20/08/11) in a crash of his RAF Hawk T1. My most sincere condolences go to Jon Egging's family, his friends and the RAF Red Arrows team. Unfortunately I cannot take the time to reply to each comment posted on this video. I would like to say thank you to all of you that have viewed this video and made comments. It has been a pleasure having this video on my channel and to read all of the heartfelt sympathies of the people commenting. RIP Flt Lt Jon Egging - A true Hero. RAF Red Arrows performing Aerobatics on Day 1 of the Bournemouth Air Festival Photos and more: manychefsbroth.co.uk More videos and Photos up soon, subscribe to keep up to date. Socialise with ManyChefsBroth Twitter www.twitter.com Facebook www.facebook.com Website www.manychefsbroth.co.uk
http://wn.com/Bournemouth_Air_Festival_|_Day_1__RAF_Red_Arrows
RAF jets hit pro-Gaddafi targets as battle of Sirte intensifies 19.09.11
RAF jets hit pro-Gaddafi targets as battle of Sirte intensifies 19.09.11
RAF Tornado GR4s have made a series of precision strikes in a NATO raid on pro-Gaddafi forces around Sirte. Yesterday (Sunday) ammunition facilities were destroyed west of Sirte with Paveway bombs, while a battle tank was destroyed in Bani Walid. And Tornado and Typhoon aircraft identified hostile vehicles near Waddan. A multiple rocket launcher and an armed pick-up truck were destroyed. On Saturday a military headquarters near Hun in central Libya was destroyed with seven Paveway bombs, while further north in Sirte RAF aircraft took out an armoured personnel carrier and a pair of armed pick-up trucks. General Nick Pope, the Chief of the Defence Staff's Communications Officer, said: "Since the start of military operations on 19 March, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps strikes have damaged or destroyed more than 960 former regime targets that presented a threat to the Libyan people." Meanwhile anti-Gaddafi troops are advancing on Sirte, with some 900 armoured vehicles gathering for the offensive. It comes after their forces fighting pro-Gaddafi fighters in the other loyalist stronghold of Bani Walid were forced to retreat under heavy fire at the weekend.
http://wn.com/RAF_jets_hit_pro-Gaddafi_targets_as_battle_of_Sirte_intensifies_190911
RAF - Self control ( Eurotops )
RAF - Self control ( Eurotops )
  • Order:
  • Duration: 5:33
  • Published: 12 Dec 2009
  • Uploaded: 16 Jan 2012
  • Author: patikdisco
If clips from my channel are interesting to you in HQ quality write me the message PM
http://wn.com/RAF__Self_control__Eurotops_
A video showing British troops in Iraq...
Funny RAF Reg­i­ment Video
3:04
RAF Ty­phoon Air­show Dis­play - In-cock­pit - Nar­rat­ed by Pilot
4:25
Dara O'Brian - Driv­ing, Sex and the RAF
9:55
From Manch­ester City FC to the RAF Reg­i­ment.
5:30
RAF TOR­NA­DO GR4 AT­TACK DEMO (en­hanced ver­sion) - air­showvi­sion
5:39
Monty Python RAF Ban­ter
4:29
Video of RAF Tor­na­do jets mid-air re­fu­el­ing en route to Libya
1:45
RAF air­man pulls WRAF at the bop.
1:58
RAF Sen­try Mis­sion over Libya
3:31
Chi­nook CH-47 RAF HC Mk2/2A Boe­ing he­li­cop­tor-tac­ti­cal, land­ing with re­verse take­off!
1:00
RAF re­lease dra­mat­ic ship res­cue footage
1:44
Raf - Os­sigeno
4:25
Arm­strong & Miller - WWII RAF Sketch
1:48
Her­cules bid farewell to RAF Lyne­ham
1:26
remove add to playlist video results for: raf
Arm­strong & Miller - WWII RAF Sketch 2
1:16
WorldofDance.​com | WOD San Diego 2011 | RAF Crew from France
15:02
Great Rafale Dis­play At RIAT RAF Fair­ford 2011." Capt Bro­card Best Solo Jet Dis­play Award"
5:09
In­fini­to
4:55
Com­bat cam­era: RAF Tor­na­do mis­sile strikes Gaddafi forces tank
1:36
Cur­tiss P-40 with the RAF, RNZAF and RAAF
10:07
Bournemouth Air Fes­ti­val | Day 1 - RAF Red Ar­rows
4:28
RAF jets hit pro-Gaddafi tar­gets as bat­tle of Sirte in­ten­si­fies 19.09.11
1:29
RAF - Self con­trol ( Eu­ro­tops )
5:33
  • GAMAs at RAF Molesworth, England. 4 GAMAs, 1 per flight, each holding 16 missiles, total 64 missiles. Molesworth was completely reconstructed between 1981 and 1985, being transformed from a largely abandoned World War II Eighth Air Force B-17 base to a modern NATO facility.
    Creative Commons / Patrick Nugent
  • Grob G115E Tutor T1 of the RAF at RIAT 2010 in Germany .
    Creative Commons / Bthebest
  • A Grob Vigilant T1 of 637 Volunteer Gliding Squadron. The Vigilant T1 variant was introduced into service in 1991, replacing the Slingsby Venture, and is used by Volunteer Gliding Squadrons (VGS) around the UK to train Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force cadets in basic flying with the aim of bringing them to a standard where they are able to fly solo.
    Creative Commons / Masonste
  • Grob G 109B Vigilant T.1 of the RAF (registration ZH890/SE) at the 2010 Royal International Air Tattoo, Fair ford, Gloucester shire, England.
    Creative Commons / Adrian Pingstone
  • Privately-owned Gloster Meteor NF11 (civil registration G-LOSM, RAF code WM167) displaying at Kemble Air Day 2009, Kemble, Gloucester shire, England.
    Creative Commons / Adrian Pingstone
  • Inscription on Bridgnorth Museum, commemorating the deliberate destruction of the town by royalist forces, commanded by Sir Thomas Wolryche of Dudmaston Hall.
    Creative Commons
  • This Supermarine Spitfire XVI was typical of World War II fighters optimized for high level speeds and good climb rates
    Creative Commons / Diliff.
  • Messerschmidt Bf 109G-2/Trop 'Black 6' 'Black 6', Now on static display RAF Hendon London
    Creative Commons / Denniss
  • A Sopwith Camel at the RAF Museum. The success of the Eindecker kicked off a competitive cycle of improvement among the combatants, building ever more capable single-seat fighters.
    Creative Commons / Oxyman
  • A replica of the Colditz Glider as seen at the Imperial War Museum in London, United Kingdom. A full-sized replica of the Colditz glider was commissioned by Channel 4 and was built by Southdown Aviation Ltd at Lasham Airfield.
    Creative Commons / Alkivar
  • Flight Design CTSW registered G-TODG on display at RAF Fairford in 2007
    Creative Commons / MilborneOne
  • Assembly of God, Trafalgar Street. Mosquito HR576 RAF (UK) disintegrated over the inner western Sydney suburbs of Leichhardt and Peter sham on 2 May 1945 during an air test flight.
    Creative Commons / J Bar
  • The Gate and, across Bank Road, County Hall
    Creative Commons
  • Old Methodist Church above Old Sunday School
    Creative Commons
  • Town Hall
    Creative Commons
  • Crown Buildings
    Creative Commons
  • Rockside Hydro
    Creative Commons
  • Rutland Court
    Creative Commons
  • Exminster railway station, now a reclamation yard open to the public.
    Creative Commons
  • A No. 75 Squadron Leading Aircraftwoman in 2008 wearing Auscam DPCU. The RAAF uses Royal Air Force (RAF)-derived ranks for both officers and other ranks
    Creative Commons / Eric T.
  • Donald Pleasence in London, 1973
    Creative Commons / Allan warren
  • RAF TriStar refuelling US Navy F/A-18s
    Creative Commons / Erik Etz,
  • ZE416 is an Agusta A109E helicopter built in 2004 and operated by the Empire Test Pilots' School.
    Creative Commons / MilborneOne
  • AgustaWestland AW-109E Power Elite helicopter of No. 32 (Royal) Squadron, at RIAT 2010.
    Creative Commons / Arpingstone
  • Atlantic Airways BAe 146-200. First flight of the -100 occurred on 3 September 1981, with deliveries commencing in 1983.
    Creative Commons / Janne Laukkonen
  • A Vickers VC10 of No. 101 Squadron.101 Squadron reformed at Brize Norton on 1 May 1984, it previously operated the Avro Vulcan and participated in the Operation Black Buck missions of the Falklands War.
    Creative Commons / Jerry Gunner
  • St Mary the Virgin, Ebberston is a small village near Pickering in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England. In 2009 a 500 lb unexploded bomb was unearthed adjacent to the village.
    Creative Commons / Nigel Coates
  • Tree in grave yard. Ebberston is a small village near Pickering in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England. In 2009 a 500 lb unexploded bomb was unearthed adjacent to the village
    Creative Commons / Nigel Coates
  • River Coln, Fairford is a small town in Gloucester shire, England. The town lies in the Cotswolds on the River Coln, about 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Cirencester, 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Lechlade and 9 miles (14 km) north of Swindon.
    Creative Commons / Saffron Blaze
  • CAROOTS ARE RICH IN VITAMIN A,DIETARY FIBRE,ANTIOXIDANTS,AND MINERALS,- LACK OF VITAMIN A CAN BE RESTORED BY ADDING IT BACK INTO THE DIET,AN URBAN LEGEND SAYS EATING LARGE AMOUNTS OF CARROTS WILL ALLOW ONE TO SEE IN THE DARK
    WN / Emico Silalahi


  • The Australian THE Duke of Cambridge is expected to set off for the Falklands today on a trip that has generated great excitement among islanders but heightened tensions with Argentina. Prince William will arrive on an RAF-chartered jet at Mount Pleasant after an 18-hour flight from Britain, with a brief stop at...
  • York Press A NORTH Yorkshire RAF bomber unit has disbanded after 96 years with a special parade at its former airbase. No 207 (Reserve) Squadron was officially disbanded at RAF Linton-on-Ouse after Government cuts reduced armed forces numbers. Its standard, which features battle honours from the First and...
  • BBC News A loud noise heard by people across the north of England was caused by an RAF fighter jet breaking the sound barrier, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. The MoD confirmed...
  • BBC News Flight crews and engineers from a Norfolk-based RAF squadron have raised £45,000 for charity by running, cycling and rowing 56,000 miles while...
  • BBC News Solid paint, built up over 14 years in the extraction fans of a former Wiltshire airbase, is being...
  • The Daily Mail The Queen, pictured earlier this month in Norfolk, takes most of her flights from RAF Northolt Defence chiefs could be forced to sell off the Queen's airfield as the MoD looks to slash budgets. The department is considering plans to sell RAF Northolt, which occupies hundreds of acres of prime real...
  • BBC News An RAF corporal caught with child pornography at his Aberdeen home has been...
  • BBC News One of the armed forces' oldest airfields could be sold to private investors under plans being considered to help the MoD cope with budget cuts. RAF Northolt occupies hundreds of acres in the London borough of Hillingdon, close to the M25. The MoD said no decision had been taken but the site was...
  • BBC News Plans by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to turn RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire into a defence training centre have been outlined at a public meeting. About 100 residents attended the meeting in Lyneham on Wednesday and were told that remaining RAF personnel at the base will leave in...
  • more news on: Raf

    Unit nameRoyal Air Force
    Start date1 April 1918
    Country United Kingdom
    AllegianceHM The Queen
    Size998 aircraft42,200 regular personnel1,500 royal auxiliary air force33,400 Royal Air Force Reserve
    Command structureBritish Armed Forces
    GarrisonMOD Main Building, Whitehall
    Garrison labelAir Staff Offices
    Motto"Through Adversity to the Stars" it is the oldest independent air force in the world. The RAF has taken a significant role in British military history, playing a large part in the Second World War and in more recent conflicts.

