Air transports for heads of state and government are, in many countries, provided by the air force in specially equipped
airliner
An airliner is a type of aircraft for transporting passengers and air cargo. Such aircraft are most often operated by airlines. Although the definition of an airliner can vary from country to country, an airliner is typically defined as an ai ...
s or
business jet
A business jet, private jet, or bizjet is a jet aircraft designed for transporting small groups of people. Business jets may be adapted for other roles, such as the evacuation of casualties or express parcel deliveries, and some are used by pu ...
s. One such aircraft in particular has become part of popular culture:
Air Force One
Air Force One is the official air traffic control designated call sign for a United States Air Force aircraft carrying the president of the United States. In common parlance, the term is used to denote U.S. Air Force aircraft modified and us ...
, used by the
President of the United States
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal gove ...
and operated by the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Si ...
. Other well known official aircraft include the
Russian presidential aircraft
The Russian presidential aircraft are aircraft of the Russian presidential fleet used by the President of Russia and other government officials. The presidential fleet is operated by Rossiya Airlines.
The main presidential aircraft is the four- ...
, the British
Royal Air Force VIP aircraft, the French
Cotam 001
Cotam Unité is used as the air traffic control call sign of any French Air Force aircraft carrying the President of France. From the 1960s to 1994, COTAM was the acronym for the French Air Force's Military Air Transport Command (Commandement du ...
, the
Royal Canadian Air Force VIP aircraft
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) maintains specialised aircraft to transport Canada's monarch, governor general, members of the Royal Family, prime minister, senior members of the Government of Canada, and other dignitaries. A small fleet of d ...
, the German
Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer (; 5 January 1876 – 19 April 1967) was a German statesman who served as the first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 to 1963. From 1946 to 1966, he was the first leader of the Christian Dem ...
, the
Royal Australian Airforce VIP aircraft, the
Japanese Air Force One, the South Korean
Code One
Code One is the name of the Republic of Korea Air Force aircraft which carries the President of South Korea. The current aircraft used as Code One are two Boeing 747-8I leased from Korean Air.
Historically, the lease for Code One has been fille ...
,
Air India One, the
Brazilian Air Force One
Brazilian Air Force One is the Brazilian Air Force call sign of the aircraft carrying the President of Brazil. On international flights the aircraft uses the Brazilian Air Force ICAO code BRS1 and callsign Brazilian Air Force 01. The Special ...
, and the Israeli
Wing of Zion.
Another well-known means of transportation for world leaders is by
helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward and laterally. These attribu ...
. Helicopters are seen as not only cheaper and more cost effective but also more convenient than a
motorcade
A motorcade, or autocade, is a procession of vehicles.
Etymology
The term ''motorcade'' was coined by Lyle Abbot (in 1912 or 1913 when he was automobile editor of the ''Arizona Republican''), and is formed after '' cavalcade'', playing off of ...
. These include the US President's
Marine One
Marine One is the call sign of any United States Marine Corps aircraft carrying the president of the United States. It usually denotes a helicopter operated by Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) "Nighthawks", consisting of either the large ...
, the
South Korean Presidential Helicopter,
King Charles III's Helicopter, and the
Brazilian Presidential Helicopter.
If officials do not have their own aircraft or if their VIP aircraft are under maintenance, they would occasionally hire private jets, in which case a flag/
coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...
decal/sticker is often added on or near the door.
History
![Airspeed AS](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Airspeed_AS.6_Envoy_G-AHAC_Private_Charter_RWY_1948_edited-2.jpg)
On 15 July 1910, the then
Tsar of Bulgaria
The monarchs of Bulgaria ruled the country during three periods of Bulgaria's history as an independent country: from the establishment of the First Bulgarian Empire in 681 to the Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria in 1018; from the Uprising of As ...
Ferdinand I became the first head of state to fly in an aircraft during a visit to
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...
.
In 1919, during
Paris Peace Conference, senior British politicians including Prime Minister
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor, (17 January 1863 – 26 March 1945) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1916 to 1922. He was a Liberal Party (United Kingdom), Liberal Party politician from Wales, known for lea ...
and Leader of the House of Commons
Bonar Law
Andrew Bonar Law ( ; 16 September 1858 – 30 October 1923) was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from October 1922 to May 1923.
