OTHER AUSTRALIAN 707 OPERATORS

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

 

Commemorative artwork on the tail of A20-624.
Photo: RAAF

(click for a larger image)

 

For reasons of completeness, Australian 707 operators other than Qantas have been recorded on this website. This page describes the Boeing 707 fleet operated by the RAAF.

To mark the retirement of the 707 from RAAF service on 30 June 2008, 33 Sqn held a ceremony at RAAF Richmond. A brochure produced for the ceremony can be viewed here.

 

SERIAL
TYPE
MSN
NAME
DELIVERY
REMARKS
A20-103
707-368C
21103
 Wilberforce
11MAR88
 HZ-ACG Saudia
N1987B Boeing
29OCT91 Crashed in Bass Strait.
Total Time: 26753.6
RAAF: 1129.6
A20-261
707-368C
21261
 Castlereagh
11MAR88
 HZ-ACI Saudia
N7486B Boeing
23AUG06 Flown from RAAF Richmond to RAAF Amberley. 24AUG06 Withdrawn from service. Sold to Turbine Motor Works, UK minus engines.
16JUL07 Test flown at Amberley as N707QJ and departed later same day for Darwin, Male, Cairo and Manston.
Total Time: 33787.3
RAAF: 10313.3
The following was sourced from:
www.manstonmovements.co.uk
26MAR11 The engines were removed from the aircraft at Manston. Reportedly being parted out by Omega Air.
11APR11 Noted at Manston with tail and other parts removed.
25MAY11 Reported that seats were donated to the Airport Fire Service for fitment to a 747 airframe for training purposes.
16JUL11 Noted with engine pylons and wing control surfaces missing.
05AUG11 Airframe still intact.
A20-623
707-338C
19623
 Clarendon
17JUN83
 ex VH-EAC.
08MAY07 Withdrawn from service and all four engines removed. 21AUG07 Noted at Richmond with four engines fitted and running. Reportedly sold to Omega Air.
Total Time: 56675.2
RAAF: 11104.0
01JUN11 Registered to Omega Air as N623RH
25OCT11 Departed Richmond on delivery to Omega Air.
A20-624
707-338C
19624
 Richmond Town
30MAR79
 ex VH-EAD.
30JUN08 Retired at Richmond.
08JUL08 Towed from 33SQN hangar and parked with the other retired 707s.
Total Time: 50964.8
RAAF: 13824.8
01JUN11 Registered to Omega Air as N624RH
23OCT11 Departed Richmond on delivery to Omega Air.
A20-627
707-338C
19627
 Windsor Town
30MAR79
 ex VH-EAG.
21FEB01 WFS at Richmond and used for parts.
Total Time: 50234.7
RAAF: 12175.1
20NOV09 The aircraft was dismantled at Richmond. The forward fuselage will go to the RAAF Museum at Point Cook and the fin and rudder will go to the Qantas Founders Museum at Longreach.
SEP11 The forward fuselage will now be going to HARS at Albion Park.
A20-629
707-338C
19629
 City of Sydney
17JUN83
 ex VH-EAI
01NOV07 WFS at Richmond.
Total Time: 60283.7
RAAF: 10395.7
02JUN11 Registered to Omega Air as N629RH
23OCT11 Departed Richmond on delivery to Omega Air.
A20-809
707-368C
19809
 Hulksbury (unofficial)
16MAR88
 HZ-ACC Saudia
N1486B Boeing
Never entered service with the RAAF although the Saudia livery was replaced by RAAF markings to make the aircraft less conspicuous. Used for parts and as a trainaid. Request for Tender No. 94/20021 with a closing date of 20APR94 called for the sale of "Unserviceable Boeing B707 Aircraft Hulk (incomplete) Boeing Serial No. 19809" located at RAAF Base Richmond. The aircraft was subsequently broken up for scrap at Richmond. The aircraft was identified as A20-809 in some RAAF documentation but this serial was not painted on the airframe.

 

HZ-ACC in Saudi Arabian Airlines livery in 1969.
This aircraft was acquired by the RAAF for parts but never entered service.
Photo: Ron Cuskelly Collection

(click for a larger image)

 

HZ-ACC in Saudia livery at Geneva in August 1973.
This aircraft was acquired by the RAAF for parts but never entered service.
Photo: Ron Cuskelly Collection

(click for a larger image)

 

The ill-fated A20-103 photographed in February 1991.
Photo: Ron Cuskelly Collection

(click for a larger image)

 

A20-261 in service with Saudia as HZ-ACI.
Photo: Ron Cuskelly Collection

(click for a larger image)

 

A20-261 photographed in February 2005.
Photo: Ron Cuskelly Collection

(click for a larger image)

 

A20-624 salutes her retired sisters at RAAF Richmond.
Photo: Andrew McLaughlin - Australian Aviation

(click for a larger image)

 

A20-624 salutes Sydney KSA on her last day of RAAF service.
Photo: RAAF

(click for a larger image)

 

A20-624 flys off the coast from Newcastle on her last day of RAAF service.
Photo: RAAF

(click for a larger image)



END OF AN ERA - The RAAF Commemorates 29 Years of 707 Operations

 

THE FINAL DEPARTURES FROM RICHMOND
N624RH
N624RH
N629RH
N623RH
N623RH
N623RH
N623RH
N623RH

 

 

The RAAF 707s will be replaced by KC-30B tanker/transports which will enter service in 2011.

 

Issue
Date
 Remarks
15
31DEC11
 Added details of the tender for the sale of msn 19809 formerly HZ-ACC.
14
28OCT11
 Added a gallery of images of the final departures from Richmond.
13
24OCT11
 Added details of the departure from Richmond of N624RH, N629RH and N623RH.
12
02OCT11
 Added disposal details of the 3 remaining RAAF aircraft and the forward fuselage of A20-627. Also added details of the parting-out of the former A20-261..
11
28APR10
 Added two images of HZ-ACC in different Saudi liveries.
10
03JAN10
 Added an image of A20-261 in service with Saudia as HZ-ACI.
9
02DEC09
 Updated the entry for A20-627.
8
31MAY09
 Added images of A20-103 and A20-261.
7
31JUL08
 Added further information on the "Hulksbury".
6
24JUL08
 A combined RAAF/Ansett page was split into two separate pages. The above table has been updated with information drawn from a commemorative folder produced by 33 Sqn to mark the retirement of the 707. Earlier reports that A20-623 was originally named "City of Sydney" in RAAF service would appear to be incorrect. Accordingly this reference has been deleted.
5
22AUG07
 Added further information on A20-623.
4
25JUL07
 Added further information on the departure of the former A20-261.
3
23JUN07
 A20-623 has been withdrawn from service and A20-261 has been sold to Turbine Motor Works of the U.K.
2
25DEC06
 Added dates that A20-261 and A20-627 were withdrawn from service. Thanks to Bob Coppinger.
1
20NOV06
 Original issue