RAF's shiny new Falcon

[OldSpotter52]

Royal Air Force Falcon 900 G-ZABH/407D90 has just landed 17:10L at Northolt from Bristol on its first flight since delivery from the USA on 13/7.

FR24 had it coming in via Belfast but departure from Bristol kept being delayed and in the end it seems to have refiled direct though it did route up towards Chester before coming back south.

[jules50]

G-ZAHS did exactly the same routing for about a week when it was delivered.Must be some sort of proving flight schedule.Not sure how they can justify having 2 bizjets flying government officials and dignitaries around the world at the publics expense

[Fighterfoto]

Compared to other nations a pair of Falcons is very modest. And bear in mind that once equipped with DAS they’ll be able to operate in hostile areas to deliver critical parts in addition to personnel far more discretely than a larger military transport aircraft could.

[jules50]

Compared to a C17 or A400 they cannot get alot of critical parts inside a Falcon 900 and are not going to be converting them in order to do so but nothing surprises me these days..they are replacing the 146,s which had a much more multi purpose role.

[GT3ZZZ]

Falcon 900 G-ZAHS up from Marham, currently heading SW at FL280 overhead Farnborough.

Edit: now landed Exeter

[Enobob]

These are VIP aircraft, they will not be "delivering critical parts" anywhere!

[Fighterfoto]

These are VIP aircraft, they will not be "delivering critical parts" anywhere!

And you know this because?

[Nighthawke]

An executive jet/bizjet is not configured nor built for cargo. Limousine not lorry or delivery van.

[CHINOOKER]

An executive jet/bizjet is not configured nor built for cargo. Limousine not lorry or delivery van.

Not exactly true! Whilst it obviously cannot carry large items, it can carry items such as engine/airframe system components for other aircraft if they were AOG! Engine components such as starter motors/hydraulic pumps/valves etc could easily be carried. Other items such as flight instrumentation/components could also be a possibility! If you have something like an Atlas AOG somewhere and it requires something like a flight computer, then this could easily be accommodated
If you ever saw photos of BA’s 777/787’s during lockdown they were “rammed to the gunnels” with cargo boxes in the cabins….on all classes of seats from First down to Economy! Nothing to stop a F900 doing exactly the same if needs must!!

[Fighterfoto]

They’ll use to carry mission critical freight which isn’t necessarily spare parts.

[slogen51]

The 125s were a small 'biz jet' but there always seemed to be two or three in the middle east before being retired. Whilst civvy spotting in Dubai in the 2000s often I would notice the 32Sqn 125s on sbs airborne somewhere but not plotting and occasionally I would see one at Dubai international.

I don't know what they were doing or where they went but it can't have been all VIPs or Royalty.

[Enobob]

The 125's, like the BAe 146's were command staff transports. They provide mobility for senior staff in theatre.

[Rafair1964]

They are VIP ONLY no cargo or re role capability.

Both bought outright and the 146 as far to costly to run and repair

RAF are also looking at the PC12NG

[Cyberfox]

Why the civil registrations?

Will they get military ones, or roundels at least?

[Nighthawke]

Becasue they are civilian aircraft owned by a charter company (according to G-INFO anyway). Similar to the the old T.67 Fireflies and the Grob Tutors operated under contract.

[Alf]

They are supposed to become entirely RAF owned over the next year or so. Then they will military markings and serials.

[Bat21]

Caught G-ZAHS up here at Newcastle a few days ago (Wednesday 21st) - presumably a training flight.

I had read somewhere that they will be flying with a mixture of RAF and Centreline Aviation crew before becoming fully 32 Squadron operated with the aircraft known as the "Envoy IV".

G-ZAHS_EGNT by , on Flickr

[Alpha Delta 210]

Caught G-ZAHS up here at Newcastle a few days ago (Wednesday 21st) - presumably a training flight.

I had read somewhere that they will be flying with a mixture of RAF and Centreline Aviation crew before becoming fully 32 Squadron operated with the aircraft known as the "Envoy IV".

G-ZAHS_EGNT by , on Flickr

Hi,

Yes, the MOD website confirms the mixed crews until 2024. "For the first two years, the aircraft will be operated by mixed crews of RAF and Centreline staff, before upgrading to a full military and operational capability in 2024."

https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/la ... -envoy-iv/