RAAF VIP flights for election

[Rowan McKeever]

Hi All!

Couple of questions about the VIP movements ferrying the political leaders around for the campaign...

First, would it be right to assume Rudd used a BBJ & Abbott a Challenger?

Secondly I was driving home tonight & saw a BBJ followed by a Challenger landing in Canberra. Now that the leaders are (presumably) back in Brisbane & Sydney ready for tomorrow, do all the VIP aircraft return to base in Canberra? Or does Rudd's remain in Brisbane? I'm guessing that's all part of the VIP protocol?

Also worth noting the 2 F70 media planes were both on flightaware earlier returning to Brisbane.

Cheers!
Rowan

[Nigel C]

Abbott has been using A36-001 and Rudd A36-002, both BBJ's. Interesting that Abbott has used 001 the whole campaign.....a sign perhaps?

I can't answer the middle part.

The F70's seem to be allocated one each for Rudd and Abbott's travelling media packs.

[Rowan McKeever]

Thanks a lot Nigel! 'Tis interesting Abbott's had -001, maybe in case they needed to pinch one back for the Governor-General?

From memory VH-JFB for Abbott and -JFE for Rudd media contingents

[Greg Hyde]

The AEC no longer uses the National Tally Room in Canberra so there is no need for either leader to return to Canberra in the near future.

Winners or non-winners will be announced from Brissie or Sydney.

The F-70's were chartered to cart the respective press pack behind the leaders.

No longer required since the Capital cities media can cope with Election night. This is especially true if the result is announced very early.

[Adam P.]

It's not Air Force I know, but for what it's worth Clive Palmer's Global M-ATAR has been hooning around the country a lot as well in the last few weeks, presumably on election-related business.

[Ray P.]

I know that the crews of 34SQN, 38SQN and 35SQN will be looking for a well-earned break after the amount of flying they will have done.