- Royal Australian Air Force VIP aircraft
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An RAAF Boeing Business Jet at an airshow in 2006
The Royal Australian Air Force has operated a number of specialised aircraft to transport members of the Royal Family, the Governor General of Australia, senior members of the Australian government, and other dignitaries.
The RAAF's current VIP aircraft are two leased Boeing Business Jets and three Bombardier Challengers which are operated by No. 34 Squadron RAAF and are based at Canberra International Airport. The Boeing Business Jets are custom configured Boeing 737s fitted with facilities such as conference tables, offices suites, secure satellite and communication capabilities. The two planes have a longer range than is standard for Boeing Business Jets. The prime minister regularly uses the aircraft for both domestic and international travel.
Prior to the acquisition of the 737s, the prime minister flew in custom-configured Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 707s. These aircraft were larger than the 737s currently in use.
Contents
List of RAAF VIP transport aircraft
RAAF Challenger 604- Douglas DC-3 Dakota (? VIP aircraft, 1943?-?)[1]
- Consolidated Liberator (? VIP aircraft, 1944?-1948?)[2]
- Avro York (1 aircraft, 1945-1947)[3]
- Convair Metropolitan (2 aircraft, 1957-1968)[4]
- Vickers Viscount (2 aircraft?, 1964-1969)[5]
- Dassault Mystere 20C (3 aircraft, 1967-1989)[6]
- Hawker Siddeley HS748 (2 VIP aircraft, 1967-?)[7]
- BAC One-Eleven (2 aircraft, 1968-1989)[8]
- Boeing 707 (4 aircraft, 1979-2008)[9] - reconverted to tanker transport
- Dassault Falcon 900 (5 aircraft, 1989-2002)[10]
- 737 Boeing Business Jet (2 aircraft, 2002-current)[11]
- Bombardier Challenger 604 (3 aircraft, 2002-current)[12]
See also
- Air transports of heads of state and government
- Royal Canadian Air Force VIP aircraft
- Air transport of the Royal Family and government of the United Kingdom
- Canberra air disaster, 1940
- Garuda Indonesia Flight 200
References
- ^ RAAF Museum A65 Douglas Dakota
- ^ RAAF Museum A72 B-24 Liberator
- ^ RAAF Museum A74 Avro York
- ^ RAAF Museum A96 Convair 440 Metropolitan
- ^ RAAF Museum A6 Vickers Viscount
- ^ RAAF Museum A11 Dassault Mystere (Falcon 20)
- ^ RAAF Museum A10 Hawker Siddeley HS748
- ^ RAAF Museum A12 B111
- ^ RAAF Museum A20 Boeing 707
- ^ RAAF Museum A26 Dassault Falcon 900
- ^ RAAF Museum A36 BBJ
- ^ RAAF Museum A37 Challenger CL 604
External links
- RAAF Air Lift Group
- 34 SQN Its Special Purpose - RAAF News
- RAAF Serial Numbers 1961-present - ADF Serials
- PM's delay highlights RAAF needs - AM, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- Special Purpose Aircraft Business Unit (SPA BU) - QANTAS Defence Services
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