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No. 34 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) VIP transport squadron. It operates Boeing 737 Business Jets and Bombardier Challenger 604s from Defence Establishment Fairbairn in Canberra. The squadron was formed in February 1942 for standard transport duties during World War II, initially flying de Havilland DH.84 Dragons in Northern Australia. In 1943 it re-equipped with Douglas C-47 Dakotas, which it operated in New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies prior to disbanding in June 1946. The unit was re-established in March 1948 as No. 34 (Communications) Squadron at RAAF Station Mallala, South Australia, where it supported activities at the Woomera Rocket Range before disbanding in October 1955. It was re-raised as No. 34 (VIP) Flight in March 1956 at RAAF Base Canberra (later Fairbairn). No. 34 Flight was redesignated No. 34 (Special Transport) Squadron in July 1959, and No. 34 Squadron in June 1963. During the 1960s it operated Dakotas, Convair Metropolitans, Vickers Viscounts, Dassault Falcon-Mysteres, Hawker Siddeley HS 748s, and BAC 1-11s, the last three types continuing in service until the late 1980s. The squadron's fleet consisted solely of Dassault Falcon 900s from 1989 until 2002, when it began operating the 737 and Challenger. ==Role and equipment== No. 34 Squadron is the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) unit responsible for the transport of VIPs, including members of the Australian government, the Governor-General, and visiting dignitaries.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=No. 34 Squadron )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Special purpose aircraft )〕 It is based at Defence Establishment Fairbairn in Canberra, and administered by No. 84 Wing, which is part of Air Mobility Group.〔 The squadron has a secondary role providing emergency transport during humanitarian operations.〔〔 Its motto is ''Eo et redeo'' ("I Go and I Return").〔RAAF Historical Section, ''Maritime and Transport Units'', pp. 41–45〕 As of 2011, No. 34 Squadron's strength included around thirty pilots and thirty flight attendants.〔McPhedran, ''Air Force'', p. 279〕 Captains are generally senior pilots who have previously flown the RAAF's Boeing C-17 Globemaster, Lockheed C-130 Hercules, or Lockheed AP-3C Orion.〔McPhedran, ''Air Force'', p. 283〕 Their co-pilots are new RAAF personnel who have recently graduated from No. 2 Flying Training School, and the crew attendants are posted to the squadron after completing training and a period of service with No. 33 Squadron.〔Moclair, "34SQN", p. 53〕 The squadron's VIP Operations Cell (VIPOPS) is responsible for managing requests for VIP air transport as well as dedicated security staff.〔 Most logistical support, including meal preparation, is provided under commercial arrangements rather than by RAAF personnel.〔Moclair, "34SQN", p. 55〕 No. 34 Squadron operates two Boeing 737 Business Jets and three Bombardier Challenger 604s.〔 The aircraft are leased from, and maintained by, the Special Purpose Aircraft Business Unit of Qantas Defence Services in Fairbairn.〔(【引用サイトリンク】publisher=Qantas Defence Services )〕 The lease commenced in 2002 and is due to expire in 2014.〔McPhedran, ''Air Force'', p. 289〕 The twin-engined Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) is crewed by two pilots and up to four flight attendants, and can carry thirty passengers.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=737 Boeing Business Jet specifications )〕 The twinjet Challenger has a crew of two pilots and one flight attendant, and carries up to nine passengers.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=CL-604 Challenger specifications )〕 The BBJ, which has a range of over , is generally used for long-range transport, and the Challenger on shorter routes.〔〔 The jets are classified as "Special Purpose Aircraft", meaning that their tasking is governed by Federal guidelines for carrying "entitled persons" on official business. To minimise government outlay, the jets may not be employed when available commercial flights satisfy the timing, location and security requirements of a given task. No. 34 Squadron conducts between 1,200 and 1,800 flights each year. A ''Schedule of Special Purpose Flights'' is tabled twice annually in Federal Parliament.〔 VIPOPS usually assigns one of No. 34 Squadron's aircraft to approved tasks, but other Australian Defence Force aircraft are occasionally used for tasks not suited to the BBJ or Challenger; for instance, Prime Minister Julia Gillard travelled to China on board a No. 33 Squadron Airbus KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport in April 2013.〔Moclair, "34SQN", p. 54〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「No. 34 Squadron RAAF」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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