Republic of Korea Air Force new Code One

The Dae Han Min Guk Gong Gun (RoKAF, Republic of Korea Air Force) has introduced its newest VIP aircraft into service by flying President Moon to Dubai on 15 January 2022.

The new Code One, Boeing 747-8I HL7643 (msn 60410/1538), replaced Boeing 747-4B5 serial 10001, and is also operated by the 257th Special Flight Squadron based at Seongnam/Seoul AB-Sinchonri.

The aircraft is on a five-year lease from Korean Air, as was the other Jumbo, and was retrofitted at Hamburg (Germany) with Lufthansa Technik AG, where it arrived on 1 March 2021. Part of the retrofit was equipping it with various security and communication devices and the fitting of hardware for defense against missile attacks. Work was completed at the end of October, it was seen outside on the 26th, still in full Korean Air colours.

After various test flights over Germany the aircraft was ferried to the Korean Air Tech Centre at Pusan for repaint in RoKAF VIP-colours. It was already noted in full colours in December but was probably officially handed over in January 2022.

The few photos on line do not show its actual tail number and it is referred to as HL7643, its old Korean Air registration. Interestingly, all references to this registration in tracking software such as FlightRadar24 and FlightAware have disappeared, but you can follow the Boeing on ADSB Exchange.

Photo via 대한민국청와대