Vespina (aircraft)

The Royal Air Force VIP Voyager, identified with the military registration of ZZ336,[1][2][3][4][6] and more recently named by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as Vespina since June 2020,[1][2][6][7][8] refers to a customised RAF Voyager KC2 (A330-243MRTT) owned by the AirTanker Services[9] and operated under lease by the Royal Air Force that is the first principal VIP transport aeroplane for the British royal family, the Prime Minister, and British government ministers.[6][10] Whilst the RAF operates the United Kingdom's fleet of fourteen Voyagers, a militarised tanker transport aircraft; ZZ336 Vespina, the VIP Voyager refers specifically to one individual Voyager KC2 aircraft now painted in a United Kingdom livery, and fitted with secure satellite communications system, missile detection, 58 business-class seats (front cabin), 100 standard seats (rear cabin),[11] and media facilities, similar to other dedicated air transports of heads of state and government.

Royal Air Force VIP Voyager KC2
ZZ336 Vespina
A gloss white painted Airbus A330 with a red, white and blue 'union jack' flag on its vertical tail fin, operated by the Royal Air Force, which has been modified for military and VIP use, is about to land RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
ZZ336 Vespina, the Royal Air Force's VIP Voyager KC2 returns to RAF Brize Norton following completion of her new 'Global Britain' livery, June 2020
Other name(s) Vespina[1][2]
Type RAF Voyager KC2 (A330-243MRTT)
Manufacturer Airbus Military
Construction number 1363[2][3]
Registration EC-333 (2012 - pre VIP),
G-VYGG (2012-2015 - pre VIP)
Serial ZZ336 (from 2015)
First flight 8 July 2016 (2016-07-08)
(after VIP conversion)[4]
26 June 2020 (2020-06-26)
(as Vespina, after new livery)[5]
Owners and operators owner: AirTanker Services
operator: Royal Air Force (RAF)
Status in service
RAF Voyager KC2 ZZ336 after her VIP refit, but retaining its original low-visibility grey paint scheme, 2018
VIP interior of the RAF Voyager, 2016
Vespina under the night sky, parked at RAF Brize Norton, 2020
Vespina flanked by the Red Arrows at the 2022 Royal International Air Tattoo

When ZZ336 was first converted to its VIP fitment, it was previously visually identical to the remainder of the Voyager fleet;[1] it retained its original low-visibility matt grey exterior paint scheme with standard Royal Air Force roundels, insignia, and identification markings.[2][6] ZZ336 was first used in its VIP configuration on 8 July 2016 (2016-07-08).[4] ZZ336 was named Vespina when it was returned to RAF Brize Norton on 26 June 2020 (2020-06-26) following the completion of its new white livery.[5] The name Vespina is not used operationally; it is not used in its F700 official logbook, nor is it used as its military call sign or flight number; it continues to be officially identified as ZZ336.[3]

ZZ336 Vespina is based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire[2][5][6] (and is now visible in its new white colour scheme parked on the Voyager dispersal on many satellite imaging services including Google Maps[12] and Google Earth[13]), and is operated alongside the main fleet of RAF Voyagers[5][6] by numbers 10[14] (affectionately known as 'Shiney Ten')[5] and 101 Squadrons.[4][15][16] Whilst on VIP duties, Vespina is operated by a typical crew of 13, consisting of its two flight deck crew (pilot and co-pilot) and eleven cabin crew (flight attendants and two pursers),[11] and for non-VIP standard military operation, utilises eight cabin crew.[6] Like all RAF Voyagers, Vespina carries a total fuel load of 111 tonnes (109 long tons; 122 short tons), being able to dispense 50,000 kilograms (110,231 pounds) to receiver aircraft via its two under-wing Cobham 905E hose and drogue refuelling pods.[5]

