Wikipedia:Today's featured article/July 7, 2014

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An RAAF Bombardier Challenger 600 from No. 34 Squadron

No. 34 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) squadron, responsible for the transport of VIPs, including members of the Australian government, the Governor-General, and visiting dignitaries. The squadron has a secondary role providing emergency transport during humanitarian operations. It operates Boeing 737 Business Jets and Bombardier Challenger 604s (example pictured) 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 1943 it operated Douglas C-47 Dakotas in New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies prior to disbanding in 1946. The unit was re-established in 1948 as No. 34 (Communications) Squadron at RAAF Station Mallala, South Australia, where it supported activities at the Woomera Rocket Range before disbanding in 1955. It was re-raised the following year, and since the 1960s it has at various times operated Dakotas, Convair Metropolitans, Vickers Viscounts, Dassault Falcon-Mysteres, Hawker Siddeley HS 748s, BAC 1-11s, and Dassault Falcon 900s. The squadron took its present name in 1963, and began using the 737 and Challenger in 2002. (Full article...)

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