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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