The Royal Air Force VIP Voyager, identified with the military aircraft registration ZZ336, and more recently named by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as Vespina since June 2020, refers to a customised RAF Voyager KC3 owned by the AirTanker Holdings Limited 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. Whilst the RAF operates the United Kingdom's fleet of fourteen Voyagers, a militarised multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft; ZZ336 Vespina, the VIP Voyager refers specifically to one individual Voyager KC3 aircraft now painted in a United Kingdom 'Global Britain' livery, and fitted with secure satellite communications system, missile detection, fifty-eight business-class seats, one hundred 'premium economy' standard seats, and media facilities, similar to other dedicated air transports of heads of state and government.
Vespina (aircraft)
RAF Voyager KC3 ZZ336 after her VIP refit, but retaining its original low-visibility matt-grey paint scheme, 2018.
VIP interior of the RAF Voyager, 2016.
Vespina at night, RAF Brize Norton, 2020.
United Kingdom military aircraft registration number
United Kingdom military aircraft registration number, known as its serial number, or tail code is a specific aircraft registration scheme used to identify individual military aircraft in the United Kingdom (UK). All UK military aircraft are allocated and display a unique registration number. A unified registration number system, maintained initially by the Air Ministry (AM), and its successor the Air section of the Ministry of Defence, is used for aircraft operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF), Fleet Air Arm (FAA), and Army Air Corps (AAC). Military aircraft operated by government agencies and civilian contractors are also assigned registration numbers from this system.
XR220, a BAC TSR-2, 1960s.
2699, a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2, 1910s.
PZ865, a Hawker Hurricane, 1940s.
WF369 under-wing serial on a Vickers Varsity, 1950s.