History

Proposals to provide a new dedicated VIP transport aircraft, for governmental or royal use, were first mooted in 1998 under Prime Minister Tony Blair;[8] the proposed aircraft, the VIP conversion of an existing Royal Air Force (RAF) VC10, was nicknamed 'Blair Force One' by the British media (a joking reference to Air Force One).[17][18] In mid 2006, it was mooted that two VIP aircraft be procured, to be used by Queen Elizabeth II and the Prime Minister; consisting of a 70-seat long haul aircraft and a smaller 15-seat jet for shorter distances, at a total cost of £100 million.[19][20] However, in March 2008, the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown scrapped the plans for both aircraft.[21][22] Instead, just one small aircraft was to be purchased, and restricted to UK-only operation,[21] with the Queen putting forward her own plans.[23] In March 2009, the proposal for a £7 million 12-seater private jet plan was halted due to the recession.[24]

RAF Voyager

A proposal to modify an Airbus A330 MRTT air-to-air refuelling tanker, known in the Royal Air Force (RAF) as the Voyager, into a 'VVIP' configuration was suggested by EADS (who own Airbus) in early 2012. EADS in the UK head Robin Southwell stated "the aerospace industry had 'let down' Mr Cameron by allowing him to travel on a trade mission to Asia in an American-built and Angolan-owned Boeing aircraft". At that time, though, Airbus had not yet made formal representation of its idea to the British Government. Upon hearing of this suggestion, a Downing Street official stated that the Prime Minister would show interest in this if it met our needs, and did not affect its military operations.[25]

It was not until the end of 2015 that the British Government announced as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 (2015 SDSR) that one existing RAF Voyager aircraft, a military version of an Airbus A330 civilian airliner, will be converted into a VIP Voyager for use by the Royal Family, the Prime Minister, and senior government ministers.[1][6][26][27][28] This was completed in 2016 at a cost of £10 million, with then-Prime Minister David Cameron taking the aeroplane ('Cam Force One') to the 2016 Warsaw summit.[7][29] In June 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered that the aeroplane be painted in a United Kingdom-themed red, white, and blue livery, earning it the nickname 'Boris Force One'. This new paint scheme was designed with the assistance of Airbus, and was carried out by Marshall Aerospace and Defence at its facilities at Cambridge Airport,[6] and returned to RAF Brize Norton on 25 June 2020.[2][30] The main aim of the new colour scheme is to "promote the UK around the world while transporting Ministers, senior members of the Royal Family and their delegations on trade, diplomatic and other missions".[1] Johnson projected that the entire rebrand would cost about £900,000.[31][32]

Despite having been fitted as a VIP aircraft since 2016, and having a custom livery since 2020, the British Government and the RAF has insisted that the aeroplane will continue to serve its military purpose of air-to-air refuelling (primarily fast jets, from its two Cobham 905E under-wing hose and drogue refuelling pods) and air transport and personnel trooping.[4][33] According to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request on 11 August 2017 to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), ZZ336, the VIP Voyager carried out a total of 76 aerial refuelling sorties supplying both UK and foreign receiver aircraft from 12 July 2016 through to 9 August 2017, under various auspices, including 'exercise', 'transit', and 'operational', though on a small number of sorties, no fuel was supplied to receivers.[4] From 14 August to 14 September 2017, ZZ336 completed seven aerial refuelling sorties, all classed as 'exercise'.[34] Vespina continues to refuel front-line fighter aircraft of the Royal Air Force, including the Typhoon FGR4 and the F-35B Lightning.[5]

In 2021, Charles (the then Prince of Wales) and Camilla (then Duchess of Cornwall) flew in Vespina to Jordan as part of their Royal Tour; the aircraft was powered by a blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).[35][36]

In December 2022, Vespina was forward deployed to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar to provide air-to-air refuelling and support air security operations by the Qatar Emiri Air Force and Royal Air Force during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[3][37][38] This was part of Exercise Soaring Falcon, a regular deployment by RAF assets to Qatar.[37]

Vespina also participates in state military guard of honour flypasts in the United Kingdom,[39][40] notably the 2022 Trooping the Colour which formed part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II,[41] and sometimes forms the lead part of a formation along with the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, commonly known as the Red Arrows,[42] a role previously undertaken by a Concorde of British Airways.

