Air Force has a fleet of two Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) aircraft, which were introduced in 2002. They are part of the Special Purpose Aircraft fleet, operated by No. 34 Squadron from Defence Establishment Fairbairn in the Australian Capital Territory.
The BBJs provide an agile transport capability that can carry Government and staff within Australia and overseas. The aircraft has seating, a meeting room, working space, and communications facilities.
The BBJ has a crew of up to six (pilot, co-pilot, and up to four crew attendants) and is capable of carrying up to 30 passengers. The BBJ complements the smaller Dassault Falcon 7X also operated by No. 34 Squadron.
The BBJ combines the fuselage of the Boeing 737-700 commercial airliner, with a strengthened rear section. It has the centre-section, wing and landing gear of a 737-800. Winglets are standard, affording a 5 to 7 per cent reduction in cruise drag, and a 4 to 5 per cent increase in range, which allows the aircraft to fly directly from Canberra to Hong Kong or Tokyo.
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
|---|---|
| Role | Special purpose aircraft |
| Crew |
|
| Length | 33.6m |
| Height | 12.5m |
| Wingspan | 35.8m |
| Weight |
|
| Engines | Two CFM International CFM56-7 turbofans (27,300 lbs each) |
| Range | 11,390km |
| Ceiling | 41,000 feet |
| Speed | 850km/h normal operations |
| Capacity | Seats 30 passengers |