Law was born in the British colony of New Brunswick (now ...
used several
Airco DH.4
The Aircraft Manufacturing Company Limited (Airco) was an early British aircraft manufacturer. Established during 1912, it grew rapidly during the First World War, referring to itself as the largest aircraft company in the world by 1918.
Ai ...
planes for the cross-Channel trips. Originally designed as bombers, modified planes featured an enclosed compartment for two passengers (cockpit was left open) and a separate luggage compartment. Dubbed ''Lloyd George's airplane'', it was probably one of the first aircraft to be widely used by a political leader.
The
British Monarch
The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the constitutional form of government by which a hereditary sovereign reigns as the head of state of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies (the Bailiw ...
became the first head of state or government to receive official and dedicated air transport when two
Westland Wapiti
The Westland Wapiti was a British two-seat general-purpose military single-engined biplane of the 1920s. It was designed and built by Westland Aircraft Works to replace the Airco DH.9A in Royal Air Force service.
First flying in 1927, the Wa ...
s were delivered to
No. 24 Squadron RAF at
RAF Northolt
("Ready to carry or to fight")
, pushpin_map = Greater London
, pushpin_label = RAF Northolt
, pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Greater London
, coordinates =
, type = Royal Air Force station
, code =
, site_area =
, height =
, owner ...
for the express purpose of the transportation of the
Royal Family
A royal family is the immediate family of kings/queens, emirs/emiras, sultans/ sultanas, or raja/ rani and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, and the term pa ...
in 1928. Between 1929 and 1935, Edward,
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rule ...
, purchased 13 aircraft. Although the RAF maintained at least one of these aircraft for a time, the Prince of Wales eventually became solely responsible for them. When the prince ascended to the throne in 1936 as
Edward VIII
Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David; 23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972), later known as the Duke of Windsor, was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire and Emperor of India from 20 January 1 ...
, The
King's Flight was formed as the world's first head of state aircraft unit. This unit initially used the King's own
de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide; however, this was replaced in May 1937 by an
Airspeed AS.6J Envoy III.
![Sacred Cow airplane](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Sacred_Cow_airplane.jpg)
In the United States, prior to
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
, overseas and cross-country presidential travel was rare.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first president to fly in an aircraft while in office. During World War II, Roosevelt traveled on the ''Dixie Clipper'', a
Pan Am
Pan American World Airways, originally founded as Pan American Airways and commonly known as Pan Am, was an American airline that was the principal and largest international air carrier and unofficial overseas flag carrier of the United State ...
-crewed
Boeing 314 flying boat
A flying boat is a type of fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a floatplane in that a flying boat's fuselage is purpose-designed for floatation and contains a hull, while floatplanes rely on fuselag ...
, to the 1943
Casablanca Conference
The Casablanca Conference (codenamed SYMBOL) or Anfa Conference was held at the Anfa Hotel in Casablanca, French Morocco, from January 14 to 24, 1943, to plan the Allied European strategy for the next phase of World War II. In attendance were ...
in
Morocco
Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to A ...
. The flight covered 5,500 miles in three legs.
["Factsheet: Douglas VC-54C SACRED COW."](_blank)
''National Museum of the United States Air Force''. Retrieved: 19 October 2009. The first dedicated aircraft proposed for presidential use was a
Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express
The Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express was a transport derivative of the B-24 Liberator heavy bomber built during World War II for the United States Army Air Forces. A total of 287 C-87s were officially delivered from Consolidated Aircraft pla ...
VIP transport aircraft. This aircraft, tail number ''41-24159'', was re-modified in 1943 for use as a presidential VIP transport, the ''Guess Where II'', intended to carry President Franklin D. Roosevelt on international trips.
[Dorr 2002, p. l34.] The Secret Service subsequently reconfigured a
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
The Douglas C-54 Skymaster is a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces in World War II and the Korean War. Like the Douglas C-47 Skytrain derived from the DC-3, the C-54 Skymaster was derived from a civilian a ...
for duty as a presidential transport. This VC-54C aircraft, nicknamed the ''Sacred Cow'', included a sleeping area, radio telephone, and retractable elevator to lift Roosevelt in his wheelchair. As modified, the VC-54C was used by President Roosevelt only once, on his trip to and from the
Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference (codenamed Argonaut), also known as the Crimea Conference, held 4–11 February 1945, was the World War II meeting of the heads of government of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union to discuss the post ...
in February 1945.
