All but one VIP government aircraft are grounded due to the high cost of operation and maintenance, revealed the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, answering a relevant question in the context of the parliamentary audit.
In particular, the PASOK MP, Dimitris Biagis, asked Nikos Dendias if there were cases in which government aircraft were used to transport people who do not belong to the military and political leadership, while he asked for clarification on the annual flight hours of the specific aircraft in the last decade.
In response, Nikos Dendias revealed that “government aircraft, except for the Falcon 7X, have been stuck due to their high and unprofitable operating and maintenance costs” while he then added that “these costs are disproportionate compared to the estimated value of the aircraft, while the possibility of selling them is still being considered and until then they will be used in absolutely extraordinary cases to replace the Falcon 7X”.
It is noted that the Air Force has three VIP aircraft, the 12-person Gulfstream V, the 32-person Embraer EMB-135LR and the 12-person Falcon 7X.
Their characteristics
Gulfstream V:
Crew: 4 (commander – co-commander – engineer – caretaker)
Manufacturer: Gulfstream
Engines: 2 Rolls Royce turbofans
Type: BR700-710A1-10
Torque: 2×14700 lb
Wingspan: 28.5m
Length: 29.4 m
Ceiling: 51,000 ft
Maximum Speed: 0.88 Mach
Embraer EMB-135LR:
Crew: 4 (pilot – co-pilot – engineer – flight attendant)
Manufacturer Company: EMBRAER
Engines: 2 Turbofan ROLLS ROYCE, type AE3007A1P, thrust 2×7057 lb
Wingspan: 20.04 m
Length: 29.87 m
Ceiling: 37000 ft
Maximum Speed: 0.78 Mach
Falcon 7X:
Crew: 4 (pilot – co-pilot – engineer – flight attendant)
Manufacturer Company: DASSAULT
Engines: 3 Turbofan Pratt & Whitney Canada, type PW-307A, thrust 3×6,402 lb
Wingspan: 26.21 m
Length: 23.38 m
Ceiling: 51,000 ft
Maximum Speed: Mach 0.90
Source: OnAlert.gr
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