    As of mid 2011, the RAF operates around 998 aircraft, as such it is one of the largest and most technologically sophisticated air forces in the world. The RAF has a total manpower strength of 42,200 regular personnel and 1,500 Royal Auxiliary Air Force personnel. In addition the RAF can call-upon 33,400 Royal Air Force Reserves. The majority of the RAF's aircraft and personnel are based in the UK with many others serving on operations (principally Afghanistan and the Middle East) or at long-established overseas bases (Ascension Island, Canada, Cyprus, Diego Garcia, Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands and Germany).

    The RAF's mission is to support the objectives of the British Ministry of Defence (MoD), which are to "provide the capabilities needed: to ensure the security and defence of the United Kingdom and overseas territories, including against terrorism; to support the Government’s foreign policy objectives particularly in promoting international peace and security."}}

    The above statement goes hand in hand with the RAF's definition of air power, the concept that guides the RAF strategy. Air Power is defined as: "The ability to project military force in air or space by or from a platform or missile operating above the surface of the earth. Air platforms are defined as any aircraft, helicopter or unmanned air vehicle."

    Although the RAF is the principal British air power arm, the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm and the British Army's Army Air Corps also deliver air power which is integrated into the maritime, littoral and land environments.

    History

    Origins

    While the British were not the first to make use of heavier-than-air military aircraft, the RAF is the world's oldest independent air force: that is, the first air force to become independent of army or navy control. It was founded on 1 April 1918, with headquarters located in the former Hotel Cecil, during the First World War, by the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). After the war, the service was drastically cut and its inter-war years were relatively quiet, with the RAF taking responsibility for the control of Iraq and executing a number of minor actions in other parts of the British Empire. Naval aviation in the form of the RAF's Fleet Air Arm was returned to Admiralty control on 24 May 1939.

    The RAF developed its doctrine of Strategic bombing which led to the construction of long-range bombers and became the basic philosophy in the Second World War.

    Second World War

    The RAF underwent rapid expansion prior to and during the Second World War. Under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan of December 1939, the air forces of British Commonwealth countries trained and formed "Article XV squadrons" for service with RAF formations. Many individual personnel from these countries, and exiles from occupied Europe, also served with RAF squadrons.

    In the Battle of Britain, in the late summer of 1940, the RAF (supplemented by 2 Fleet Air Arm Squadrons, Polish, Czechoslovakian and other multinational pilots and ground personnel) defended the skies over Britain against the German Luftwaffe, helping foil Hitler's plans for an invasion of the United Kingdom, and prompting Prime Minister Winston Churchill to say in the House of Commons on 20 August, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few".

    The largest RAF effort during the war was the strategic bombing campaign against Germany by Bomber Command. While RAF bombing of Germany began almost immediately upon the outbreak of war, under the leadership of Air Chief Marshal Harris, these attacks became increasingly devastating from 1942 onward as new technology and greater numbers of superior aircraft became available. The RAF adopted night-time area bombing on German cities such as Hamburg and Dresden, and developed precision bombing techniques for specific operations, such as the "Dambusters" raid by No. 617 Squadron, or the Amiens prison raid known as Operation Jericho.

    Cold War and later engagements

    During the Cold War years the main role of the RAF was the defence of the continent of Europe against potential attack by the Soviet Union, including holding the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent for a number of years. After the Cold War, the RAF was involved in several large scale operations, including the Gulf War, the Kosovo War, operations in Afghanistan, the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the subsequent war.

    The RAF celebrated its 90th birthday with a flypast of the Red Arrows and four Typhoons over many RAF Stations and Central London on 1 April 2008.

    Structure

    The professional head of the RAF is the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton. The CAS heads the Air Force Board, which is a committee of the Defence Council. The Air Force Board is the management board of the RAF and consists of the Commander-in-Chief of Air Command (Air Chief Marshal Simon Bryant), together with several other high ranking officers. The CAS also has a deputy known as the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (ACAS); this post is held by Air Vice-Marshal B M North.

    Command

    Authority is delegated from the Air Force Board to the RAF's command. While there were once individual commands responsible for bombers, fighters, training, etc., now only the Air Command exists. Headquartered at RAF High Wycombe, RAF.

    Groups

    Groups are the subdivisions of operational commands; these are responsible for certain types of operation or for operations in limited geographical areas. As from 1 April 2007, three groups exist:
  • 1 Group (the Air Combat Group): controls the RAF's combat fast jet aircraft and parents airfields at RAF Odiham, RAF Benson, RAF Leeming, RAF Coningsby, RAF Leuchars, RAF Wittering, RAF Cottesmore, RAF Marham and RAF Lossiemouth in the UK in addition to RAF Unit Goose Bay in Canada, which is used extensively as an operational training base. RAF Spadeadam, in Cumbria, is also within its sphere of responsibility.
  • 2 Group (the Air Combat Support Group): controls the strategic and tactical air transport aircraft, the RAF Regiment, the RAF's air-to-air refuelling aircraft as well as Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) and search and rescue assets.
  • 22 Group: responsible for recruiting, personnel management and training.
  • In addition, No. 83 Group RAF, under the command of the Permanent Joint Headquarters, is active in the Middle East, supporting operations over Iraq and Afghanistan.

    Stations

    An RAF station is ordinarily subordinate to a group and it is administratively sub-divided into wings. Since the mid to late 1930s RAF stations have controlled a number of flying squadrons or other units at one location by means of a station headquarters.

    Wings

    A wing is either an operational sub-division of a group or an administrative sub-division of an RAF station.

    Independent Wings are a grouping of two or more squadrons, either flying squadrons or ground support squadrons. In former times, numbered flying wings have existed, but recently they have been created only when required. For example during Operation Telic, Tornado GR4 wings were formed to operate from Ali Al Salem and Al Udeid air bases and the Tornado F3 equipped Leuchars Fighter Wing at Prince Sultan Air Base; each of these were made up of aircraft and crews from several squadrons.

    On 31 March 2006, the RAF formed nine Expeditionary Air Wings (EAWs) in order to support operations. They were established at the nine main operating bases; RAF Coningsby, RAF Cottesmore, RAF Kinloss, RAF Leeming, RAF Leuchars, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Lyneham, RAF Marham and RAF Waddington numbered Nos 121, 122, 325, 135, 125, 140, 38, 138 and 34 EAWs respectively. These units are commanded by a Group Captain who is also the parent unit's Station Commander. The EAW comprises the non-formed unit elements of the station that are required to support a deployed operating base, i.e. the command and control, logistics and administration functions amongst others. They are designed to be flexible and quickly adaptable for differing operations. They are independent of flying squadrons, Air Combat Support Units (ACSU) and Air Combat Service Support Units (ACSSU) who are attached to the EAW depending on the task it has been assigned.

    A wing is also an administrative sub-division of an RAF station. Historically, for a flying station these were normally Operations Wing, Engineering Wing and Administration Wing and each wing was commanded by an officer of wing commander rank. Early in the 21st century, the model changed, with Engineering Wing typically being split into Forward Support Wing and Depth Support Wing, while Administration Wing was redesignated Base Support Wing.

    Squadrons

    A flying squadron is an aircraft unit which carries out the primary tasks of the RAF. RAF squadrons are somewhat analogous to the regiments of the British Army in that they have histories and traditions going back to their formation, regardless of where they are based, which aircraft they are operating, etc. They can be awarded standards and battle honours for meritorious service. Whilst every squadron is different, most flying squadrons are commanded by a wing commander and, for a fast-jet squadron, have an establishment of around 100 personnel and 12 aircraft.

    The term squadron can be used to refer to a sub-unit of an administrative wing or small RAF station, e.g. Air Traffic Control Squadron, Personnel Management Squadron etc. There are also Ground Support Squadrons, e.g. No 2 (Mechanical Transport) Squadron which is located at RAF Wittering. Administrative squadrons are normally commanded by a squadron leader.

    Flights

    A flight is a sub-division of a squadron. Flying squadrons are often divided into two flights, e.g. "A" and "B", each under the command of a squadron leader. Administrative squadrons on a station are also divided into flights and these flights are commanded by a junior officer, often a flight lieutenant.

    Because of their small size, there are several flying units formed as flights rather than squadrons. For example No. 1435 Flight is based at RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands, maintaining air defence cover with four Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.

    Personnel

    At its height (1944) during the Second World War, more than 1,100,000 personnel were serving. The longest-lived founding member of the RAF was Henry Allingham, who died on 18 July 2009 aged 113.

    Officers

    Officers hold a commission from the Sovereign, which provides the legal authority for them to issue orders to subordinates. The commission of a regular officer is granted after successfully completing the 30-week-long Initial Officer Training course at the RAF College, Cranwell, Lincolnshire. Other officers also train at RAF Cranwell, but on different courses, such as those for professionally qualified officers.

    The titles and insignia of RAF officers were chiefly derived from those used by the Royal Navy, specifically the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) during World War I. For example, the rank of Squadron Leader derived its name from the RNAS rank of Squadron Commander. RAF officers fall into three categories: air officers, senior officers and junior officers.

    Other ranks

    Other ranks attend the Recruit Training Squadron at RAF Halton for basic training, with the exception of the RAF Regiment, which trains its recruits at RAF Honington.

    The titles and insignia of other ranks in the RAF was based on that of the Army, with some alterations in terminology. Over the years, this structure has seen significant changes, for example there was once a separate system for those in technical trades and the ranks of Chief Technician and Junior Technician continue to be held only by personnel in technical trades. RAF other ranks fall into four categories: Warrant Officers, Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers and Airmen.

    The most senior other ranks of the RAF is known as the Chief of the Air Staff's Warrant Officer, a position held by Warrant Officer Gary Wilcox.

