President Muhammed Buhari led Federal government has again put up for sale a jet in the Presidential fleet, Hawker 4000 aircraft.
Buhari had four years ago sold off two of the ten airplanes, a Falcon 7X and Hawker Sidley 4000 in an apparent move to shed weight and cut costs.
Nigerians have since clamoured for the government to look inwards and reduce its overhead cost including federal legislators jumbo pay as the country battles with a wobbling economy, crippled further by Covid-19 pandemic.
The business-size jet with registration number, 5N-FGX/: RC 066 now for sale which entered into service in December 2011, has capacity for 9 passengers and three crew.
The Hawker 4000, originally known as the Hawker Horizon, is a super-midsize business jet developed by Hawker Beechcraft (formerly Raytheon Aircraft Company. The luxury airplane cost $22.9 million according to the manufacturers of the plane.
The government has informed interested buyers of the luxury aircraft to inspect the Hawker 4000 aircraft at the Presidential Air Fleet’s Hangar located at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja which it said is , Reasdy for sale immediately’.
The Hawker 4000 can be outfitted to seat ten people. The aircraft’s carbon composite construction gives it more interior space than many jets in its class.
Interior standing room is an average of six feet. This composite construction also makes the aircraft lighter than a standard aluminum structure, allowing a maximum range of 3,445 nautical miles, and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet (14,000 m).
The aircraft is attracting a lot of attention because of its young age and high level maintenance given to it including few hours it has flown coupled with the interior that is said to be exquisite.
Hawker 4000 is a super-midsize airplane that seats nine passengers in an elegant and luxurious stand-up cabin.
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With a range of nearly 3,200 nm, it is a true coast-to-coast performer against nearly any headwind and at better than airline speeds.
It is a remarkable short-field performer for an airplane in its class, and it is competitively priced too. On top of that it is remarkably sophisticated, with systems and features unparalleled in its category.
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President Muhammadu Buhari had before he assumed power said he would put the airplanes for sale to cut cost of governance.
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Interested buyers were requested to submit their closed bid to the Chairman, Committee for Sale of Aircraft, Office of the National Security Adviser, care of Special Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. It also said that all the bids should be quoted in United States dollars.
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The notice read, “Please note that all bids must be submitted within one week of this publication. Background check is required as a pre-qualification for the bid. Prospective bidders who want to inspect the aircraft will be granted access within one week from this advertisement.”
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had in 2010 approved the purchase of three for the Presidential Air Fleet. The airplanes, which included a Gulfstream G550 and two new Falcon 7X cost the country $154.3 million.