In accordance with the entire UK Voyager fleet, ZZ336 Vespina is made available to commercial operators for revenue-earning air charter flights under the terms of its contract with AirTanker. Vespina was used on 24 March 2023 by McNeely Charter Services operating as flight MDS75 with a duration of four hours forty minutes,[3][43] this followed an earlier flight by McNeely on 8 March 2023 using ZZ332.[43][44]

See also

References
  1. "RAF News - VIP RAF Voyager ready for global role". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  2. Chapman, Khalem (26 June 2020). "RAF unveils new scheme for VIP Voyager". Key.Aero. Key Publishing Ltd. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2023. Now known as 'Vespina', the aircraft – serial ZZ336 (c/n 1363) – arrived back at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, on June 25, wearing its new, bespoke scheme.
  3. "Flight history for aircraft - ZZ336 - Airbus KC2 Voyager - United Kingdom - Royal Air Force Air Transport". Flightradar24.com. Flightradar24. 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  4. "Ministry of Defence (MOD) Freedom of Information (FOI) – Information regarding Voyager ZZ336 - RAF 2017/7928" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. Headquarters Air Command, RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire: Ministry of Defence. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  5. Chapman, Khalem (27 June 2020). "RAF's VIP Voyager resumes tanker operations". Key.Aero. Key Publishing Ltd. Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2023. The RAF's recently unveiled, special schemed Voyager KC2 – which will represent the UK in a VIP transport role – returned to its primary role in providing air-to-air refuelling (AAR) operations on June 26.
  6. Allison, George (25 June 2020). "New paint job for UK Government Voyager aircraft revealed". UKDefenceJournal.org.uk. UK Defence Journal. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2023. The Voyager aircraft, named 'Vespina', has completed its refurbishment with a new paint job.
  7. "David Cameron to take first flight on converted VIP RAF Voyager". BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 5 July 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  8. "Blair flies into trouble". News.BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 3 August 1998. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  9. Royal Air Force (2023). "Voyager". raf.mod.uk. Archived from the original on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  10. Bet, Martina (2 September 2022). "Tour on PM's plane for officials blatant misuse of taxpayers' money, Labour says". Independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved 15 May 2023. . . . the PM's primary plane, the RAF Voyager Vespina . . .
  11. "Ministry of Defence (MOD) Freedom of Information (FOI) – Request information on the VIP Voyager aircraft - RAF 2017/7684" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. Headquarters Air Command, RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire: Ministry of Defence. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  12. "Satellite image of Voyager dispersal, RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire". Google.com/maps. Google Maps. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  13. "Satellite image of Voyager dispersal, RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire". Earth.Google.com. Google Earth. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  14. "RAF Brize Norton - Number 10 Squadron". RAF.MoD.uk. RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. 2017. Archived from the original on 26 April 2017.
  15. "RAF Brize Norton - Number 101 Squadron". RAF.MoD.uk. RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. 2017. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017.
  16. "The Voyager family is complete at RAF Brize Norton". RAF.MoD.uk. RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire: Royal Air Force. 14 July 2016. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016.
  17. "UK Politics - Row over Blair's flying beds". News.BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 22 November 1998. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  18. "'Blair Force One' plans get boost". News.BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 11 June 2003. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  19. "PM to get two 'Blair Force Ones'". News.BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 20 June 2006. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  20. May, Josh (19 November 2015). "Cam Air takes flak, as Chris Grayling praises late trains". PoliticsHome.com. Politics Home. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015.
  21. "'Blair Force One' plans scrapped". News.BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 26 March 2008. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  22. Tapsfield, James (26 March 2008). "Brown scraps 'Blair Force One' plan". Independent.co.uk. The Independent. Press Association. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  23. Pierce, Andrew (29 June 2008). "Queen to buy £10 million private jet". Telegraph.co.uk. Daily Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group Limited. Archived from the original on 15 July 2009.
