Summary
- RAAF acquires new VIP Boeing 737 MAX 8 to replace aging fleet.
- Aircraft registration A62-001 spotted in Australia, delivery expected in July.
- New aircraft to improve reliability for VIP transport, replacing older BBJs.
Simple Flying photographer Preston Fiedler captured a picture of the new Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 737 MAX 8 BBJ that is to replace Australia’s aging fleet of Boeing 737-700 BBJs. The suggestion is that the RAAF may have already taken delivery of the new VIP jet. Australia’s existing fleet of two Boeing 737-700 BBJ (registered A36-001 and A36-002) is now over 23 years old (they carry up to 30 passengers). While these aircraft are modified for Australian requirements, they are far from the extremely advanced VC-25B ‘Air Force One’ jets the US Air Force will soon receive.
RAAF may have taken delivery of new MAX 8
Preston Fielder sent a photo of the new Australian VIP Boeing 737 MAX 8 with registration number A62-001. Fielder said he thinks the new VIP jet has already been delivered to the Australian Air Force. Fielder spotted the new Australian jet at Boeing Field (BFI) in Seattle.
It is not immediately clear if the RAAF has formally taken delivery. As of June 27, there don’t appear to be any customer acceptance flights listed on Aviation Flights. The aircraft was formerly spotted in Basel, Switzerland, on March 1 before being spotted in Australia in June.
In May 2024, Australian Aviation reported that the new VIP aircraft “could arrive as soon as July despite Boeing’s delivery issues.” These narrow-bodied aircraft will be used to fly the Australian government minister and the Governor-General.
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Australia’s BBJ replacement
BBJs are specially modified versions of Boeing’s passenger aircraft and have been altered to accommodate VIPs. Australian Aviation states that the RAAF currently uses three leased Dassault Falcon 7X business jets (which can carry 14 passengers) and 12 KA350 King Airs (which carry up to eight passengers).
Recently, the New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757 carrying the New Zealand Prime Minister broke down on the way to Japan, forcing the occupants to complete their journey with commercial flights. The incident underscores the Air Force’s importance in operating reliable (and modern) aircraft. It seems the Aussies would like to avoid the embarrassment of their Kiwi neighbors and not have VIP military aircraft break down when they fly the Prime Minister and other dignitaries to important events around the world.
The RAAF is in the process of replacing these old BBJs with two new Boeing 737-8 (BBJ) models (which will be registered as A62-001 and A62-002). The old aircraft suffer from maintenance and readiness issues. While 23 years is getting old, it’s not even half as old as the oldest Boeing 737 in service in the Indian Air Force.
The Australian government approved the replacement of the aircraft in 2021 for AUD 372 million (approx. $250 USD) to supply two new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft through to 2036.