RAAF Seeking to Replace VIP Fleet

Raaf Preparing to Lease New VIP Aircraft

The RAAF is in the formative stages of preparing to replace its ageing VIP fleet.

The duties of providing executive transport to the Government and visiting heads of state belong to Fairbairn-based No. 34 Squadron (refer p67, Jan 86 AA) which operates a fleet of HS 748 turboprops, Mystere light jets and BAC 111s. All three types entered service during the late sixties and are nowadays generally considered as being rated low in productivity compared with modern generation aircraft capable of fulfilling this task.

The two BAC 111s entered service in 1968 and both will have logged around 13,000hrs by the middle of next year. They can carry only 27 passengers, are curfew-limited due to their excessive noise footprint and are very fuel inefficient. Owing to their high fuel burn they are also range-limited, a factor greatly increased if at max payload and operating into Australia’s traditionally strong winter westerlies.

This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.

Login

Become a Member

To continue reading the rest of this article, please login.

Username or Email

Password Forgot password?

Keep me signed in on this device.

If you check this box before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

If you check the box above before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

---

or

---

Login with a Passkey

To unlock all Australian Aviation magazine content and again unlimited access to our daily news and features, become a member today!
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.

PRINT

$49.95 for 1 year Become a Member

See benefits

• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website

MOST POPULAR

PRINT + DIGITAL

$99.95 for 1 year Become a Member

$179.95 for 2 years Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

DIGITAL

$5.99 Monthly Become a Member

$59.95 Annual Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

View more offers and details