The RAF paid £80 million for the planes to carry VIP passengers such as royals and senior politicians.
Liz Truss and Boris Johnson flew to their appointments with the Queen in Scotland today on two French-made Dassault 900LX business jets, which replaced British-designed and manufactured BAe 146 aircraft when they were retired earlier this year.
Known as “Envoy IV,” the two French-made aircraft were purchased by the Royal Air Force for £80 million to carry VIP passengers including members of the Royal Family and senior members of the government and military, and are based at RAF Northolt with the No 32 (The Royal) Squadron.
The Ministry of Defence said it chose the French-made aircraft because the 900LX is a “more sustainable aircraft” and can “fly further, faster, and more sustainably than the aircraft it replaces.” The Falcons, as the planes are known, were bought in an “open tender against various other business aircraft models,” according to an RAF spokesperson.
The Falcon 900LX produces about 3,157 kilograms of CO2 for an hour-long flight, roughly the length of the journey from RAF Northolt to Aberdeen. Truss and Johnson took separate aircraft, bringing the total CO2 emissions to approximately 12,628 kilograms for two round trips.
The two Envoy IV aircraft are currently operating in a civilian specification with mixed RAF and civilian crew under contract with private jet charter company Centreline Aviation. The RAF plans to upgrade them with military modifications and communications within two years.