First RAAF 737 MAX 8 lands in Australia

[cosi]

australiandefence.com.au/news/news/first-raaf-737-max-8-lands-in-australia

 

[elanshin]

I guess this is for government officials (PM?) travel.

 

[DC3]

I guess this is for government officials (PM?) travel.

I think that you’ve hit the nail on the head

 

[Brissy1]

I guess this is for government officials (PM?) travel.

"Seating capacity 32"...space for the spa and sauna.

 

[SYD]

"Seating capacity 32"...space for the spa and sauna.

From the article…!

“They also have better amenities for crew and passengers alike, including a dedicated crew rest area and lie-flat seating for passengers.”

But I love the typo…

“Their internal campaign pressure can also be set to a lower altitude compared to the 737-700 BBJs.”

 

[elanshin]

“They also have better amenities for crew and passengers alike, including a dedicated crew rest area and lie-flat seating for passengers.”

Hey not everyone is going in style. Got to stash a few journos out back.

But I love the typo…

“Their internal campaign pressure can also be set to a lower altitude compared to the 737-700 BBJs.”

Could be a legit selling point.
Fly our MAX BBJs for maximum campaign pressure relief when you're busy campaigning around the country.

 

[jb747]

The RAAF have had a group of aircraft for carrying the politicians around for ages. Its history goes back to the ‘40s, and they’ve used aircraft such as the Hudson, Dakota, Viscount, Mystere, BAC-111, 748, 707, and so on.

 

[jakeseven7]

Hopefully they double checked the dodgy Boeing doors… don’t want to lose a PM out the window….

 

[moa999]

From memory the old 737 was ordered under Howard and had a rather austere interior.
I wonder what the usage of this aircraft was Vs a Qantas plane of similar vintage.

Also with this new MAX8 come are three new Dassault Falcon 7X business jets.

And then they've still got the VIP KC-30A (a converted 332) for longer flights that doubles as a military tanker and transport.

 

[jb747]

From memory the old 737 was ordered under Howard and had a rather austere interior.
I wonder what the usage of this aircraft was Vs a Qantas plane of similar vintage.

What do you mean? Versus buying an ex QF aircraft?

In that time frame anything QF would have been retiring would have been an old -400, vs the new BBJs that the RAAF leased. Not really a viable comparison.

 

[Scarlett]

I think @moa999 is considering the difference in cycles of an RPT frame versus a RAAF SPA frame.

If so, the RPT frame will have significantly higher utilisation.

Consider a QF or VA 737 will usually fly a minimum of four flights a day. A RAAF SPA may do a couple, but it also has days where it might take the PM to Fiji for a day or two, sit on the tarmac for 24-48 hours whilst the various talks are occurring then take the PM to wherever the next engagement is.

 

[Sprucegoose]

From memory the old 737 was ordered under Howard and had a rather austere interior.

Good memory. Howard was concerned about the political optics at the time - no lie-flat bed.

In that time frame anything QF would have been retiring would have been an old -400, vs the new BBJs that the RAAF leased. Not really a viable comparison.

A mate put together the last big leasing deal for Gov 34, and it was done very much on commercial lines. The call comes down to requirements and then the numbers to fit those requirements.

 

[Sprucegoose]

The RAAF have had a group of aircraft for carrying the politicians around for ages. Its history goes back to the ‘40s, and they’ve used aircraft such as the Hudson, Dakota, Viscount, Mystere, BAC-111, 748, 707, and so on.

Hi, I had a few mates who worked at 34 Squadron, and I couldn't possibly comment on what used to go on 40 years ago—but a few of you would have some idea.

 

[DC3]

From memory the old 737 was ordered under Howard and had a rather austere interior.

That sounds about right. And later a reincarnation: Shark something or other?

 

[moa999]

That sounds about right. And later a reincarnation: Shark something or other?

That was ScoMos proposed/joke name for the KC-30A dual purpose tanker.

Taxpayers give $250MILLION for Scott Morrison's new plane 'Shark One'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has given his official aircraft a brand new name after the jet received a $250 million taxpayer funded upgrade.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Saab34]

I guess this is for government officials (PM?) travel.

Albo and Marles are the two main users.

Often the BBJ is in/out of Avalon on Fridays/Sundays moving Marles between Canberra/Geelong.

 

[SYD]

Albo and Marles are the two main users.

Often the BBJ is in/out of Avalon on Fridays/Sundays moving Marles between Canberra/Geelong.

I believe the GG gets priority access for one of the “VIPs” also.

 

[justinbrett]

From memory the old 737 was ordered under Howard and had a rather austere interior.

Nope, I have been on it (just on the ground) and I can tell you it was quite lavish.

I think @moa999 is considering the difference in cycles of an RPT frame versus a RAAF SPA frame.

If so, the RPT frame will have significantly higher utilisation.

Consider a QF or VA 737 will usually fly a minimum of four flights a day. A RAAF SPA may do a couple, but it also has days where it might take the PM to Fiji for a day or two, sit on the tarmac for 24-48 hours whilst the various talks are occurring then take the PM to wherever the next engagement is.

The BBJ has a completely different configuration to RPT pax models, it can easily do East coast Australia - East coast USA with a single stop (usually HNL/HIK). It had components of the -700 and -800 (eg -700 wings but -800 landing gear). It had extra fuel tanks.

I believe the GG gets priority access for one of the “VIPs” also.

It's a needs assessment and they also have a fleet of Falcons, and can charter aircraft as well. KC-30As are now used for long haul flights with significant media interest.

A Minister going to PNG should trump the GG/PM going to MEL.

 

[SYD]

A Minister going to PNG should trump the GG/PM going to MEL.

Quite probably, it was just a general comment that the GG is in the mix but ironically the Foreign Minister is lower in the pecking order.

There’s a funny episode of Pyne Time (actually, they’re all pretty funny), but the one with Julie Bishop bumming a ride on Airforce 2 was funny (because she didn’t have her own “VIP” to get to another meeting.

‎Pyne Time Podcast: Julie Bishop - Shirtfronting Putin, flying on Airforce 2 and political power on Apple Podcasts

‎Show Pyne Time Podcast, Ep Julie Bishop - Shirtfronting Putin, flying on Airforce 2 and political power - 31 May 2024

podcasts.apple.com

I’d forgotten there was one with Joe Ashton. I must listen to that again.