CL604 Challenger

Air Force has a fleet of three CL604 Challenger aircraft, which were introduced in 2002. They are part of the Special Purpose Aircraft fleet, operated by No. 34 Squadron from Defence Establishment Fairbairn in the Australian Capital Territory.

The CL604 complements the larger Boeing Business Jets, also operated by No. 34 Squadron, which provide transport for the Australian government. It offers an adaptive and short-notice means of reaching constituents and wider communities, and can access regional airfields within Australia and the immediate Asia-Pacific region which are not possible via commercial aircraft.

About the Aircraft

The CL604 Challenger has a crew of three (pilot, co-pilot and attendant) and can carry up to nine passengers.

It has a speed of 870 km/h during normal operations, and a range of up to 5600 km.

The aircraft is a derivative of the Challenger 600, which has been progressively updated to improve range, performance and reliability. The CL604 is fitted with a high-tech wing, high bypass CF34-3B engines, and a Collins ProLine 4 ‘glass cockpit'.