In the postwar period, governments around the world have instituted similar provisions for the official aerial transportation of their
heads of state
A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and ...
and government.
List of aircraft, by country
Afghanistan
![Boeing 767-222, Kam Air AN1355824](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Boeing_767-222%2C_Kam_Air_AN1355824.jpg)
The government of
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is borde ...
has no official plane for travel purposes, though officials usually travel on national airlines, such as
Ariana Afghan Airlines
Ariana Afghan Airlines Co. Ltd. ( ps, د آريانا افغان هوايي شرکت; prs, هواپیمایی آریانا), also known simply as Ariana, is the flag carrier and largest airline of Afghanistan. Founded in 1955, Ariana is the olde ...
or
Kam Air. Occasionally, officials would travel on hired Azerbaijani aircraft, since
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is borde ...
and
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...
have good diplomatic relations.
In January 2022, months after the
Taliban
The Taliban (; ps, طالبان, ṭālibān, lit=students or 'seekers'), which also refers to itself by its state (polity), state name, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a Deobandi Islamic fundamentalism, Islamic fundamentalist, m ...
insurgency
reclaimed power in Afghanistan, representatives of the new Afghan regime attended a series of meetings in
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of ...
; the first official visit by a delegation from the group to Europe since taking power. They flew to Norway in a
Falcon 7X corporate jet operated by Finnish operator Jetflite, a trip which was reportedly paid for by the Norwegian government.
Albania
In January 2020, the Turkish government leased an Airbus A319 (TC-ANA) to the Albanian government for their use. Although Albanian titles have been placed over the previous Turkish government livery, the aircraft retains its Turkish registration. The livery bears striking resemblance to that of Air Albania. Before the acquisition, the Albanian government hired private jets or flew on commercial airlines. The aircraft flies under the callsign "TRK8".
Algeria
![Algerian Air Force Airbus A340-500 Kertzscher-1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Algerian_Air_Force_Airbus_A340-500_Kertzscher-1.jpg)
The government of
Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, relig ...
operates an
Airbus A340-500
The Airbus A340 is a long-range, wide-body passenger airliner that was developed and produced by Airbus.
In the mid-1970s, Airbus conceived several derivatives of the A300, its first airliner, and developed the A340 quadjet in parallel wit ...
.
[Hancock 2016, p. 5] They also can use a number of 4 Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV, 1 Gulfstream Aerospace G-V and 2 ATR-72-600. Upon their request, officials can also occasionally travel on rented
Air Algerie
The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing f ...
aircraft. The governmental planes use their registrations as callsigns, albeit without the hyphen.
Andorra
The government does not have any presidential aircraft, and the country doesn't have an airport other than
a small one near its border, but they once flew to a summit on a Spanish Air Force Boeing 707.
Angola
The government of
Angola
, national_anthem = "Angola Avante"()
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capital = Luanda
, religion =
, religion_year = 2020
, religion_ref =
, coordinat ...
operates two
Bombardier Global Express
The Bombardier Global Express is a large cabin, 6,000 nmi / 11,100 km range business jet designed and manufactured by Bombardier Aviation (formerly Bombardier Aerospace).
Announced in October 1991, it first flew on 13 October 1996, receiv ...
(reg:D2-ANG, D2-ANH), two
De Havilland Canada Dash 8
The De Havilland Canada DHC-8, commonly known as the Dash 8, is a series of turboprop-powered regional airliners, introduced by de Havilland Canada (DHC) in 1984. DHC was later bought by Boeing in 1988, then by Bombardier in 1992; then by ...
-Q402 and
Dassault Falcon 900
The Dassault Falcon 900, commonly abbreviated as the F900, is a French-built corporate trijet aircraft made by Dassault Aviation.
Development
The Falcon 900 is a development of the Falcon 50, itself a development of the earlier Falcon 20. The ...
(reg:D2-ANT).
Before, a
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is an American, long-range, narrow-body airliner, the first jetliner developed and produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype first flown in 1954, the initial first flew on December 2 ...
was used for VIP transport. Officials occasionally also tend to hire private jets from companies such as DeerJet, Aviation Link or Royal Jet. Most of these aircraft, when used by the President, fly under the callsign "ANGOLA1".