    Branches and trades

    RAF Pilots and Weapon Systems Officers (WSO) (formerly known as Navigators) are commissioned officers of the Flying Branch. i.e. Fg(P) or Fg(WSO). Formerly in the General Duties branch, which is now reserved for Wing Commanders and above from any previous branch. Non-commissioned (NCO) Aircrew known as Weapons System Operators (WSOp), fulfil the specialist roles of air engineer (E), air electronics operator (AEOp), air loadmaster (ALM) and air signaller (S). Though they are now known collectively as weapon systems operators, individual trade specialisations remain. Commissioned officer specialists are promoted from within branch to become Fg(WSO).

    The majority of the members of the RAF serve in support roles on the ground. Engineering Officers and technicians are employed to maintain and repair the equipment used by the RAF. This includes routine preparation for flight and maintenance on aircraft, arming aircraft with weapons, as well as deeper level repair work on aircraft systems, IT systems, ground based radar, vehicles, ground support equipment, etc. RAF Flight Operations Officers are involved with the planning and co-ordination of all Flying Operations. Flight Operations Officers can be found in every RAF Flying Station and Squadron. RAF Regiment officers and gunners in the regiment defend RAF airfields from attack. They have infantry and light armoured units to protect against ground attack. Aerospace Battle Managers (formally Fighter Controllers/FC) and Air Traffic Controllers (ATC), control RAF and NATO aircraft from the ground. The FC control the interception of enemy aircraft while the ATC provide air traffic services at RAF stations and to the majority of en-route military aircraft in UK airspace. RAF Intelligence Officers and Intelligence Analysts support all operational activities by providing timely and accurate indicators and warnings. They conduct detailed all source military intelligence fusion and analysis by utilising classified and open source information including imagery, human and communications (signals) intelligence. Intelligence is used to inform commanders of the assessed capabilities and intentions of the enemy for strategic / operational planning and targeting. They also tailor the information to brief aircrews for mission planning and other tactical units (such as RAF Regiment) for Force Protection. RAF Medical Branch provides healthcare at home and on deployed operations, including aeromedical evacuation services. Medical officers are the doctors of the RAF and have specialist expertise in aviation medicine to support aircrew and their protective equipment. Medical officers can go on aeromedical evacuations, providing vital assistance on search-and-rescue missions or emergency relief flights worldwide. RAF Medical Officers are either based in primary care on operations or on RAF stations in the UK or in one of six Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHU's) around the UK as specialist practitioners. Administrative Officers and associated Pers Admin trades are involved with human resources management, training management, physical education, catering, infrastructure management, accounts, dress and discipline, personnel and recruitment. RAF Chaplains Branch provides spiritual and moral support for RAF personnel and their families. RAF Legal Branch provides legal advice on discipline / criminal law and operations law. RAF Police are the military police of the RAF.

    Reserves

    RAuxAF and RAF Volunteer Reserve personnel fulfil a number of specialist roles in ground roles, including Operations, Intelligence and RAF Regiment in support of the regular RAF.
  • RAF Volunteer Reserve (Training) are responsible for the management and operation of the Air Training Corps, Volunteer Gliding Squadrons, Air Experience Flights, University Air Squadron and the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme.
  • Specialist training and education

    The Royal Air Force operates several units and centres for the provision of non-generic training and education. These include the Royal Air Force Leadership Centre and the Royal Air Force Centre for Air Power Studies, both based at RAF Cranwell, and the Air Warfare Centre, based at RAF Waddington and RAF Cranwell. NCO training and developmental courses occur at RAF Halton and officer courses occur at the Joint Services Command and Staff College at Shrivenham.

    Aircraft

    British military aircraft designations generally comprise a ''type name'' followed by a ''mark number'' which includes an alphabetical ''rôle prefix''. For example, the ''Tornado F3'' is designated as a fighter by the 'F', and is the third variant of the type to be produced.

    Strike, attack and offensive support aircraft

    The mainstay of the offensive support fleet is the Tornado GR4. This supersonic aircraft can carry a wide range of weaponry, including Storm Shadow cruise missiles, laser-guided bombs and the ALARM anti-radar missile. Since June 2008, the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 has also been capable of being deployed operationally in the air-to-ground role.

    The Tornado was previously supplemented by the Harrier GR7/GR9 in the strike and close air support roles, and to counter enemy air defences. The Harrier fleet was withdrawn in December 2010 following the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

    Air defence and airborne early warning aircraft

    The Eurofighter Typhoon F2/FGR4 is the RAF's only air defence fighter aircraft, based at RAF Leuchars and RAF Coningsby, following the retirement of the Panavia Tornado F3 in late March 2011. Their task is to defend the UK’s airspace. In October 2007 it was announced that MoD Boscombe Down, RNAS Culdrose and RAF Marham would also be used as Quick Reaction Alert bases from early 2008, offering around-the-clock fighter coverage for the South and South West of UK airspace when a direct threat has been identified.

    The RAF has three operational Typhoon units, 3 Squadron and 11 Squadron based at Coningsby, and 6 Squadron at Leuchars, plus an Operational Conversion Unit also at Coningsby. The last Tornado F3 squadron, 111 Squadron at RAF Leuchars disbanded in March 2011.

    The Sentry AEW1, based at RAF Waddington, provides airborne early warning to detect incoming enemy aircraft and to co-ordinate the aerial battlefield. Both the Sentry and the Tornado F3 have been involved in recent operations including over Iraq and the Balkans.

    Reconnaissance aircraft

    The Tornado GR4A is fitted with cameras and sensors in the visual, infra-red and radar ranges of the spectrum.

    The Sentinel R1 (also known as ASTOR – Airborne STand-Off Radar) provides a ground radar-surveillance platform based on the Bombardier Global Express long range business jet. These were supplemented in 2009 by four Beechcraft Shadow R1 aircraft equipped for the ISTAR role over Afghanistan.

    The MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned aerial vehicle has been purchased to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are operated by No. 39 Squadron RAF based at Creech Air Force Base. More MQ-9s are in the process of being purchased.

    Three Britten-Norman Islanders are operated by the Station Flight of RAF Northolt, involved in "photographic mapping and light communications roles".

    Support helicopters

    An important part of the work of the RAF is to support the British Army by ferrying troops and equipment at the battlefield. However, RAF helicopters are also used in a variety of other roles, including support of RAF ground units and heavy-lift support for the Royal Marines. The support helicopters are organised into the tri-service Joint Helicopter Command (JHC), along with helicopters of the British Army and Royal Navy. The only helicopters not coordinated by the JHC are the search and rescue helicopters of the RAF and RN, and those RN helicopters that are normally based onboard a ship such as a destroyer or frigate.

    The large twin-rotor Chinook HC2/HC2A, based at RAF Odiham provides heavy-lift support and is supported by the Merlin HC3 and the smaller Puma HC1 medium-lift helicopters, based at RAF Benson and RAF Aldergrove.

    Maritime patrol

    The RAF no longer has dedicated fixed wing maritime patrol aircraft. Until its withdrawal on 31 March 2010, the Nimrod MR2 fulfilled the Anti-Submarine Warfare and Anti-Surface Unit Warfare roles. It also saw use in a Search and Rescue role, where its long range and communications facilities allowed it to co-ordinate rescues by acting as a link between rescue helicopters, ships and shore bases. It could also drop pods containing life rafts and survival supplies to people in the sea.

    After it was withdrawn, the search and rescue role was adopted by the C-130 Hercules force, and the Royal Navy took full responsibility for anti-submarine warfare.

    The Nimrod MR2 was to have been replaced by nine Nimrod MRA4 aircraft from late 2011. However, the MRA4 was cancelled in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review due to over spending and missing deadlines.

    Transport and air-to-air refuelling aircraft

    Having replaced the former Queen's Flight in 1995, 32 (The Royal) Squadron uses the BAe 125 CC3, Agusta A109 and BAe 146 CC2 in the VIP transport role, based at RAF Northolt, just west of London.

    More routine, strategic airlift transport tasks are carried out by the TriStars and VC10s based at RAF Brize Norton, for passengers and cargo, and for air-to-air refuelling of other aircraft. These aircraft are due to be replaced by the Airbus A330 MRTT which will be known as the 'Voyager' in RAF service. The first Voyager arrived in the UK for testing at MoD Boscombe Down in April 2011, and is due to be delivered to RAF Brize Norton by the end of the year.

    Shorter range, tactical-airlift transport is provided by the Hercules, the fleet including both older C-130K (Hercules C1/C3) and newer C-130J (Hercules C4/C5) variants, based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. All C-130's will be withdrawn by 2022.

    The RAF leased four C-17 Globemaster IIIs from Boeing to provide a heavy, strategic airlift capability. These were purchased, as well a fifth C-17, which was delivered on 7 April 2008 followed by a sixth aircraft delivered on 8 June 2008. The new aircraft entered frontline use within days rather than weeks. The MoD said "there is a stated departmental requirement for eight" C-17s and a seventh has been ordered for delivery in December 2010.

    Search and rescue aircraft

    Three squadrons of helicopters exist with the primary role of military search and rescue; the rescuing of aircrew who have ejected or crash-landed their aircraft. These are 22 Squadron and 202 Squadron with the Sea King HAR.3/HAR3A in the UK and 84 Squadron with the Griffin HAR2 in Cyprus.

    Although established with a primary role of military search and rescue, most of their operational missions are spent in their secondary role of conducting civil search and rescue; that is, the rescue of civilians from the sea, on mountainsides and other locations.

    Both rescue roles are shared with the Sea King helicopters of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, while the civil search and rescue role is also shared with the helicopters of HM Coastguard.

    The Operational Conversion Unit is 203 Squadron RAF based at RAF Valley equipped with the Sea King HAR3.

    The related Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service comprises four teams of trained mountaineers stationed in the mainland United Kingdom, first established in 1943.

    Training aircraft

    Elementary flying training is conducted on the Tutor T1. The Tutor is also used, along with the Viking T1 and Vigilant T1 gliders, to provide air experience training for air cadets and elementary flying training for trainee RAF pilots.

    Basic pilot training for fixed-wing and helicopter pilots is provided on the Tucano T1 and Squirrel HT1. Weapon systems officer and weapon systems operator training was conducted in the Dominie T1 until the decommissioning of the last six Dominie T1 in January 2011.

    Advanced flying training for fast-jet, helicopter and multi-engine pilots is provided using the Hawk T1, Griffin HT1 and B200 King Air respectively. At the more advanced stage in training, variants of front-line aircraft have been adapted for operational conversion of trained pilots; these include the Harrier T10 and Typhoon T1.

    Future aircraft

    , the RAF is planning for the introduction of the following new aircraft:

    The Airbus A400M, of which 22 are to be used to replace the remaining Hercules C1/C3 (C-130K) transport aircraft. Originally, 25 aircraft were ordered, and the A400M will be known as the Atlas in RAF service.

    The ageing aerial refuelling fleet of VC10s and TriStars will be replaced with the Airbus A330 MRTT under the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft programme.

