Australian Aviation

The sixth annual Australian Space Awards 2025 celebrates the leading professionals and businesses advancing the development of Australia’s space industry.

One unnamed pilot has been confirmed alive and in a critical but stable condition.

Baltimore FW282, which had been operated by the RAAF’s 454 Squadron and crewed by officers from Australia, New Zealand and the UK, was found last year in 61 metres of water by Greek technical diving group AegeanTec. The RAAF has now publicly confirmed the plane’s identity.

Speaking to media in Hamburg, Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson confirmed that the Airbus planes, which will have extra fuel tanks to give them the range to reach London and New York from Australia’s east coast without refuelling, will arrive “at the end of 2026”.

The deliveries of both aircraft are scheduled for 2026. According to Bombardier, when configured for business jet use, the aircraft has an endurance of up to 11 hours, a dispatch reliability exceeding 99.9 per cent, and a range of 4,000 nautical miles (approximately 7,408 kilometres).

Defence says the project is envisioned to fund up to $160 million into the local economy and create and sustain 80 highly skilled jobs across Adelaide.