According to a report by Encomium
magazine, former Borno State
Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sherriff
has toppled Bishop David Oyedepo
as the owner of the largest fleet of
private jets in Nigeria with the
acquisition of a new jet valued at
N11.5 billion.
Encomium reports
Former Borno State governor,
Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has
topped the chart of top 10
private jet owners in Nigeria
with the acquisition of a brand
new Gulfstream G650 model
worth about $72 million
(N11.5 billion). Encomium
Weekly’s check revealed that
it’s the most expensive private
jet among wealthy Nigerians
who are privileged to have
these expensive toys. The
latest acquisition brings to
four planes in his fleet.
We gathered that the aircraft,
which was registered in Dubai
with special specifications, is
the fourth in his fleet, as the
former governor already has
three old Dornier aircraft
which he acquired from Aero
Contractors at an estimated $3
million (N480 million).
According to our source, a Dornier
aircraft is used for charter services
as Sheriff recently obtained an Air
Operator Certificate (AOC) from the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority
(NCAA) for his airline, Skybird. But
a source said the Gulfstream was
acquired for Sheriff’s personal use.
An operator who is aware of the
purchase described the aircraft as
top of the range, adding that it was
unlikely that the former governor
would deploy it for commercial
service.
A Nigerian pilot and chief executive
officer of an airline that provides
charter services, said by registering
the aircraft overseas, Sheriff had
denied Nigeria taxes and import
duty on the aircraft.
He added that no Nigerian pilot or
engineer would be employed to
operate or work on the aircraft
because with the foreign
registration, only pilots and
engineers licensed in the United
Arab Emirates would be authorised
to operate and service the aircraft.
“By registering the aircraft
overseas, he has avoided tax and
import duty, which he should pay
to a country where he is a citizen
and from which he made the
money which he now spends on a
foreign crew,” he said.
The source also explained that
Sheriff would also be paying
overseas facility managers for the
maintenance of the aircraft and
would also pay charges to the
company under which the aircraft
was registered overseas.
The main price of the aircraft is
$65 million but other charges could
have raised it to $72 million, and
according to US-based Forbes
magazine, the Gulfstream G650 has
an order book of 200 customers
throughout the world.
“A $65 million price tag doesn’t
seem to detract from the
fascination with this incredible
airplane. While the rest of the
business aviation industry is
battling the depressed economy,
there seems to be a buoyant
market in the US and abroad for
this ultra-high-priced, high-
performance jet.
“And why not? With a top speed of
92 per cent of the speed of sound
(arguably the fastest civilian jet in
the world), room for a basketball
team, 8,000-statute-mile range and
some of the most sophisticated
avionics rivalling nearly anything in
the sky, this airplane is perfect for
doing business on a global scale.
“Because of its superlatives,
including price, however, it also
appeals greatly to the ‘if you’ve got
it, flaunt it’ crowd,” Forbes said on
its Brand Voice website.
Gulfstream described the aircraft as
ultra-high-speed, ultra-long-range
business jet and the gold standard
in business aviation.
The model was introduced in 2008
with a capacity for eight passengers
and a crew of four on nonstop legs
of 7,000 nautical miles (12,964 km)
for standard configuration.
“That means it will link Dubai with
New York and London with Buenos
Aires. With its powerful Rolls-Royce
BR725 engines, the G650 will cover
shorter distances at a speed of
Mach 0.925. No traditional business
jet will take you closer to the speed
of sound,” Gulfstream said on its
website.
The Gulfstream G650 was formally
launched as an internal company
project in May 2005, and publicly
unveiled on March 13, 2008. At the
public announcement occasion,
company executives stated the new
model would become Gulfstream’s
largest, fastest and most expensive
business jet on entry to the
market.
The G650 has a cruise speed of
Mach 0.85 to 0.90, with maximum
speed of Mach 0.925 and a range of
up to 7,000nmi (13,000 km). It can
be equipped with a full kitchen and
bar and may be equipped with a
variety of entertainment features
including satellite phones and
wireless Internet.
The jet use two Rolls Royce BR725
engines, each producing a
maximum thrust of 17,000 pounds-
force (75.6 kN). Gulfstream states
that with a weight of less than
100,000 pounds (45,360 kg), it is
able to land at small airports
avoiding the busy airports around
the world.
To provide better usage of the
internal volume, Gulfstream
designers rejected the usual circular
fuselage cross-section in favor of
an oval which uses a flatter lower
portion. The cabin is 8 feet 6 inches
(2.59 m) wide and 6 feet 5 inches
(1.96 m) high. The fuselage is of
metal construction and composite
construction is used for
empennage, winglets, rear pressure
bulkhead, engine cowlings, cabin
floor structure and many fairings.
The eight oval cabin windows on
each side of the fuselage are 28
inches (71 cm) wide. The wing uses
greater sweep (36 degrees) than
previous Gulfstream aircraft (for
example, the G550 wing has 27
degrees of sweep). It does not use
leading-edge high-lift devices, and
tracks for rear-mounted flaps are
completely enclosed within the
airfoil contour. The wing’s leading
edge is a continuously-changing
curve, and the airfoil varies
continuously from root to tip (the
tip incorporates winglets).
The aircraft controls are completely
fly-by-wire, with no mechanical
control between pilot and flight
surfaces. The surfaces are moved
by dual hydraulic systems. More
airliners today are using fly-by-
wire, but only one other current
business jet (the Dassault Falcon
7X) is so equipped.
The G650 shares its yokes and
column with the G550 in an effort
to receive a common type rating.
The wing design was completed in
2006. A total of 1,400 hours of wind
tunnel testing was completed by
2008. A pressure-test fuselage was
built and tested, including an
ultimate-pressure test of 18.37 psi.
The G650 taxied under its own
power for the first time on
September 26, 2009. A public
rollout ceremony was later held on
September 29, 2009. The G650 had
its maiden flight on November 25,
2009.
Flight testing for the maximum
operating speed of Mach 0.925 was
announced as completed on May 4,
2010.Gulfstream reported on
August 26, 2010 that the G650 hit a
maximum speed of Mach 0.995
during a dive as part of its 1,800-
hour flight test programme. In April
2011, a G650 crashed during flight
testing. The G650 test aircraft were
grounded until May 28, 2011, when
the remaining test aircraft were
allowed to return to flight testing.
On September 7, 2012, the G650
received its type certificate from
the US Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA). Its first
delivery was to an American
customer named Preston Henn on
December 27, 2012.
The former governor, who is also
the chairman of opposition All
Progressives Congress, APC. Board
of Trustees hides in Atlanta,
Georgia, USA, because Boko Haram
boys want his head. SAS is also
wanted by the Borno Civilian JTF
who recently burned his partner,
Mala Othman’s house and got him
arrested.
Thus, findings by ENCOMIUM
Weekly revealed that the new top
10 private jet owners in Nigeria are:
NameNo of Jets Types
1. Senator Ali Sherriff. 4
Gulfstream G650, 3 Dornier
2. Bishop Oyedepo. 4
Gulfstream G550, VG450,
Bombardier 604
3. Alhaji Dangote 2
Bombardier Express, Global
4. Dr. Mike Adenuga 2 Falcon
7X, Bombardier 604
5. Gov. Rotimi Ameachi1
Bombardier Global
6. Gov. Godswill Akpabio 1
Gulfstream V
7. Pastor Adeboye 1
Gulfstream V
8. Gov. Aliyu 1
Gulfstream V
9. Folorunsho Alakija 1
Bombardier Express
10. Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor 1
Bombardier 607
Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.10