    The F-35C Lightning II will enter service around 2020 under the Joint Combat Aircraft programme. Prior to the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, the STOVL F-35B variant had been intended to directly replace the Harrier GR9. The F-35C CATOBAR variant can be used on both land and aircraft carriers. However, it lacks the STOVL capability of the F-35B. It has more range and will be less expensive to maintain.

    Project Taranis is a technology demonstrator programme, possibly leading to a future Strategic Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) for both ground attack and reconnaissance roles. The BAE Mantis is another UCAV under development, with an autonomous capability, allowing it to fly itself through an entire mission. This is a potential candidate to fulfil a requirement for an ISTAR UAV to enter service after 2015 as part of the RAF's Scavenger programme.

    The Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint, of which three have been ordered to replace the Nimrod R1 fleet (retired in 2011) in the signals intelligence role by 2014. Until the aircraft are delivered, the RAF will share signals aircraft of the US Air Force. The aircraft will be Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker tankers converted to RC-135W standard in the most complex combined Foreign Military Sales case and co-operative support arrangement that the UK has undertaken with the United States Air Force since the Second World War. In RAF service, they will be known as the Airseeker.

    Symbols, flags, emblems and uniform

    Following the tradition of the other British fighting services, the RAF has adopted symbols to represent it, act as a rallying point for its members and encourage esprit de corps.

    The RAF Ensign is flown from the flagstaff on every RAF station during daylight hours. The design was approved by King George V in 1921, after much opposition from the Admiralty, who have the right to approve or veto any flag flown ashore or on board ship.

    British aircraft in the early stages of the First World War carried the Union Flag as an identifying feature, however this was easy to confuse with Germany's Iron Cross motif. Therefore in October 1914 the French system of three concentric rings was adopted, with the colours reversed to a red disc surrounded by a white ring and an outer blue ring. The relative sizes of the rings have changed over the years and during World War II an outer yellow ring was added. Aircraft serving in the Far East during World War II had the red disc removed to prevent confusion with Japanese aircraft. Since the 1970s, camouflaged aircraft carry low-visibility roundels, either red and blue on dark camouflage, or washed-out pink and light blue on light colours. Most uncamouflaged training and transport aircraft retain the traditional red-white-blue roundel.

    The Latin motto of the RAF, "Per Ardua ad Astra", is usually translated as "Through Adversity to the Stars", but the RAF's official translation is "Through Struggle to the Stars". The choice of motto is attributed to a junior officer named J S Yule, in response to a request from a commander of the RFC, Colonel Sykes, for suggestions. The RAF inherited the motto from the RFC.

    The Badge of the Royal Air Force was first used in August 1918. In heraldic terms it is: "In front of a circle inscribed with the motto Per Ardua Ad Astra and ensigned by the Imperial Crown an eagle volant and affronte Head lowered and to the sinister." Although there have been debates among airmen over the years whether the bird was originally meant to be an albatross or an eagle, the consensus is that it was always an eagle.

    In 2006 the RAF adopted a logotype featuring a roundel and the Service's unabbreviated name (shown at the top of this article). The logotype is used on all correspondence and publicity material and aims to provide the Service with a single, universally-recognizable brand identity.

    Overseas deployments

    See also

  • Air Training Corps (Air Cadets)
  • List of active United Kingdom military aircraft
  • List of RAF stations
  • History of the Royal Air Force
  • RAF News
  • List of military aircraft operational during World War II
  • References

    ;Notes

    External links

  • *RAF History
  • *RAF Links
  • *RAF Careers
  • RAF Reservist Support Service
  • RAF Museum
  • RAF Benevolent Fund
  • WWII: In Praise of the RAF – image slideshow by ''Life magazine''
  • ;Video clips

  • The RAF channel on YouTube
  • Category:Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) Category:Military of the United Kingdom Category:Military units and formations established in 1918 Category:Organisations based in the United Kingdom with royal patronage Category:British Armed Forces Category:1918 establishments in the United Kingdom

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    nameMonty Python
    mediumTelevision, film, theatre, audio recordings, books
    nationalityBritish
    active1969–1983
    genreSatire, Surreal humour, dark comedy
    influencesThe Goons, Spike Milligan, Peter Cook
    influencedDouglas Adams, Eddie Izzard, George Carlin, Vic and Bob, Matt Stone, Trey Parker
    notable work''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' (1969–1974)''And Now for Something Completely Different'' (1971)''Monty Python and the Holy Grail'' (1974)''Monty Python's Life of Brian'' (1979)''Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl'' (1982)''Monty Python's The Meaning of Life'' (1983)
    current membersGraham Chapman John Cleese Terry Gilliam Eric Idle Terry Jones Michael Palin
    websitePythOnline
    footnotes}}

    Monty Python (sometimes known as The Pythons) was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'', a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series. The Python phenomenon developed from the television series into something larger in scope and impact, spawning touring stage shows, films, numerous albums, several books and a stage musical as well as launching the members to individual stardom. The group's influence on comedy has been compared to Elvis Presley's influence on music.

    The television series, broadcast by the BBC from 1969 to 1974, was conceived, written and performed by members Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. Loosely structured as a sketch show, but with an innovative stream-of-consciousness approach (aided by Gilliam's animation), it pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in style and content. A self-contained comedy team responsible for both writing and performing their work, they changed the way performers entertained audiences. The Pythons' creative control allowed them to experiment with form and content, discarding rules of television comedy. Their influence on British comedy has been apparent for years, while in North America it has coloured the work of cult performers from the early editions of ''Saturday Night Live'' through to more recent absurdist trends in television comedy. "Pythonesque" has entered the English lexicon as a result.

    In a 2005 UK poll to find ''The Comedian's Comedian'', three of the six Pythons members were voted by fellow comedians and comedy insiders to be among the top 50 greatest comedians ever: Cleese at #2, Idle at #21, and Palin at #30.

    Before ''Flying Circus''

    Palin and Jones met at Oxford University, where they performed together with the Oxford Revue. Cleese and Chapman met at Cambridge. Idle was also at Cambridge, but started a year after Cleese and Chapman. Cleese met Gilliam in New York while on tour with the Cambridge University Footlights revue ''Cambridge Circus'' (originally entitled ''A Clump of Plinths''). Chapman, Cleese and Idle were members of the Footlights, which at that time also included the future ''Goodies'' (Tim Brooke-Taylor, Bill Oddie and Graeme Garden), and Jonathan Lynn (co-writer of ''Yes Minister'' and ''Yes, Prime Minister''). During Idle's presidency of the Club, feminist writer Germaine Greer and broadcaster Clive James were members. Recordings of Footlights revues (called "Smokers") at Pembroke College include sketches and performances by Idle and Cleese. They are kept in the archives of the Pembroke Players, along with tapes of Idle's performances in some of the college drama society's theatrical productions.

    Python members appeared in and/or wrote the following shows before ''Monty Python's Flying Circus''. ''The Frost Report'' is credited as first uniting the British Pythons and providing an environment in which they could develop their particular styles:

  • ''I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again'' (radio) (1964–1973) [Cleese: cast member & writer] – [Idle and Chapman: writers]
  • ''The Frost Report'' (1966–1967) [Cleese: cast member and writer] – [Idle: writer of Frost's monologues] – [Chapman, Palin and Jones: writers]
  • ''At Last the 1948 Show'' (1967) [Chapman and Cleese: writers and cast members] – [Idle: writer]
  • ''Twice a Fortnight'' (1967) [Palin and Jones: cast members and writers]
  • ''Do Not Adjust Your Set'' (1967–1969) [Idle, Jones, and Palin: cast members & writers] – [Gilliam: animation] Bonzo Dog Band: musical interludes]
  • ''We Have Ways of Making You Laugh'' (1968) [Idle: cast member & writer] – [Gilliam: animation]
  • ''How to Irritate People'' (1968) [Cleese and Chapman: cast members & writers] – [Palin: cast member]
  • ''The Complete and Utter History of Britain'' (1969) [Palin and Jones: cast members & writers]
  • ''Doctor in the House'' (1969) [Cleese & Chapman: writers]
  • Several featured other important British comedy writers or performers of the future, including Marty Feldman, Jonathan Lynn, David Jason and David Frost, as well as members of other future comedy teams, Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker (the Two Ronnies), and Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie (the Goodies).

    Following the success of ''Do Not Adjust Your Set'', originally intended to be a children's programme, with adults, ITV offered Palin, Jones, Idle and Gilliam their own series together. At the same time Cleese and Chapman were offered a show by the BBC, which had been impressed by their work on ''The Frost Report'' and ''At Last The 1948 Show''. Cleese was reluctant to do a two-man show for various reasons, including Chapman's supposedly difficult personality. Cleese had fond memories of working with Palin and invited him to join the team. With the ITV series still in pre-production, Palin agreed and suggested the involvement of his writing partner Jones and colleague Idle—who in turn suggested that Gilliam could provide animations for the projected series. Much has been made of the fact that the Monty Python troupe is the result of Cleese's desire to work with Palin and the chance circumstances that brought the other four members into the fold.

    ''Monty Python's Flying Circus''

    Development of the series

    The Pythons had a definite idea about what they wanted to do with the series. They were admirers of the work of Peter Cook, Alan Bennett, Jonathan Miller and Dudley Moore on ''Beyond the Fringe'', and had worked on ''Frost'', which was similar in style. They enjoyed Cook and Moore's sketch show ''Not Only... But Also''. One problem the Pythons perceived with these programmes was that though the body of the sketch would be strong, the writers would often struggle to then find a punchline funny enough to end on, and this would detract from the overall sketch quality. They decided that they would simply not bother to "cap" their sketches in the traditional manner, and early episodes of the Flying Circus series make great play of this abandonment of the punchline (one scene has Cleese turn to Idle, as the sketch descends into chaos, and remark that "This is the silliest sketch I've ever been in"—they all resolve not to carry on and simply walk off the set). However, as they began assembling material for the show, the Pythons watched one of their collective heroes, Spike Milligan, recording his groundbreaking series ''Q5'' (1969). Not only was the programme more irreverent and anarchic than any previous television comedy, Milligan would often "give up" on sketches halfway through and wander off set (often muttering "Did I write this?"). It was clear that their new series would now seem less original, and Jones in particular became determined the Pythons should innovate.

    After much debate, Jones remembered an animation Gilliam had created for ''Do Not Adjust Your Set'' called ''Beware of the Elephants'', which had intrigued him with its stream-of-consciousness style. Jones felt it would be a good concept to apply to the series: allowing sketches to blend into one another. Palin had been equally fascinated by another of Gilliam's efforts, entitled ''Christmas Cards'', and agreed that it represented "a way of doing things differently". Since Cleese, Chapman and Idle were less concerned with the overall flow of the programme, it was Jones, Palin and Gilliam who became largely responsible for the presentation style of the ''Flying Circus'' series, in which disparate sketches are linked to give each episode the appearance of a single stream-of-consciousness (often using a Gilliam animation to move from the closing image of one sketch to the opening scene of another).

