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AIR FORCE FAREWELLS ‘CITY OF SYDNEY’ BOEING 707

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has bid farewell to Boeing 707 ‘City of Sydney’, which was retired on 31 October after 24 years of service.

The final task for ‘City of Sydney’ saw it fly from RAAF Base Richmond to RAAF Base East Sale and Hobart for a series of ‘touch-and-go’ landings, aiding training for 33 Squadron crews.

‘City of Sydney’ was one of two remaining B707s in service with 33 Squadron at RAAF Base Richmond. The other B707, ‘Richmond Town’, is due to be retired in June 2008.

Originally built for Qantas Airways, the aircraft flew for the first time in 1968. It was purchased by the RAAF in 1983 for use in strategic airlift, capable of carrying passengers and cargo.

In the early 1990s, it was modified for air-to-air refuelling, with a pod mounted underwing near the wingtips capable of refuelling fighter aircraft.

The aircraft’s history of service includes a deployment to Kyrgyzstan in 2002 to support Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, as well as support of ADF deployments and exercises across the globe.

Now retired from RAAF service, ‘City of Sydney’ will be kept at RAAF Base Richmond and used to support the continued operation of ‘Richmond Town’. A decision will be made by Defence on the final disposal of its B707 fleet and associated equipment during 2008.

The future of the RAAF’s air-to-air refuelling capability will be the EADS/Airbus KC-30B Multi-Role Tanker Transport, due for delivery to the RAAF commencing in early 2009.

33 Squadron will operate the KC-30B from new facilities being constructed at RAAF Base Amberley.  The KC-30B will be capable of offloading a greater quantity of fuel to a wider variety of aircraft than the B707. The KC-30B will be fitted with Link 16 real-time data-link, military communications, and an electronic warfare self-protection system against threats from surface-to-air missiles.

Images of ‘City of Sydney’s last flight for RAAF are available at: http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/index.cfm

Media contact: Defence Public Affairs (02) 6265 3343 or (0408) 498 664