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:
Name No 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 Ameachi 1
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
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