Antigua and Barbuda
The
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...
and the
Government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government i ...
of
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda (, ) is a sovereign country in the West Indies. It lies at the juncture of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Leeward Islands part of the Lesser Antilles, at 17°N latitude. The country consists of two majo ...
flies on commercial aircraft or the
Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander
The Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a British light utility aircraft and regional airliner designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. Still in production, the Islander is one of the best-selling commercial airc ...
(reg:ABDF-A1) operated by the
Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force Air Wing
The Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force Air Wing was founded on 12 April 2022, and currently has a fleet of 1 aircraft, a Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander
The Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a British light utility aircraft and regional airliner des ...
.
Argentina
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest ...
operated a fleet of aircraft and helicopters for exclusive use by
President of Argentina
The president of Argentina ( es, Presidente de Argentina), officially known as the president of the Argentine Nation ( es, Presidente de la Nación Argentina), is both head of state and head of government of Argentina. Under the national cons ...
and his or her family. This set of aircraft was known as the
Agrupación Aérea Presidencial (Spanish for Presidential Air Group) and belonged to one of the Departments of the Presidency, called the Military House ( ''Casa Militar''). This was responsible for the presidential security and transportation. Incorporated during presidency of
Carlos Menem
Carlos Saúl Menem (2 July 1930 – 14 February 2021) was an Argentine lawyer and politician who served as the President of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. Ideologically, he identified as a Peronist and supported economically liberal policies. He ...
to replace a Boeing 707, Boeing 757 T-01 was used for international visits. The Agrupación Aérea Presidencial was closed in 2016 by then-president Mauricio Macri, because of the high cost of repairs and maintenance and the lack of adequate pilots and spare parts. The fleet of the Presidential Air Group in 2014 was:
* T-01 (Tango 01)
Boeing 757-200
The Boeing 757 is an American narrow-body airliner designed and built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
The then-named 7N7, a twinjet successor for the 727 (a trijet), received its first orders in August 1978.
The prototype completed its maide ...
* T-02
Fokker F-28-4000 Fellowship
* T-03
Fokker F-28-1000C Fellowship
* T-04
Boeing 737-500
The Boeing 737 Classic is a series of narrow-body airliners produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, the second generation of the Boeing 737 series of aircraft.
Development began in 1979 and the first variant, the 737-300, first flew in Februa ...
* T-10
Learjet 60
The Learjet 60 is a mid-size cabin, medium-range business jet aircraft manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace in Wichita, Kansas. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW305A engines, it has a range (with 4 passengers and 2 crew) of with NBAA ...
* H-01
Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawk
* H-02
Sikorsky S-76
The Sikorsky S-76 is a medium-size commercial utility helicopter designed and produced by the American helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft. It is the company's first helicopter specifically developed for the civilian market.
The S-76 ...
B
* H-03
Sikorsky S-76
The Sikorsky S-76 is a medium-size commercial utility helicopter designed and produced by the American helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft. It is the company's first helicopter specifically developed for the civilian market.
The S-76 ...
B
All aircraft from the Agrupación Aérea Presidencial are currently stored, however
Mauricio Macri
Mauricio Macri (; born 8 February 1959) is an Argentine businessman and politician who served as the President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019. He has been the leader of the Republican Proposal (PRO) party since its founding in 2005. He previo ...
used the
Boeing 737-500
The Boeing 737 Classic is a series of narrow-body airliners produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, the second generation of the Boeing 737 series of aircraft.
Development began in 1979 and the first variant, the 737-300, first flew in Februa ...
for domestic and short-haul trips.
It was revealed, after Macri stepped down, that a Boeing 737-700 was commissioned by President Alberto Fernandez for international travel. The plane would carry the registration T-99. Prior to this announcement, the 737 used to operate under Ethiopian Airlines and SAS Scandinavian.
In 2014, Argentinian officials Axel Kicillof and Hector Timmerman traveled to the G20 in Brisbane, however, due to maintenance a private Swiss-registered Dassault Falcon 7X was leased and used. The plane flew from Rio Gallegos to Christchurch for a stopover before flying to Brisbane.
