Royal Australian Air Force VIP aircraft
The Royal Australian Air Force operates a number of specialised aircraft to transport the Queen of Australia, other members of the Royal Family, the Governor General of Australia, senior members of the Australian government and other dignitaries.
The RAAF's current Special Purpose Aircraft are two leased Boeing Business Jets and three Dassault Falcon 7x which are operated by No. 34 Squadron RAAF and are based at Canberra Airport. The Boeing Business Jets are custom configured Boeing 737-700s 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 makes use of the aircraft for domestic and international travel.
Prior to the acquisition of the 737s, passenger-configured RAAF Boeing 707s tanker-transports were used. These aircraft were larger than the 737s currently in use.
In August 2014, Defence Minister David Johnston announced the intention to convert a KC-30A multi-role tanker to VIP configuration whilst maintaining its ability to serve as a military tanker and transport aircraft.[1] The new plane has tail number A39-007. The new plane is painted in "air force grey" rather than the current colour scheme. The aircraft can now carry more than 100 passengers, including lower ministers and press on lie flat seats. The PM also has his own private section.
List of RAAF VIP transport aircraft
- Douglas DC-3 Dakota (? VIP aircraft, 1943?-?)[2]
- Consolidated Liberator (? VIP aircraft, 1944?–1948?)[3]
- Avro York (1 aircraft, 1945–1947)[4]
- Convair Metropolitan (2 aircraft, 1957–1968)[5]
- Vickers Viscount (2 aircraft, 1964–1969)[6]
- Dassault Mystere 20C (3 aircraft, 1967–1989)[7]
- Hawker Siddeley HS748 (2 VIP aircraft, 1967–?)[8]
- BAC One-Eleven (2 aircraft, 1968–1989)[9]
- Boeing 707 (4 aircraft, 1979–2008)[10] – reconverted to tanker transport
- Dassault Falcon 900 (5 aircraft, 1989–2002)[11]
- 737 Boeing Business Jet (2 aircraft, 2002–current)[12]
- Challenger 604 (3 aircraft, 2002–2019)[13]
- Dassault Falcon 7X (3 aircraft, 2019–present) - replacement for Challenger 604s[14]
- Airbus KC-30A (1 aircraft, 2019–present) - New long range VIP Capacity.
Airbus KC-30A (Registration A39-007)
For long haul flights, the KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft registered A39-007 will fly with up to:
- Three Pilots
- Two Air Refueling Operators
- Eight Crew Attendants
- One Communications and Information Systems Controller
- One Catering Representative
- Five Maintenance consisting of Avionics Technicians and Aircraft Technicians, which can be reduced to four if technicians are cross-trained across both trades.
Airbus KC-30A (Registration A39-007) VIP Configurations
The KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker aircraft incorporates modifications to enable long-range Government transport, including enhanced in-air communications capability to support secure telecommunications. The modifications will enable the business of Government to continue while in the air, with access to unclassified and classified information technology environments and telecommunications. The VIP cabin interior is configured as follows:
- VIP accommodation area including two first class seats and seat enclosures
- A large meeting room which includes ten taxi, take-off and landing rated seats and a large conference room table
- A working area with club style tables, video-telecommunications equipment and twelve taxi, take-off and landing rated seats
- Bathroom facilities
The cabin configuration includes a total of 102 seats, comprising:
- Seating area with 54 standard economy class seats
- Seating area with 24 business class seats (lie-down seats)
- A First Class lie-flat seating area for two people
- Secure conference room with ten reclining seats at a table (and five periphery seats which are not certified for take-off or landing)
- Working area with 12 lie-flat seats and tables
See also
- Air transports of heads of state and government
- 1940 Canberra air disaster
- Garuda Indonesia Flight 200
- Transportation of the Prime Minister of Australia
- Royal visits to Australia
- Royal Canadian Air Force VIP aircraft
- Air transport of the Royal Family and government of the United Kingdom
References
- "Prime Minister Tony Abbott to fly worldwide non-stop on Airbus KC-30A". news.com.au. 14 August 2014.
- 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
- Defence, Department of (16 April 2019). "New Dassault Falcon 7x Special Purpose Aircraft Arrive". news.defence.gov.au. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
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
- - Regarding the RAAF airbus registration A39-007