The International Fincastle Competition is a contest of skills between the air forces of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. During the competition, crews compete in anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and intelligence and surveillance gathering.
The Fincastle Competition began in 1960 when Mr. and Mrs. Aird-Whyte presented a silver tray, (now the Fincastle Trophy), in memory of their son Sergeant Nairn Fincastle Aird-Whyte, (who was killed in action in 1943 while flying with the RAF Coastal Command). Initially the competition was for accuracy in depth charge bombing showcase but it has evolved over the years to reflect the new duties of today's air forces. The competition fosters relations among the four participating nations while encouraging learning and skill sharing.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1961 | RAAF |
| 1962 | RCAF |
| 1963 | RAAF |
| 1964 | RNZAF |
| 1965 | RCAF |
| 1966 | RAF |
| 1967 | RAAF |
| 1968 | RAAF |
| 1969 | RAAF |
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1970 | RAF |
| Year | Venue | Host | Submarine | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Comox | CF | HMCS Rainbow | RAAF/CF (tied) |
| 1972 | Tengah | RAF | HMAS Onslow | RAAF |
| 1973 | Edinburgh | RAAF | HMAS Oxley | RAF |
| 1974 | Whenuapai | RNZAF | HMAS Oxley | RAF |
| 1975 | Greenwood | CF | HMCS Okanagan | RAF/RAAF |
| 1976 | Kinloss | RAF | HMS Ocelot | RAF |
| 1977 | Edinburgh | RAAF | HMAS Otway | RAF |
| 1978 | Whenuapai | RNZAF | HMAS Otway | RAAF |
| 1979 | Greenwood | CF | HMCS Okanagan | RAAF |
| 1980 | St Mawgan | RAF | HMS Ocelot | RNZAF |
| 1981 | Edinburgh | RAAF | HMAS Oxley | CF |
| 1982 | Whenuapai | RNZAF | HMAS Otama | RNZAF |
| 1983 | Greenwood | CF | HMCS Okanagan | RNZAF |
| 1984 | Edinburgh | RAAF | HMAS Oxley | RAF |
| 1985 | Kinloss | RAF | HMS Conqueror | CF |
| 1986 | Edinburgh | RAAF | HMAS Onslow | RAF |
| 1987 | Greenwood | CF | HMCS Okanagan | RAF |
| 1988 | Edinburgh | RAAF | HMAS Onslow | RNZAF |
| 1989 | St Mawgan | RAF | HMS Conqueror | CF |
| 1990 | Greenwood | CF | HMS Onyx | RAF |
| 1991 | Edinburgh | RAAF | HMAS Ovens | RNZAF |
| 1992 | Kinloss | RAF | HMS Superb | RAF |
| 1993 | Greenwood | CF | HMCS Ojibwa | RAAF |
| 1994 | Edinburgh | RAAF | HMAS Onslow | RAAF |
| 1995 | Kinloss | RAF | HMS Torbay | CF |
| 1996 | Whenuapai | RNZAF | HMAS Onslow | CF |
| 1997 | Comox | CF | HMCS Ojibwa | RNZAF |
| 1998 | Edinburgh | RAAF | HMAS Onslow | RNZAF |
| 1999 | Kinloss | RAF | HMS Trenchant | RAF |
| 2000 | No Competition | - | - | - |
| 2001 | Edinburgh | RAAF | HMAS Waller | RAF |
| 2002 | Kinloss | RAF | HMS Trafalgar | RAF |
| 2003 | Pearce | RAAF | HMAS Sheean | RAAF |
| 2004 | No Competition | - | - | - |
| 2005 | Whenuapai | RNZAF | HMAS Farncomb | RAF |
| Year | Venue | Host | Exercise | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Kinloss | RAF | NEPTUNE WARRIOR | RAF |
| 2008 | Comox | CF | MAPLE GUARDIAN | RAF |
In 1996 Lockheed Martin sponsored the first Fincastle Maintenance Trophy. According to the Canadian Air Force, competition for the Maintenance Trophy "evaluates each team’s skills with maintenance, support, and flight line operations."
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