Any government-owned plane carrying the President would fly under the callsign "ARG1".
Armenia
![Armenian Govt Airbus A319CJ Simon-2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Armenian_Govt_Airbus_A319CJ_Simon-2.jpg)
The
Armenian Government
The politics of Armenia take place in the framework of the parliamentary representative democratic republic of Armenia, whereby the President of Armenia is the head of state and the Prime Minister of Armenia the head of government, and of a mul ...
operates an
Airbus A319
The Airbus A319 is a member of the Airbus A320 family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger twin-engine jet airliners manufactured by Airbus. The A319 carries 124 to 156 passengers and has a maximum range of . Final assem ...
.
[Hancock 2016, p. 7] They previously operated a
Tupolev Tu-134
The Tupolev Tu-134 (NATO reporting name: Crusty) is a twin-engined, narrow-body jet airliner built in the Soviet Union for short and medium-haul routes from 1966 to 1989. The original version featured a glazed-nose design and, like certain ot ...
. The A319 usually flies under the callsign "ARY4---", meaning any four-digit number beginning with 4.
Australia
![RAAFBBJA36001](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/RAAFBBJA36001.JPG)
The
Royal Australian Air Force
"Through Adversity to the Stars"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...
operates a number of specialised aircraft to carry the
King of Australia
The monarchy of Australia is Australia's form of government embodied by the Australian sovereign and head of state. The Australian monarchy is a constitutional monarchy, modelled on the Westminster system of parliamentary government, whil ...
, members of the Royal Family, the
Governor General of Australia
The governor-general of Australia is the representative of the monarch, currently King Charles III, in Australia.[Prime Minister of Australia
The prime minister of Australia is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia. The prime minister heads the executive branch of the federal government of Australia and is also accountable to federal parliament under the princip ...](_blank)
, senior members of the
Australian government
The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Like other Westminster-style systems of government, the Australian Governmen ...
, and other dignitaries.
The RAAF's current Special Purpose Aircraft are two leased
Boeing Business Jet
Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) are versions of Boeing's jet airliners with modifications to serve the private, head of state and corporate jet market. In 1996, Phil Condit, president of The Boeing Company, and Jack Welch, chairman and CEO of Genera ...
s and three
Dassault Falcon 7X
The Dassault Falcon 7X is a large-cabin, range business jet manufactured by Dassault Aviation, the second largest of its Dassault Falcon line. Launched at 2001 Paris Air Show, its first flight was on 5 May 2005 and it entered service on 15 Ju ...
s which are operated by
No. 34 Squadron RAAF and are based at
Canberra Airport
Canberra Airport is an international airport situated in the District of Majura, Australian Capital Territory serving Australia's capital city, Canberra, as well as the nearby city of Queanbeyan and regional areas of the Australian Capital Te ...
. The Falcon 7Xs replaced three
Bombardier Challenger 604s in 2019. 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 aircraft have a longer range than is standard for Boeing Business Jets. The
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...
regularly makes use of the aircraft for domestic and international travel.
The BBJs and Challenger 604s replaced five No. 34 Squadron
Dassault Falcon 900
The Dassault Falcon 900, commonly abbreviated as the F900, is a French-built corporate trijet aircraft made by Dassault Aviation.
Development
The Falcon 900 is a development of the Falcon 50, itself a development of the earlier Falcon 20. The ...
s and passenger-configured
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is an American, long-range, narrow-body airliner, the first jetliner developed and produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype first flown in 1954, the initial first flew on December 2 ...
s tanker transports of
No. 33 Squadron RAAF
No. 33 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) strategic transport and air-to-air refuelling squadron. It operates Airbus KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transports from RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. The squadron was formed in February 194 ...
in 2002. These in turn replaced two
BAC One-Eleven
The BAC One-Eleven (or BAC-111/BAC 1-11) was an early jet airliner produced by the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC).
Originally conceived by Hunting Aircraft as a 30-seat jet, before its merger into BAC in 1960, it was launched as an 80-se ...
s, three
Dassault Falcon 20
The Dassault Falcon 20 is a French business jet developed and manufactured by Dassault Aviation. The first business jet developed by the firm, it became the first of a family of business jets to be produced under the same name; of these, both t ...
s and two
Hawker Siddeley HS 748
The Hawker Siddeley HS 748 is a medium-sized turboprop airliner originally designed and initially produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Avro. It was the last aircraft to be developed by Avro prior to its absorption by Hawker Siddele ...
s.
