Portal:Royal Air Force/Aircraft/7

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Globemaster III.
Globemaster III.

Having replaced the former Queen's Flight in 1995, 32 (The Royal) Squadron uses the BAe 125 CC3, Agusta A109 and BAe 146 CC2 in the VIP transport role, based at RAF Northolt in west London.

More routine air transport tasks are carried out by the Tristars and VC10s based at RAF Brize Norton, both used to transport passengers and cargo, and for air-to-air refuelling of other aircraft.

Shorter-range tactical-airlift transport is provided by the C-130 Hercules, the fleet including both older K-model and new J-model aircraft.

The RAF has leased 4 C-17 Globemaster IIIs from Boeing to provide a strategic airlift capability; it was announced in 2004 that these will be purchased, together with a further example, .The fifth C-17 is due to be delivered in 2008. The MOD has expressed a wish to buy a further 3 C-17s, which could be delivered before mid-2009,when the C-17 production line may be closed.This would leave the RAF with a total of 8 C-17 aircraft,providing a significantly enhanced strategic airlift.