Lukashenka bought late Turkmenbashi’s Boeing (Photo)
141- 18.05.2012, 9:20
Charter97.org learnt that from informed sources at the National air company Belavia.
Belavia and Turkmenistan Airlines concluded a contract for sale of a second hand jet Boeing-767 300ER to the Belarusian side. The expensive purchase was financed from the state budget of Belarus.
The plane with a serial number 33968/926 and which had a registration mark EZ-A700 earlier and was a representative transport of the late president of Turkmenistan, “the Father of all Turkmen” and the author of the well-known Rukhnama Sapurmurat Niyazov. After his death the jet was left in the governmental plane fleet of Turkmenistan, however the next president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov feared to use it, as it is considered an omen of misfortune.
Lukashenka had been looking narrowly at Boing of the late Turkmenbashi. And finally, during the visit of Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov to Minsk the agreement was reached.
The sum of the transaction is kept secret by Belavia even from its employees. However, it is known that the cost of Boeing-767-300ER at the international market is from $124 to 160 million depending on its modification. However, Boing of the late Niyazov had been exclusively created in a VIP-variant: the cabin is decorated with real leather and finewood, and hygiene equipment of shower area is made with the use of precious metals and jewels.
Besides, the jet of the former Turkmen president is equipped with all possible kinds of governmental modes of communication (including satellite phone), the system of prevention of surface-to-air or air-to-air missiles, and also has parachute equipment. In the serial passenger jets there are no such expensive additions. So this approximate sum could be multiplied by two or three.
The information from this source was completely confirmed in the international aviation register. There is the following entry in it: “Boeing 767 -32K 33968 926 EW-001PB Belavia ferried 08 may 12 ASB-SAW, for VIP use ex EZ-A700”. Consequently, it is bought for a VIP person, and it has a registration mark EW-001PB now.