    Writing started at 9 am and finished at 5 pm. Typically, Cleese and Chapman worked as one pair isolated from the others, as did Jones and Palin, while Idle wrote alone. After a few days, they would join together with Gilliam, critique their scripts, and exchange ideas. Their approach to writing was democratic. If the majority found an idea humorous, it was included in the show. The casting of roles for the sketches was a similarly unselfish process, since each member viewed himself primarily as a 'writer', rather than an actor desperate for screen time. When the themes for sketches were chosen, Gilliam had carte blanche to decide how to bridge them with animations, using a camera, scissors, and airbrush.

    While the show was a collaborative process, different factions within Python were responsible for elements of the team's humour. In general, the work of the Oxford-educated members was more visual, and more fanciful conceptually (e.g., the arrival of the Spanish Inquisition in a suburban front room), while the Cambridge graduates' sketches tended to be more verbal and more aggressive (for example, Cleese and Chapman's many "confrontation" sketches, where one character intimidates or hurls abuse, or Idle's characters with bizarre verbal quirks, such as The Man Who Speaks In Anagrams). Cleese confirmed that "most of the sketches with heavy abuse were Graham's and mine, anything that started with a slow pan across countryside and impressive music was Mike and Terry's, and anything that got utterly involved with words and disappeared up any personal orifice was Eric's". Gilliam's animations, meanwhile, ranged from the whimsical to the savage (the cartoon format allowing him to create some astonishingly violent scenes without fear of censorship).

    Several names for the show were considered before ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' was settled upon. Some were ''Owl Stretching Time'', ''Toad Elevating Moment'', ''A Bucket, a Horse and a Spoon'', ''Vaseline Review'' and ''Bun, Wackett, Buzzard, Stubble and Boot''. ''Flying Circus'' stuck when the BBC explained it had printed that name in its schedules and was not prepared to amend it. Many variations on the name in front of this title then came and went (popular legend holds that the BBC considered ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' to be a ridiculous name, at which point the group threatened to change their name every week until the BBC relented). "Gwen Dibley's Flying Circus" was named after a woman Palin had read about in the newspaper, thinking it would be amusing if she were to discover she had her own TV show. "Baron Von Took's Flying Circus" was considered as an affectionate tribute to Barry Took, the man who had brought them together. ''Arthur Megapode's Flying Circus'' was suggested, then discarded.

    There are differing, somewhat confusing accounts of the origins of the Python name although the members agree that its only "significance" was that they thought it sounded funny. In the 1998 documentary ''Live At Aspen'' during the US Comedy Arts Festival, where the troupe was awarded the AFI Star Award by the American Film Institute, the group implied that "Monty" was selected (Eric Idle's idea) as a gently-mocking tribute to Field Marshal Lord Montgomery, a legendary British general of World War II; requiring a "slippery-sounding" surname, they settled on "Python". On other occasions Idle has claimed that the name "Monty" was that of a popular and rotund fellow who drank in his local pub; people would often walk in and ask the barman, "Has Monty been in yet?", forcing the name to become stuck in his mind. The name Monty Python was later described by the BBC as being "envisaged by the team as the perfect name for a sleazy entertainment agent".

    Style of the show

    ''Flying Circus'' popularised innovative formal techniques, such as the cold open, in which an episode began without the traditional opening titles or announcements. An example of this is the "It's" man: Palin, outfitted in Robinson Crusoe garb, making a tortuous journey across various terrains, before finally approaching the camera to state, "It's...", only to be then cut off by the title sequence and theme music. On several occasions the cold open lasted until mid show, after which the regular opening titles ran. Occasionally the Pythons tricked viewers by rolling the closing credits halfway through the show, usually continuing the joke by fading to the familiar globe logo used for BBC continuity, over which Cleese would parody the clipped tones of a BBC announcer. On one occasion the credits ran directly after the opening titles. They also experimented with ending segments by cutting abruptly to another scene or animation, walking offstage, addressing the camera (breaking the fourth wall), or introducing a totally unrelated event or character. A classic example of this approach was the use of Chapman's "Colonel" character, who walked into several sketches and ordered them to be stopped because things were becoming "far too silly." Another favourite way of ending sketches was to drop a cartoonish "16-ton weight" prop on one of the characters when the sketch seemed to be losing momentum, or a knight in full armour (played by Terry Gilliam) would wander on-set and hit characters over the head with a rubber chicken, before cutting to the next scene. Yet another way of changing scenes was when John Cleese, usually outfitted in a dinner suit, would come in as a radio commentator and make the formal and determined announcement, "And now for something completely different."

    The Python theme music is ''The Liberty Bell'', a march by John Philip Sousa, which was chosen, among other reasons, because the recording was in the public domain.

    The use of Gilliam's surreal, collage stop motion animations was another innovative intertextual element of the Python style. Many of the images Gilliam used were lifted from famous works of art, and from Victorian illustrations and engravings. The giant foot which crushes the show's title at the end of the opening credits is in fact the foot of Cupid, cut from a reproduction of the Renaissance masterpiece ''Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time'' by Bronzino. This foot, and Gilliam's style in general, are visual trademarks of the series.

    The Pythons used the British tradition of cross-dressing comedy by donning frocks and makeup and playing female roles themselves while speaking in falsetto. Generally speaking, female roles were played by a woman (usually Carol Cleveland) when the scene specifically required that the character be sexually attractive (although sometimes they used Idle for this). In some episodes and later in ''Monty Python's Life of Brian'' they took the idea one step further by playing women who impersonated men (in the stoning scene).

    Many sketches are well-known and widely quoted. "Dead Parrot", "The Lumberjack Song", "Spam", "Nudge Nudge", "The Spanish Inquisition", "Upper Class Twit of the Year", "Cheese Shop" and "The Ministry of Silly Walks" are just a few examples.

    End of ''Flying Circus''

    Having considered the possibility at the end of the second series, Cleese left the ''Flying Circus'' at the end of the third. He later explained that he felt he no longer had anything fresh to offer the show, and claimed that only two Cleese-and-Chapman-penned sketches in the third series ("Dennis Moore" and the "Cheese Shop") were truly original, and that the others were bits and pieces from previous work cobbled together in slightly different contexts. He was also finding Chapman, who was at that point in the full throes of alcoholism, difficult to work with. According to an interview with Idle, "It was on an Air Canada flight on the way to Toronto, when John (Cleese) turned to all of us and said 'I want out.' Why? I don't know. He gets bored more easily than the rest of us. He's a difficult man, not easy to be friendly with. He's so funny because he never wanted to be liked. That gives him a certain fascinating, arrogant freedom."

    The rest of the group carried on for one more "half" series before calling a halt to the programme in 1974. The name ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' appears in the opening animation for series four, but in the end credits the show is listed as simply "Monty Python". Despite his official departure from the group, Cleese supposedly made a (non-speaking) cameo appearance in the fourth series, but never appeared in the credits as a performer. Several episodes credit him as a co-writer since some sketches were recycled from scenes cut from the ''Holy Grail'' script. While the first three series contained 13 episodes each, the fourth ended after six.

    Time-Life Films had the right to distribute all BBC-TV programs in America, however they had decided that British comedy simply would not work in the U.S.A. Therefore, it was not worth the investment to convert the Python shows from the European PAL standard to the American NTSC standard, which meant PBS stations could not afford the programmes. Finally, in 1974, Greg Garrison, TV producer for Dean Martin, used a couple of Python sketches ("Bicycle Repairman" and "The Dull Life of a Stockbroker") on the NBC series ''ComedyWorld'', a summer replacement series for ''The Dean Martin Show''. Payment for use of these segments was enough to pay for the conversion of the entire Python library to NTSC standard. At last, they could be sold to non-commercial TV stations, where officially they began airing in October 1974—exactly 5 years after their BBC debut. One PBS station had a program director (Ron Devillier) so eager that he 'jumped the gun' and started broadcasting the 'Flying Circus' episodes in that summer on the unlikely KERA in Dallas. The ratings shot through the roof—and was an encouraging sign to the other 100 stations that had signed up to air the shows. There was also cross-promotion from FM radio stations across the country, whose airing of tracks from the Python LPs had already introduced American audiences to this bizarre brand of comedy.

    With the popularity of Python throughout the rest of the 1970s and through most of the 1980s, PBS stations looked at other British comedies, leading to UK shows such as ''Are You Being Served?'' gaining a US audience, and leading, over time, to many PBS stations having a "British Comedy Night" which airs many popular UK comedies.

    Life after the ''Flying Circus''

    Filmography

    ''And Now for Something Completely Different'' (1971)

    The Pythons' first feature film (directed by Ian MacNaughton, reprising his role from the television series). It was composed of sketches from the first two seasons of the ''Flying Circus'', reshot on a low budget (and often slightly edited) for cinema release. Material selected for the film includes: "Dead Parrot", "The Lumberjack Song", "Upper Class Twit of the Year", "Hell's Grannies", "Self-Defence Class", "How Not To Be Seen" and "Nudge Nudge". Financed by Playboy's UK executive Victor Lownes, it was intended as a way of breaking Monty Python into America, and although it was ultimately unsuccessful in this, the film did good business in the UK (this still being in the era before home video would make it much more accessible to view the material again). The group did not consider the film a success.

    ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail'' (1974)

    In 1974, between production on the third and fourth seasons, the group decided to embark on their first "proper" feature film, containing entirely new material. ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail'' was based on Arthurian Legend and was directed by Jones and Gilliam. Again, the latter also contributed linking animations (and put together the opening credits). Along with the rest of the Pythons, Jones and Gilliam performed several roles in the film, but it was Chapman who took the lead as King Arthur. Cleese returned to the group for the film, feeling that the group were once again breaking new ground. ''Holy Grail'' was filmed on location, in picturesque rural areas of Scotland, with a budget of only £229,000; the money was raised in part with investments from rock groups such as Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull and Led Zeppelin—and UK music industry entrepreneur Tony Stratton-Smith (founder and owner of the Charisma Records label, for which the Pythons recorded their comedy albums).

    The backers of the film wanted to cut the famous Black Knight scene (in which the Black Knight loses his limbs in a duel) but it was eventually kept in the movie.

    ''Monty Python's Life of Brian'' (1979)

    Following the success of ''Holy Grail'', reporters asked for the title of the next Python film, despite the fact that the team had not even begun to consider a third one. Eventually, Idle once flippantly replied "Jesus Christ – Lust for Glory", which became the group's stock answer once they realised that it shut reporters up. However, they soon began to seriously consider a film lampooning the New Testament era in the same way ''Holy Grail'' had lampooned Arthurian legend. Despite them all sharing a distrust of organised religion, they agreed not to mock Jesus nor his teachings directly. Instead, they decided to write a satire on credulity and hypocrisy among the followers of someone who had been mistaken for the "Messiah," but who had no desire to be followed as such. Chapman was cast in the lead role of Brian.

