Refurbished Japan’s Air Force One on sale
Mr. Benedict Sirimanna and Mr. I. Ishi of Econecol besides the aircraft.
The Japanese Air Force One aircraft is set to sail on higher clouds for a price to match its latest furnishings on par with the luxuries of similar aircraft of West Asian leaders and the US President.
The aircraft, a Boeing certified 747-400 has just 16,000 flying hours and is considered a good investment as the biggest value is in its engines, Sri Lankan-born Benedict Sirimanne, US-based President of the CSDS Aircraft Sales & Leasing Inc, an aircraft sales company, said in an emailed interview with the Business Times.
He purchased two Japanese aircraft from a company named Econecol that won the bid to buy these from the Japanese Self Defense Force as they were up for sale for only Japanese companies.
Econecol bought the aircraft for US$16 million and in turn Mr. Sirimanne purchased it for US$18 million and is now looking at selling the second one with a new interior for a price of US$28 million.
“We brought the two aircraft to Marana, Arizona. One is already sold to CargoJet of Canada which plans to convert it to Cargo. Second one we plan to do a new interior for it and will be sold for $28 million,” he explained.
These aircrafts have attracted several private buyers including an Aircraft Museum, he noted.
“Each of the aircraft has four GE CF6-80C2 Engines which are in wide use even on other type of aircraft such as the Boeing 767. The purchase is a very good investment for the company, without a doubt,” Mr. Sirimanne said.
The second aircraft will be installed with a new bedroom and shower, which were removed by the Japanese government before delivery to the US firm.
In addition, the refurbished aircraft would also be installed with a conference room and a lounge.
“Once complete, the only other comparable aircraft in the world will be the three other VIP 747-400 aircraft being flown by the ruler of Dubai, Sultan of Brunei and the US President. This is a very prestigious aircraft,” he stated.
Currently, this aircraft sales company is in the process of closing in on an Airbus A 321 aircraft and later in the year three Boeing 777-200ER aircraft flown by Singapore Airlines, Mr. Benedict disclosed.