US based commercial air-to-air refuelling company, Omega Air Inc has bought three former RAAF Boeing 707 tanker transports.
The three aircraft, all ex Qantas 707-338Cs which were converted to tankers in the early 1990s and have been in open storage at Richmond since the fleet was retired from RAAF service in June 2008, were transferred to the US register on June 1 and 2 this year according to the FAA’s registry. Recent maintenance activity and engine runs at Richmond suggest at least one of the 707s is being prepared to be flown out, with sources suggesting test flights could commence as soon as this month.
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The aircraft, A20-623, A20-624 and A20-629, have been registered N623RH, N624RH and N629RH respectively, with N624RH being the aircraft noted performing engine runs last week.
Omega was also believed to have previously shown interest in the RAAF’s 707 simulator, but it is not known whether the sale of the simulator has progressed.
Hope this goes through; it’ll be good to see the old birds flying again. Possibly chartered back to the RAAF from time to time perhaps? 😛
jimmy latsos
says:
It still amazes me how some people can still squeeze extra flying time out of old and used airframes well after the airforce has retired them ,which begs the question ,did the raaf prematurely retire these planes as the delays with the kc-30a snowballed?.Anyway ,the raaf should consider another 3 kc30-a’s {i do believe there was an option with airbus for an additional 3 airframes to the raaf} and possibly forward deploy 2 of them at tindal airbase.Top marks to the raaf for the extra 2 c-17a’s.
jim joyner
says:
I flew in N624RH (Formerly A20-624) as QANTAS VH-EAD ‘City of Melbourne) in January 1970 emigrating to Australia from the UK.
Flight deck
says:
Anyone know how the replacements for these old RAAF workhorses are going? Are bits still falling off them and delaying their in-service delivery yet again?
pez
says:Hope this goes through; it’ll be good to see the old birds flying again. Possibly chartered back to the RAAF from time to time perhaps? 😛
jimmy latsos
says:It still amazes me how some people can still squeeze extra flying time out of old and used airframes well after the airforce has retired them ,which begs the question ,did the raaf prematurely retire these planes as the delays with the kc-30a snowballed?.Anyway ,the raaf should consider another 3 kc30-a’s {i do believe there was an option with airbus for an additional 3 airframes to the raaf} and possibly forward deploy 2 of them at tindal airbase.Top marks to the raaf for the extra 2 c-17a’s.
jim joyner
says:I flew in N624RH (Formerly A20-624) as QANTAS VH-EAD ‘City of Melbourne) in January 1970 emigrating to Australia from the UK.
Flight deck
says:Anyone know how the replacements for these old RAAF workhorses are going? Are bits still falling off them and delaying their in-service delivery yet again?