    The focus therefore shifted to a separate individual born at the same time, in a neighbouring stable. When Jesus appears in the film (first, as a baby in the stable, and then later on the Mount, speaking the Beatitudes), he is played straight (by actor Kenneth Colley) and portrayed with respect. The comedy begins when members of the crowd mishear his statements of peace, love and tolerance. ("I think he said, 'Blessed are the cheesemakers.'")

    Directing duties were handled solely by Jones, having amicably agreed with Gilliam that Jones' approach to film-making was better suited for Python's general performing style. ''Holy Grail's'' production had often been stilted by their differences behind the camera. Gilliam again contributed two animated sequences (one being the opening credits) and took charge of set design. The film was shot on location in Tunisia, the finances being provided this time by former Beatle George Harrison, who together with Denis O'Brien formed the production company Hand-Made Films for the movie. He had a cameo role as the 'owner of the Mount.'

    Despite its subject matter attracting controversy, particularly upon its initial release, it has (together with its predecessor) been ranked among the greatest comedy films. A Channel 4 poll in 2005 ranked ''Holy Grail'' in sixth place, with ''Life of Brian'' at the top.

    ''Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl'' (1982)

    Filmed at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles during preparations for ''The Meaning of Life'', this was a concert film (directed by Terry Hughes) in which the Pythons performed sketches from the television series in front of an audience. The released film also incorporated footage from the German television specials (the inclusion of which gives Ian MacNaughton his first on-screen credit for Python since the end of ''Flying Circus'') and live performances of several songs from the troupe's then-current ''Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album''.

    ''Monty Python's The Meaning of Life'' (1983)

    Python's final film returned to something structurally closer to the style of ''Flying Circus''. A series of sketches loosely follows the ages of man from birth to death. Directed again by Jones solo, ''The Meaning of Life'' is embellished with some of Python's most bizarre and disturbing moments, as well as various elaborate musical numbers. The film is by far their darkest work, containing a great deal of black humour, garnished by some spectacular violence (including an operation to remove a liver from a living patient without anaesthetic and the morbidly obese Mr. Creosote exploding over several restaurant patrons). At the time of its release, the Pythons confessed their aim was to offend "absolutely everyone."

    Besides the opening credits and the fish sequence, Gilliam, by now an established live action director, no longer wanted to produce any linking cartoons, offering instead to direct one sketch—''The Crimson Permanent Assurance''. Under his helm, though, the segment grew so ambitious and tangential that it was cut from the movie and used as a supporting feature in its own right. (Television screenings also use it as a prologue.) Crucially, this was the last project that all six Pythons would collaborate on, except for the 1989 compilation ''Parrot Sketch Not Included,'' where they are all seen sitting in a closet for four seconds. This would be the last time Chapman appeared on-screen with the Pythons.

    ''Secret Policeman's Ball'' benefit shows

    Members of Python contributed their services to charitable endeavours and causes—sometimes as an ensemble, at other times as individuals. The cause that has been the most frequent and consistent beneficiary has been the human rights work of Amnesty International. Between 1976 and 1981, the troupe or its members appeared in four major fund-raisers for Amnesty—known collectively as the ''Secret Policeman's Ball'' shows—which were turned into multiple films, TV shows, videos, record albums and books. These benefit shows and their many spin-offs raised considerable sums of money for Amnesty, raised public and media awareness of the human rights cause and influenced many other members of the entertainment community (especially rock musicians) to become involved in political and social issues. Among the many musicians who have publicly attributed their activism—and the organisation of their own benefit events—to the inspiration of the work in this field of Monty Python are U2, Bob Geldof, Pete Townshend and Sting. The shows are credited by Amnesty with helping the organisation develop public awareness in the USA where one of the spin-off films was a major success.

    Cleese and Jones had an involvement (as performer, writer or director) in all four Amnesty benefit shows, Palin in three, Chapman in two and Gilliam in one. Idle did not participate in the Amnesty shows. Notwithstanding Idle's lack of participation, the other five members (together with "Associate Pythons" Carol Cleveland and Neil Innes) all appeared together in the first ''Secret Policeman's Ball'' benefit—the 1976 ''A Poke In The Eye (With A Sharp Stick)''—where they performed several Python sketches. In this first show they were collectively billed as ''Monty Python''. (Peter Cook deputised for the errant Idle in one major sketch ''The Courtroom''.) In the next three shows, the participating Python members performed many Python sketches, but were billed under their individual names rather than under the collective Python banner. After a six-year break, Amnesty resumed producing ''Secret Policeman's Ball'' benefit shows in 1987 (sometimes with, and sometimes without variants of the iconic title) and by 2006 had presented a total of twelve such shows. The shows since 1987 have featured newer generations of British comedic performers, including many who have attributed their participation in the show to their desire to emulate the Python's pioneering work for Amnesty. (Cleese and Palin made a brief cameo appearance in the 1989 Amnesty show; apart from that the Pythons have not appeared in shows after the first four.)

    Going solo

    Each member has pursued various film, television and stage projects since the break-up of the group, but often continued to work with one another. Many of these collaborations were very successful, most notably ''A Fish Called Wanda'' (1988), written by Cleese, in which he starred along with Palin. The pair also appeared in ''Time Bandits'' (1981), a film directed by Gilliam, who wrote it together with Palin. Gilliam directed ''Jabberwocky'' (1977), and also directed and co-wrote ''Brazil'' (1985) and ''The Adventures of Baron Munchausen'' (1988), which featured Palin and Idle respectively. ''Yellowbeard'' (1983) was co-written by Chapman and featured Chapman, Cleese and Palin alongside many of their English contemporaries, including Peter Cook, Spike Milligan and Marty Feldman.

    Palin and Jones wrote the comedic TV series ''Ripping Yarns'' (1976–79), starring Palin. Jones also appeared in the pilot episode and Cleese appeared in a non-speaking part in the episode "Golden Gordon". Jones' film ''Erik the Viking'', also has Cleese playing a small part.

    In 1996, Terry Jones wrote and directed an adaption of Kenneth Grahame's novel ''The Wind in the Willows''. It featured four members of Monty Python: Jones as Mr. Toad, Idle as Ratty, Cleese as Mr. Toad's lawyer, and Palin as the Sun. Gilliam was considered for the voice of the river.

    In terms of numbers of productions, Cleese has the most prolific solo career, having appeared in 59 theatrical films, 22 TV shows or series (including ''Cheers'', ''3rd Rock from the Sun'', Q's assistant in the James Bond movies, and ''Will & Grace''), 23 direct-to-video productions, six video games, and a number of commercials. His BBC sitcom ''Fawlty Towers'' (written by and starring Cleese together with his then-wife Connie Booth), is considered the greatest solo work by a Python since the sketch show finished. It is the only comedy series to rank higher than the ''Flying Circus'' on the BFI TV 100's list, topping the whole poll.

    Idle enjoyed critical success with ''Rutland Weekend Television'' in the mid-1970s, out of which came the Beatles parody The Rutles (responsible for the cult mockumentary ''All You Need Is Cash''), and as an actor in ''Nuns on the Run'' (1990) with Robbie Coltrane. Idle has had success with Python songs: "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" went to no. 3 in the UK singles chart in 1991. The song had been revived by Simon Mayo on BBC Radio 1, and was consequently released as a single that year. The theatrical phenomenon of the Python musical ''Spamalot'' has made Idle the most financially successful of the troupe post-Python. Written by Idle, it has proved an enormous hit on Broadway, London's West End and also Las Vegas. This was followed by ''Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)'', which repurposes ''The Life of Brian'' as an oratorio. For the work's 2007 premiere at the Luminato festival in Toronto (which commissioned the work), Idle himself sang the "baritone-ish" part.

    Post-Python reunions

    Since ''The Meaning of Life'', their last project as a team, the Pythons have often been the subject of reunion rumours. The final reunion of all six members occurred during the ''Parrot Sketch Not Included – 20 Years of Monty Python'' special. The death of Chapman in 1989 (on the eve of their 20th anniversary) put an end to the speculation of any further reunions. There have been several occasions since 1989 when the surviving five members have gathered together for appearances—albeit not formal reunions.

    In 1996, Jones, Idle, Cleese and Palin were featured in a film adaptation of ''The Wind in the Willows'', which was later renamed ''Mr. Toad's Wild Ride''.

    In 1998 during the US Comedy Arts Festival, where the troupe was awarded the AFI Star Award by the American Film Institute, the five remaining members along with what was purported to be Chapman's ashes, were reunited on stage for the first time in 18 years. The occasion was in the form of an interview called Monty Python Live At Aspen, (hosted by Robert Klein, with an appearance by Eddie Izzard) in which the team looked back at some of their work and performed a few new sketches.

    On 9 October 1999, to commemorate 30 years since the first ''Flying Circus'' television broadcast, BBC2 devoted an evening to Python programmes, including a documentary charting the history of the team, interspersed with new sketches by the Monty Python team filmed especially for the event. The program appears, though omitting a few things, on the DVD ''The Life of Python''. Though Idle's involvement in the special is limited, the final sketch marks the only time since 1989 that all surviving members of the troupe appear in one sketch, albeit not in the same room.

    In 2002, four of the surviving members, bar Cleese, performed "The Lumberjack Song" and "Sit on My Face" for George Harrison's memorial concert. The reunion also included regular supporting contributors Neil Innes and Carol Cleveland, with a special appearance from Tom Hanks.

    In an interview to publicise the DVD release of ''The Meaning of Life,'' Cleese said a further reunion was unlikely. "It is absolutely impossible to get even a majority of us together in a room, and I'm not joking," Cleese said. He said that the problem was one of business rather than one of bad feelings. A sketch appears on the same DVD spoofing the impossibility of a full reunion, bringing the members “together” in a deliberately unconvincing fashion with modern bluescreen/greenscreen techniques.

    Idle has responded to queries about a Python reunion by adapting a line used by George Harrison in response to queries about a possible Beatles reunion. When asked in November 1989 about such a possibility, Harrison responded: "As far as I'm concerned, there won't be a Beatles reunion as long as John Lennon remains dead." Idle's version of this was that he expected to see a proper Python reunion, "just as soon as Graham Chapman comes back from the dead", but added, "we're talking to his agent about terms."

    2003's ''The Pythons Autobiography By The Pythons'', compiled from interviews with the surviving members, reveals that a series of disputes in 1998, over a possible sequel to ''Holy Grail'' that had been conceived by Idle, may have resulted in the group's permanent fission. Cleese's feeling was that ''The Meaning of Life'' had been personally difficult and ultimately mediocre, and did not wish to be involved in another Python project for a variety of reasons (not least amongst them was the absence of Chapman, whose straight man-like central roles in the original ''Grail'' and ''Brian'' films had been considered to be essential performance anchorage). Apparently Idle was angry with Cleese for refusing to do the film, which most of the remaining Pythons thought reasonably promising (the basic plot would have taken on a self-referential tone, featuring them in their main 'knight' guises from ''Holy Grail'', mulling over the possibilities of reforming their posse). The book also reveals that a secondary option around this point was the possibility of revitalising the Python brand with a new stage tour, perhaps with the promise of new material. This idea had also hit the buffers at Cleese's refusal, this time with the backing of other members.