In August 2014, Defence Minister
David Johnston
David Lloyd Johnston (born June 28, 1941) is a Canadian academic, author, and statesman who served from 2010 to 2017 as Governor General of Canada, the 28th since Canadian Confederation. He is the commissioner of the Leaders' Debates Commis ...
announced the intention to convert an
Airbus A330 MRTT
The Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) is a European aerial refuelling and military transport aircraft based on the civilian Airbus A330. A total of 16 countries have placed firm orders for approximately 68 aircraft, of which 51 h ...
multi-role tanker to VIP configuration whilst maintaining its ability to serve as a military tanker and transport aircraft.
/sup> The new aircraft has tail number A39-007 and is painted in "air force grey" rather than the white colour scheme. While no official photos have been released, the aircraft has 100 lie-flat seats for its passengers. Beechcraft King Air 350 turboprop light transport aircraft of No. 32 Squadron RAAF may also be tasked.
Current Royal Australian Air Force VIP aircraft
The Royal Australian Air Force operates a number of specialised aircraft to transport the King of Australia and other members of the Royal Family, the Governor General of Australia, the Prime Minister of Australia, senior members of the Australi ...
:
* Airbus A330 MRTT
The Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) is a European aerial refuelling and military transport aircraft based on the civilian Airbus A330. A total of 16 countries have placed firm orders for approximately 68 aircraft, of which 51 h ...
(1 aircraft, 2019–present)
* 737 Boeing Business Jet (2 aircraft, 2002–current)
* Dassault Falcon 7X
The Dassault Falcon 7X is a large-cabin, range business jet manufactured by Dassault Aviation, the second largest of its Dassault Falcon line. Launched at 2001 Paris Air Show, its first flight was on 5 May 2005 and it entered service on 15 Ju ...
(3 aircraft, 2019–present)
These aircraft usually fly under the callsign "ASY", followed by a three-digit number.
Austria
The government of Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
has never operated VIP transport aircraft, although there were plans in the late 1980s to acquire a BAe 146-100STA, capable of being converted into a VIP configuration - however, the already painted and registered aircraft was never flown to Austria, as the deal had to be cancelled due to political pressure that led to tensions within the Austrian Government. The head of state, as well as members of the government, are flown on scheduled flights, preferably using flag carrier Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines AG, often shortened to Austrian, is the flag carrier of Austria and a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group. The airline is headquartered on the grounds of Vienna International Airport in Schwechat where it also maintains its ...
, occasionally chartering smaller aircraft. Until the late 1990s, domestic VIP flights were operated by a four-seater Saab 105OE of the Austrian Air Force
The Austrian Air Force (german: Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte, , Austrian Air Combat Force) is a component part of the Austrian Armed Forces.
History
The Austrian Air Force in its current form was created in May 1955 by the victorious A ...
. For visits of peacekeeping missions of the Austrian Armed Forces
The Austrian Armed Forces (german: Bundesheer, lit=Federal Army) are the combined military forces of the Republic of Austria.
The military consists of 22,050 active-duty personnel and 125,600 reservists. The military budget is 0.74% of nati ...
, a Lockheed C-130K Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally design ...
is still being used.
Azerbaijan
The President of Azerbaijan
The president of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the head of state of Azerbaijan. The Constitution states that the president is the embodiment of executive power, commander-in-chief, "representative of Azerbaijan in home and foreign policies" ...
has three aircraft dedicated for his use: an Airbus A319
The Airbus A319 is a member of the Airbus A320 family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger twin-engine jet airliners manufactured by Airbus. The A319 carries 124 to 156 passengers and has a maximum range of . Final assem ...
"Baku" (reg:4K-8888) owned directly by the government, Airbus A320 Prestige (reg:4K-AI07), Boeing 767-300ER
The Boeing 767 is an American wide-body aircraft developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
The aircraft was launched as the 7X7 program on July 14, 1978, the prototype first flew on September 26, 1981, and it was certified o ...
