Royal Air Force photographic competition 2012 - in pictures

Hurricane Mk IIC LF363 from the Battle of Britain memorial flight flies over London as part of the Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations Photograph: Senior Aircraftsman Daniel Herrick LBIPP/Senior Aircraftsman Daniel Herri

SAC Mulligan of 58 Squadron RAF regiment conducting a routine patrol near Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. The squadron's role is to provide protection to coalition forces operating in the area and patrols such as these help them to engage with the local community Photograph: Corporal Mike Jones/Royal Air Force

A Tornado GR4 at Kandahar airbase in Afghanistan Photograph: SAC Tim Laurence/Royal Air Force

An Afghan elder watches over his family as they take part in an open day at Kandahar air base Photograph: Corporal Mike Jones/Royal Air Force

A Spitfire from RAF Coningsby's Battle of Britain memorial flight during a ground run following engine and fuelling problems Photograph: SAC Graham Taylor/Royal Air Force

A Chinook refuelling at RAF Shawbury Photograph: I Forshaw/Royal Air Force

Typhoon aircraft from RAF Coningsby practising for the jubilee celebrations by performing a diamond-nine formation over Lincolnshire Photograph: SAC Graham Taylor/Royal Air Force

The US deputy secretary of defence, Ashton Carter, visits Kajakai Dam in Helmand province, Afghanistan Photograph: Corporal (Cpl) Paul Oldfield/Regional Command (South West)

A Merlin helicopter carrying out pre-deployment training in Jordan Photograph: SAC Tommy Axford/Royal Air Force

Squadron leader Andy Fell competes in the 2011 RAF water-ski and wakeboard championships Photograph: Gordon Elias/Royal Air Force

A Tornado GR4 aircraft launching from RAF Marham Photograph: CPL Babbs Robinson/Royal Air Force

Flight Lieutenant Princejit Ubhi, an officer at RAF Benson Photograph: Sgt Beattie Raf/Royal Air Force

'Get Down' by Chris Hill
Photograph: SAC Chris Hill/Royal Air Force

A Merlin of No 28 squadron Photograph: Andew Peacock/Royal Air Force

A Typhoon from RAF Coningsby performs as part of their public display authority obligation. Photograph: SAC Graham Taylor/Royal Air Force

A Merlin helicopter is delivered by C17 to Camp Bastion. The rotary wing aircraft, from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, is to become the latest addition to the Merlin fleet based in Afghanistan Photograph: Corporal Mike Jones/Royal Air Force

The Red Arrows at an airfield Photograph: Sgt Jack Whitfield/Royal Air Force

Corporal Steve Cavanagh wearing his new uniform in front of a Tornado GR4 at RAF Marham. The image is for a recruitment campaign and has been manipulated. Photograph: Sac Andy Masson/Sac Andy Masson