    March 2005 saw a full, if non-performing, reunion of the surviving cast members at the premiere of Idle's musical ''Spamalot'', based on ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail''. It opened in Chicago and has since played in New York on Broadway, London and numerous other major cities across the world. In 2004, it was nominated for 14 Tony Awards and won three: Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical for Mike Nichols and Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for Sara Ramirez, who played the Lady of the Lake, a character specially added for the musical. Cleese played the voice of God, played in the film by Chapman.

    Owing in part to the success of ''Spamalot'', PBS announced on 13 July 2005, that it would begin to re-air the entire run of ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' and new one-hour specials focusing on each member of the group, called ''Monty Python's Personal Best.'' Each episode was written and produced by the individual being honoured, with the five remaining Pythons collaborating on Chapman's programme, the only one of the editions to take on a serious tone with its new material.

    Eric Idle and John Cleese appeared on stage together singing "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" with the rest of the performers for the climax of Prince Charles 60th Birthday Show.

    In 2009, to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the first episode of ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'', a six part documentary entitled ''Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)'' was released, featuring interviews with the surviving members of the team as well as archive interviews with Graham Chapman and numerous excerpts from the television series and films.

    Also in commemoration of the 40th anniversary Idle, Palin, Jones and Gilliam appeared in a production of ''Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)'' at the Royal Albert Hall. The European premiere was held on 23 October 2009. An official 40th anniversary Monty Python reunion event took place in New York City on 15 October 2009 where the Team received a Special Award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

    In June 2011, it was announced that Monty Python have begun production on their first film project since ''the Meaning of Life'' in 1983. Their next film, ''A Liar's Autobiography'', is an animated 3D movie based on the memoir of the late Python member, Graham Chapman, who died in 1989 at the age of 48. ''A Liar’s Autobiography'' was published in 1980 and details Chapman's journey through medical school, alcoholism, acknowledgement of his gay identity and the toils of surreal comedy.

    Asked what was true in a deliberately fanciful account by Chapman of his life, Terry Jones joked: "Nothing . . . it’s all a downright, absolute, blackguardly lie."

    The film will use Chapman's own voice - from a reading of his autobiography shortly before he died of cancer - and entertainment channel EPIX announced that the film will be released in early 2012 in both 2D and 3D formats. Produced and directed by London-based Bill Jones, Ben Timlett and Jeff Simpson, the new film has 15 animation companies working on chapters that will range from three to 12 minutes in length, each in a different style.

    John Cleese has recorded new dialogue which will be matched with Chapman’s voice and Michael Palin will voice Chapman’s mother and father. Terry Gilliam plays various roles. Among the original Python group, only Eric Idle has not become involved, though Timlett said the filmmakers are “working on” him.

    Python members

    Graham Chapman was originally a medical student, joining the Footlights at Cambridge. He completed his medical training and was legally entitled to practice as a doctor. Chapman is best remembered for the lead roles in ''Holy Grail'', as King Arthur, and ''Life of Brian'', as Brian Cohen. He died of spinal and throat cancer on 4 October 1989. At Chapman's memorial service, Cleese delivered an irreverent eulogy that included all the euphemisms for being dead from the Dead Parrot sketch, which they had written.

    John Cleese is the oldest Python. He met his future Python writing partner, Graham Chapman in Cambridge.

    Terry Gilliam, an American, was the only member of the troupe of non-British origin. He started off as an animator and strip cartoonist for Harvey Kurtzman's ''Help!'' magazine, one issue of which featured Cleese. Moving from the USA to England, he animated features for ''Do Not Adjust Your Set'' and was then asked by its makers to join them on their next project: ''Monty Python's Flying Circus''. He co-directed ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail'' and directed short segments of other Python films (for instance "The Crimson Permanent Assurance", the short film that appears before ''The Meaning of Life'').

    When Monty Python was first formed, two writing partnerships were already in place: Cleese and Chapman, Jones and Palin. That left two in their own corners: Gilliam, operating solo due to the nature of his work, and Eric Idle. Regular themes in his contributions were elaborate wordplay and musical numbers. After ''Flying Circus'', he hosted ''Saturday Night Live'' four times in the first five seasons. Idle's initially successful solo career faltered in the 1990s with the failures of his 1993 film ''Splitting Heirs'' (written, produced by and starring him) and 1998's ''An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn'' (in which he starred), which was awarded five Razzies, including 'Worst Picture of the Year'. He revived his career by returning to the source of his worldwide fame, adapting Monty Python material for other media. He also wrote the Broadway musical ''Spamalot'', based on the ''Holy Grail'' movie. He also wrote ''Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)'', an oratorio derived from the ''Life of Brian''.

    Terry Jones has been described by other members of the team as the “heart” of the operation. Jones had a lead role in maintaining the group's unity and creative independence. Python biographer George Perry has commented that should you "speak to him on subjects as diverse as fossil fuels, or Rupert Bear, or mercenaries in the Middle Ages or Modern China... in a moment you will find yourself hopelessly out of your depth, floored by his knowledge." Many others agree that Jones is characterised by his irrepressible, good-natured enthusiasm. However, Jones' passion often led to prolonged arguments with other group members—in particular Cleese—with Jones often unwilling to back down. Since his major contributions were largely behind the scenes (direction, writing), and he often deferred to the other members of the group as an actor, Jones' importance to Python was often underrated. However, he does have the legacy of delivering possibly the most famous line in all of Python, as Brian's mother Mandy in ''Life of Brian'', "He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!", a line voted the funniest in film history on two occasions.

    Michael Palin attended Oxford, where he met his Python writing partner Jones. The two also wrote the series ''Ripping Yarns'' together. Palin and Jones originally wrote face-to-face, but soon found it was more productive to write apart and then come together to review what the other had written. Therefore, Jones and Palin's sketches tended to be more focused than that of the others, taking one bizarre situation, sticking to it, and building on it. After ''Flying Circus'', he hosted ''Saturday Night Live'' four times in the first ten seasons. His comedy output began to decrease in amount following the increasing success of his travel documentaries for the BBC. Palin released a book of diaries from the Python years entitled ''Michael Palin Diaries 1969–1979'', published in 2007.

    Associate Pythons

    Several people have been accorded unofficial "Associate Python" status over the years. Occasionally such people have been referred to as the ''7th Python'', in a style reminiscent of associates of The Beatles being dubbed "the Fifth Beatle." The two collaborators with the most meaningful and plentiful contributions have been Neil Innes and Carol Cleveland. Both were present and presented as ''Associate Pythons'' at the official Monty Python 25th anniversary celebrations held in Los Angeles in July 1994. Neil Innes is the only non-Python besides Douglas Adams to be credited with writing material for the ''Flying Circus''. He appeared in sketches and the Python films, as well as performing some of his songs in ''Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl''. He was also a regular stand-in for absent team members on the rare occasions when they re-created sketches. For example, he took the place of Cleese at the Concert for George. Gilliam once noted that if anyone qualified for the title of the "Seventh Python," it would certainly be Innes. He was one of the creative talents in the off-beat Bonzo Dog Band. He would later portray Ron Nasty of the Rutles and write all of the Rutles' compositions for ''All You Need is Cash'' (1978). By 2005, a falling out had occurred between Idle and Innes over additional Rutles projects, the results being Innes' critically acclaimed Rutles "reunion" album ''The Rutles: Archaeology'' and Idle's straight-to-DVD ''The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch'', each undertaken without the other's participation. According to an interview with Idle in the ''Chicago Tribune'' in May 2005, his attitude is that he and Innes go back "too far. And no further." Innes has remained silent on the dispute.

    Carol Cleveland was the most important female performer in the Monty Python ensemble, commonly referred to as the "Python Girl." Originally hired by producer/director John Howard Davies for just the first five episodes of the ''Flying Circus'', she went on to appear in approximately two-thirds of the episodes as well as in all of the Python films, and in most of their stage shows as well. Her common portrayal as the stereotypical "blonde bimbo" eventually earned her the sobriquet "Carol Cleavage" from the other Pythons, but she felt that the variety of her roles should not be described in such a pejorative way.

    Other contributors

    Cleese's wife Connie Booth appeared in, amongst others "The Lumberjack Song" and as the "witch" in ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail''. Cleese and Booth later co-wrote and co-starred in ''Fawlty Towers''.

    Douglas Adams was "discovered" by Chapman when a version of the ''Footlights Revue'' (a 1974 BBC2 television show featuring some of Adams' early work) was performed live in London's West End. In Cleese's absence from the final TV series, the two formed a brief writing partnership, with Adams earning a writing credit in one episode for a sketch called "Patient Abuse". In the sketch, a man who had been stabbed by a nurse arrives at his doctor's office bleeding profusely from the stomach, when the doctor makes him fill out numerous senseless forms before he can administer treatment. He also had two cameo appearances in this season. Firstly, in the episode ''The Light Entertainment War'', Adams shows up in a surgeon's mask (as Dr. Emile Koning, according to the on-screen captions), pulling on gloves, while Palin narrates a sketch that introduces one person after another, and never actually gets started. Secondly, at the beginning of ''Mr. Neutron'', Adams is dressed in a "pepperpot" outfit and loads a missile onto a cart being driven by Terry Jones, who is calling out for scrap metal ("Any old iron..."). Adams and Chapman also subsequently attempted a few non-Python projects, including ''Out of the Trees.'' He also contributed to a sketch on the soundtrack album for ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail''.

    Stand-up comedian Eddie Izzard, a devoted fan of the group, has occasionally stood in for absent members. When the BBC held a "Python Night" in 1999 to celebrate 30 years of the first broadcast of ''Flying Circus'', the Pythons recorded some new material with Izzard standing in for Idle, who had declined to partake in person (he taped a solo contribution from the US). Izzard hosted a history of the group entitled ''The Life of Python'' (1999) that was part of the ''Python Night'' and appeared with them at a festival/tribute in Aspen, Colorado, in 1998 (released on DVD as ''Live at Aspen'').

    Cultural influence

    By the time of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Monty Python in 1994, the point was already being made that "the five surviving members had with the passing years begun to occupy an institutional position in the edifice of British social culture that they had once had so much fun trying to demolish". A similar point is made in a 2006 book on the relationship between Monty and philosophy: "It is remarkable, after all, not only that the utterly bizarre ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' was sponsored by the BBC in the first place, but that Monty Python itself grew into an institution of enormous cultural influence" Matt Groening, creator and co-developer of animated series the Simpsons, names Monty Python as an influence and pays tribute through a couch gag used in seasons five and six.

    Space

    In 2010 the commercial space company SpaceX, launched a wheel of cheese into low earth orbit and returned it safely to the earth. Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX, claimed this was done as a tribute to Monty Python.