  24. Jamieson, Alastair (28 March 2009). "Queen has £7m private jet plans halted by recession". Telegraph.co.uk. Daily Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group Limited. Archived from the original on 31 March 2009. Plans for a dedicated new £7m jet for use by Her Majesty The Queen and senior government ministers have been postponed until after the recession.
  25. Ruddick, Graham (22 April 2012). "Austerity Force One for Britain | David Cameron could have its own version of Air Force One under plans drawn up by Airbus – although it would be an aircraft fit for Britain's age of austerity". Telegraph.co.uk. Daily Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group Limited. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012.
  26. "David Cameron to get own plane for official trips". BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  27. Hall, Neil (19 November 2015). Addison, Stephen (ed.). "PM Cameron to get 10 million pound official plane". uk.Reuters.com. London, England: Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015.
  28. Tamblyn, Thomas (19 November 2015). "David Cameron and the government are getting a state of the art 'Air Force One' for £10m". HuffingtonPost.co.uk. Huffington Post, HuffPost Tech. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  29. Farmer, Ben (5 July 2016). "Inside RAF's new 'Cam Force One' VIP jet for ministers and Royals". Telegraph.co.uk. Daily Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group Limited. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  30. Cunliffe, Charles (25 June 2020). ZZ336 Government of the United Kingdom Airbus Voyager KC2 (A330-243MRTT) — photograph of Vespina following her new livery at Cambridge Airport (photograph). Planespotters.net. Cambridge Airport, England. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  31. "PM's plane to be rebranded at cost of £900,000". BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 17 June 2022.
  32. Scott, Geraldine (27 January 2022). "Liz Truss criticised for private flight to Australia which 'cost taxpayers £500,000'". Independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved 15 May 2023'This article contains photographs displaying the RAF Voyager Vespina in flight, in its new white livery with union flag on its fin and 'United Kingdom' in gold lettering, trailing both its in-flight refuelling hoses to two F-35B Lightning fighters from 617 Squadron.'{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  33. "RAF Voyager: Prime Minister's VIP plane acts as 'petrol station in the sky' for Lightning and Typhoon fighters". Gloucestershire Live. 26 June 2020.
  34. "Ministry of Defence (MOD) Freedom of Information (FOI) – Information on and costs of VIP fights by Voyager ZZ336 - RAF 2017/9126" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. Headquarters Air Command, RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire: Ministry of Defence. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  35. "CAS Netzero speech - Freeman Air and Space Institute". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  36. "CAS RAF NetZero ambition - The Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston gave a speech at the Kings College London on the RAF's NetZero ambition". GOV.UK. King's College London: HM Government. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  37. "RAF Voyager in key World Cup security role". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  38. RAF Voyager Exercise Soaring Falcon (YouTube video). Royal Air Force. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  39. Hatton, Ben (4 May 2022). "UK and Japan set to agree 'landmark' new defence agreement". Independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  40. Mathers, Matt (5 May 2022). "Why RAF jets are flying over the UK today". Independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  41. Wylie, Catherine (2 June 2022). "The aircraft taking part in the six-minute Platinum Jubilee flypast". Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg News, Bloomberg L.P. Press Association. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  42. "Half way point for Red Arrows season marking Jubilee". RAF.MoD.uk. Royal Air Force. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2023. There's also been several mixed formations, such as with the RAF's VIP Voyager aircraft known as Vespina.
  43. "Flight history for McNeely Charter Services flight MDS75". Flightradar24.com. Flightradar24. 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  44. "Flight history for aircraft - ZZ332 - Airbus KC2 Voyager - United Kingdom - Royal Air Force Air Transport". Flightradar24.com. Flightradar24. 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
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