"Baku-1" (reg:4K-AI01) owned directly by the government, and a leased Airbus A340-600 "Baku-8" (reg:4K-AI08). All three aircraft are equipped with jamming equipment, anti-missile systems, and midair refueling equipment. Other aircraft operated by the government are a number of Gulfstreams (reg:4K-AZ888, 4K-AI06, 4K-AI88), and a now-retired Tupolev Tu-154
The Tupolev Tu-154 (russian: Tyполев Ту-154; NATO reporting name: "Careless") is a three-engined, medium-range, narrow-body airliner designed in the mid-1960s and manufactured by Tupolev. A workhorse of Soviet and (subsequently) Russian ...
. A Boeing 777-200 (reg:4K-AI001) has been ordered by the government to serve as the new state travel aircraft.
The A340 usually flies under the callsign "AHY6731"/2", the 767 under the callsign "AHY6734", the A319 under the callsign "AH6735"/6", the A320 under the callsign "AHY6737"/8", and the Gulfstreams use their registrations without the hyphen as callsigns.
The Bahamas
The government travels on turbo-prop and commercial aircraft.
Bahrain
The Bahrain Royal Flight and Bahrain Defense Force use 2 Boeing 747-400
The Boeing 747-400 is a large, long-range wide-body airliner produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, an advanced variant of the initial Boeing 747.
The "Advanced Series 300" was announced at the September 1984 Farnborough Airshow, targeti ...
, 1 Boeing 767-400
The Boeing 767 is an American wide-body aircraft developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
The aircraft was launched as the 7X7 program on July 14, 1978, the prototype first flew on September 26, 1981, and it was certified on ...
, 1 Boeing 737-800
The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as 737NG, or 737 Next Gen, is a narrow-body aircraft powered by two jet engines and produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Launched in 1993 as the third generation derivative of the Boein ...
, 5 BAe-146 of various modifications and 3 Gulfstream Aerospace
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation is an American aircraft company and a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics.
Gulfstream designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and services business jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 2,000 ...
(G450
The Gulfstream IV (or G-IV or GIV) and derivatives are a family of twinjet aircraft, mainly for private or business use. They were designed and built by Gulfstream Aerospace, a General Dynamics company based in Savannah, Georgia, United States, ...
, G550
The Gulfstream G550 is a business jet aircraft produced by General Dynamics' Gulfstream Aerospace unit in Savannah, Georgia, US. The certification designation is GV-SP. A version with reduced fuel capacity was marketed as the G500. Gulfstrea ...
, G650) for VIP transportation.
In terms of callsigns, the 747-400s flies under "BAH1"/2", the 767-400 flies under "BAH3", the Gulfstream G450 under "BAH4", the Gulfstream G650 under "BAH6", and the Avro RJ85 under "BAH8".
Bangladesh
The President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
* President (education), a leader of a college or university
* President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...
and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh ( bn, বাংলাদেশের প্রধানমন্ত্রী, translit=Bangladesher Prodhanmontri), officially Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh ( bn, গণপ্রজা ...
travel on specially reserved aircraft of the country's national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines
Biman Bangladesh Airlines ( bn, বিমান বাংলাদেশ এয়ারলাইন্স) commonly known as Biman ( bn, বিমান), pronounced (), is the national flag carrier of Bangladesh. With its main hub at Hazr ...
. Until Bangladesh Biman bought Boeing 787 Boeing_777-300ER_
The_Boeing_777,_commonly_referred_to_as_the_Triple_Seven,_is_an_American_long-range_wide-body_airliner_developed_and_manufactured_by_Boeing_Commercial_Airplanes._It_is_the_world's_largest_twinjet.
The_777_was_designed_to_bridge_the_gap_betw_...
_aircraft_is_used,_whereas_for_medium_to_short-distance_flights_Boeing_787-8.html" "title="Boeing_777.html" "title="2-AJY is mostly used for her and other government transport purposes, for long-distance flights or flights with an especially large entourage, usually a Boeing 777">Boeing 777-300ER
The Boeing 777, commonly referred to as the Triple Seven, is an American long-range wide-body airliner developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet.
The 777 was designed to bridge the gap betw ...
aircraft is used, whereas for medium to short-distance flights Boeing 787-8">Boeing 787 Dreamliner