    World records

    On St George's Day, 23 April 2007, the cast and creators of Spamalot gathered in Trafalgar Square under the tutelage of the two Terrys (Jones and Gilliam) to set a new record for the world's largest coconut orchestra. They led 5,567 people "clip-clopping" in time to the Python classic "Always Look On The Bright Side of Life" for the Guinness World Records attempt.

    'Pythonesque'

    Amongst the more visible cultural influences of Monty Python is the inclusion of terms either directly from, or derived from, Monty Python, into the lexicon of the English language. The most obvious of these is the term 'pythonesque', which has become a byword in surreal humour, and is included in standard dictionaries. Terry Jones commented on his disappointment at the existence of such a term, claiming the initial aim of Monty Python was to create something new and impossible to categorize and that "the fact that Pythonesque is now a word in the Oxford English Dictionary shows the extent to which we failed".

    The term has been applied to animations similar to those constructed by Gilliam (e.g. the cut-out style of ''South Park'', whose creators have often acknowledged a debt to Python, including contributing material to the aforementioned 30th anniversary theme night).

    ''Good Eats'' creator Alton Brown cited Python as one of the influences that shaped how he created the series, as well as how he authors the script for each episode. Recent episodes even include Gilliam-style animations to illustrate key points.

    Things named after Monty Python

    Beyond a dictionary definition, Python terms have entered the lexicon in other ways.

  • The Python programming language by Guido van Rossum is named after the troupe, and Monty Python references are often found in sample code created for that language. Additionally, a 2001 April Fool's Day joke by van Rossum and Larry Wall involving the merger of Python with Perl was dubbed "Parrot" after the Dead Parrot Sketch. The name "Parrot" was later used for a project to develop a virtual machine for running bytecode for interpreted languages such as Perl and Python. Also, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory wrote some spacecraft navigation software in Python, which they dubbed "Monty". There is also a python refactoring tool called bicyclerepair ( ), named after Bicycle Repair Man sketch.
  • In 1985, a fossil of a previously unknown species of gigantic prehistoric snake from the Miocene was discovered in Riversleigh, Queensland, Australia. The Australian palaeontologist who discovered the fossil snake was a Monty Python fan, and he gave the snake the taxonomic name of ''Montypythonoides riversleighensis'' in honour of the Monty Python team. (Transliterated from Greek Μοντυπυθωνοειδής back to English, Montypythonoides means "like Monty Python".) In 2006, Ben & Jerry's, known for their "celebrity flavours", introduced to the lineup "Vermonty Python", a coffee liqueur ice cream with a chocolate cookie crumb swirl and fudge cows. The name "Minty Python" had been suggested before in 1996 in a contest to select the quintessential British ice cream flavor. In 1999, Black Sheep Brewery released an ale named "Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale."
  • The band Toad the Wet Sprocket drew its name from the Eric Idle monologue "Rock Notes" on Monty Python's ''Contractual Obligation Album'' from 1980.
  • The band Boxhamsters, which is the German translation of Brook-Hamster, the winner of the Upper Class Twit of the Year. A philosophy lecture series entitled ''Themes in Contemporary Analytic Philosophy as Reflected in the Work of Monty Python''. The term "spam" in reference to bulk, unsolicited email is derived from the programme's 1970 "Spam" sketch.
  • In the book ''The Reptile Room'' by "Lemony Snicket", the character Uncle Monty was named after Monty Python, in a joke referring to his obsession with snakes.
  • Seven asteroids are named after Monty Python: 9617 Grahamchapman, 9618 Johncleese, 9619 Terrygilliam, 9620 Ericidle, 9621 Michaelpalin, 9622 Terryjones, and 13681 Monty Python .
  • The endangered Bemaraha woolly lemur (Avahi cleesei) is named after John Cleese.
  • ''Dead Parrot Society'' is the title of a comedy CD released in 1993 featuring sketches from ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' as well as Graham Chapman, Peter Cook, John Cleese, Dudley Moore, and The Portsmouth Sinfonia The title is also a play on the 1989 film ''Dead Poets Society''.
  • Media

    Television

  • ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' (1969–74)
  • :The show that started the Python phenomenon. See also List of Monty Python's Flying Circus episodes
  • ''Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus'' (1972)
  • : Two 45-minute specials made by WDR for West German television. The first was recorded in German, while the second was in English with German dubbing.
  • ''Monty Python's Personal Best'' (2006)
  • :Six one-hour specials, each episode presenting the best of one member's work.

    Films

    There were five Monty Python productions released as theatrical films:
  • ''And Now for Something Completely Different'' (1971)
  • :A collection of sketches from the first and second TV series of ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' purposely re-enacted and shot for film.
  • ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail'' (1974)
  • :King Arthur and his knights embark on a low-budget search for the Holy Grail, encountering humorous obstacles along the way. Some of these turned into standalone sketches.
  • ''Monty Python's Life of Brian'' (1979)
  • :Brian is born on the first Christmas, in the stable next to Jesus'. He spends his life being mistaken for a messiah.
  • ''Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl'' (1982)
  • :A videotape recording directed by Ian MacNaughton of a live performance of sketches. Originally intended for a TV/video special. Transferred to 35mm and given a limited theatrical release in the US.
  • ''Monty Python's The Meaning of Life'' (1983)
  • :An examination of the meaning of life in a series of sketches from conception to death and beyond.
  • ''Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)'' (2009)
  • :This film features interviews with all the surviving Python members, along with archive representation for the late Graham Chapman.
  • ''A Liar's Autobiography: Volume IV'' (2012)
  • :This is an animated film which is based on the memoir of the late Monty Python member, Graham Chapman.

    Albums

  • ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' (1970)
  • ''Another Monty Python Record'' (1971)
  • ''Monty Python's Previous Record'' (1972)
  • ''The Monty Python Matching Tie and Handkerchief'' (1973)
  • ''Monty Python Live at Drury Lane'' (1974)
  • ''The Album of the Soundtrack of the Trailer of the Film of Monty Python and the Holy Grail'' (1975)
  • ''Monty Python Live at City Center'' (1976)
  • ''The Monty Python Instant Record Collection'' (1977)
  • ''Monty Python's Life of Brian'' (1979)
  • ''Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album'' (1980)
  • ''Monty Python's The Meaning of Life'' (1983)
  • ''The Final Rip Off'' (1988)
  • ''Monty Python Sings'' (1989)
  • ''The Monty Python Instant Record Collection, Volume 2'' (1991)
  • ''The Ultimate Monty Python Rip Off'' (1994)
  • ''The Instant Monty Python CD Collection'' (1994)
  • ''Spamalot'' (Broadway version of ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail'' with Tim Curry as King Arthur) (2005)
  • ''The Hastily Cobbled Together for a Fast Buck Album'' (unreleased)
  • Theatre

  • ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' – Between 1974 and 1980 (Live at the Hollywood Bowl was released in 1982, but was performed in 1980) the Pythons made three sketch-based stage shows, comprising mainly material from the original television series.
  • ''Monty Python's Spamalot'' – Written by Idle directed by Mike Nichols, with music and lyrics by John Du Prez and Idle, and starring Hank Azaria, Tim Curry, and David Hyde Pierce, ''Spamalot'' is a musical adaptation of the film ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail''. It ran in Chicago from 21 December 2004 to 23 January 2005, and began performances on Broadway on 17 March 2005. It won three Tonys.
  • ''Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)'' – The Toronto Symphony Orchestra commissioned Idle and John Du Prez to write the music and lyrics of an oratorio based on ''Monty Python's Life of Brian''. Entitled ''Not the Messiah'', it had its world premiere as part of Luminato, a "festival of arts and creativity" taking place 1–10 June 2007 in Toronto. ''Not the Messiah'' was conducted by Peter Oundjian, Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, who is Idle’s cousin. It was performed by a narrator, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, with guest soloists and choir. According to Idle, "It will be funnier than Handel, though not as good".
  • Books

  • ''Monty Python's Big Red Book'' (1971) ISBN 0-413-29520-6.
  • ''The Brand New Monty Python Bok'' (1973) ISBN 0-7493-1170-3.
  • ''Monty Python and The Holy Grail (book) – Mønti Pythøn ik den Hølie Gräilen (Bøk)'' (1977) ISBN 0-413-38520-5.
  • ''MONTYPYTHONSCRAPBOOK/ The Life of Brian'' (1979) ISBN 0-413-46550-0.
  • ''Monty Python's Flying Circus – Just The Words'' Volume 1 (1989) ISBN 0-413-62540-0.
  • ''Monty Python's Flying Circus – Just The Words'' Volume 2 (1989) ISBN 0-413-62550-8.
  • ''The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus'' Volumes 1 & 2
  • ''The Fairly Incomplete & Rather Badly Illustrated Monty Python Song Book'' (1994) ISBN 0-413-69000-8
  • ''Michael Palin Diaries 1969–1979''
  • ''The Pythons: Autobiography by the Pythons''
  • ''The Life of Brian/Jesus'' (2011) ISBN 978-184876-628-0.
  • Games

    ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' (1990) a computer game released by Virgin Games for 8-bit systems such as the Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum
  • ''Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time'' (1994) released by 7th Level for PC / DOS
  • ''Monty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail'' (1996), official game released by 7th Level. It used footage and imagery from the film, as well as audio clips (some new) and featured an animated version of a scene never filmed entitled "King Brian The Wild".
  • ''Monty Python's The Meaning of Life'' (1997), also released by 7th Level. According to the jewel case description, it's based on the film by the same name, but it's really something completely similar yet entirely different.
  • ''Python-opoly'' (2007), a Monty Python-themed property game released by Toy Vault Inc. ''Monty Python Fluxx'' (2008), a card game released by Looney Labs
  • ''Blazing Dragons''
  • See also

  • Beyond the Fringe
  • List of Monty Python's Flying Circus episodes
  • List of recurring characters in Monty Python's Flying Circus
  • Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time
  • Python (Monty) Pictures
  • Spamalot
  • The Goodies
  • The Goon Show
  • References

    Further reading

  • The Secret Policeman's Balls, 3-DVD set (2009)
  • Monty Python: 40 Years of Insanity
  • The Life of Python – 20 Greatest Monty Python Sketches (40th Anniversary)
  • External links

  • Pythonline.com – Monty Python's sort-of official site, actively maintained by Eric Idle
  • Monty Python – Official YouTube page
  • Monty Python Videos – Monty Python's best videos and movies
  • Python at ifilm.com
  • Pythonisms: Python quotes as figures of speech
  • The SOTCAA Monty Python Pages
  • Release of the 3-DVD Secret Policeman's Balls
  • 40 Years of Monty Python – photo essay by ''TIME'' magazine
  • Monty Python Reunion event, New York, 15 October 2009
  • Category:British comedy troupes Category:British television comedy Category:Virgin Records artists Category:Arista Records artists Category:European Film Awards winners (people) Category:Charisma Records artists

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