Quote:
According to The Nation of Bangkok, King Bhumibol Adulyadej's new 737 left Seattle this week and arrived in Thailand after making refueling stops in Hawaii and Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. The king's new 737-800 replaces a Boeing Co. 737-400. The Massachusetts-born king has reigned for the past 60 years.
Any pics of this bird? Is this a standard 737-800 (in VIP configuration?) or a BBJ version?
Comet2404 From United States, joined Jan 2007, 15 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (2 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 7166 times:
I want one!
Seriously - it must be pretty damn cool to order your own plane. I don't know much about the king of Thailand, but I do know he's lucky to have this bird at his disposal!
Warreng24 From United States, joined Nov 2005, 557 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (2 years 2 months 3 weeks ago) and read 7013 times:
Flipping through the Photos DB, I found HS-TYR which is a A319 CJ.
Any reason that the King now has a Boeing and not an Airbus? Why would the RTAF need such a mixed fleet? I notice that they have a A310 and a 732Adv as well.
Dionysus From Thailand, joined Aug 2003, 67 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 6639 times:
It would be a much wiser decision that RTAF should purchase the A319CJ. However it seems that purchasing 737 instead of A319 for the sake of fleet commondity could be a political one. The A319CJ was purchased by the ex. prime minister Taksin and never before that the RTAF transport aircraft has "The Government of Thailand" paintwork. It was also unprecendented for the PM to have his own aircraft. This bold move lead to a lot of critisism toward the PM that the royal family is using a dated A310 while the gov't has brand new A319. To solve this mess, the RTAF decided to purchase B738 for the royal family and the paintwork is RTAF similar to A310. Perhaps someone might insist that they do not want to have the same aircraft-type as the gov't or vice versa.
Just look at TG fleet, why in the world would they need 772, 773, 772ER, A345 and A346 in the same fleet? And the infamous PW deals for A300-600Rs where existing planes are GE powered. These kinds of deal in Thailand are always political from export quota (thanks to A345/6), kickbacks (MD-11). and ect. ect. who knows?
Dionysus From Thailand, joined Aug 2003, 67 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 5400 times:
Just read the news moment ago, The Government of Thailand paintwork on the A319CJ will be changed to RTAF paintwork consistent with the A310, 734, and 738 currently in the VIP transport fleet.
Bohlman From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 5192 times:
I took a whole bunch of pictures earlier this week when I was picking up one of our planes. I actually saw it take off, to much pomp and circumstance. Sure was a beautiful airplane. Luckily, my camera somehow corrupted all the pictures I took of it, so we're out of luck for that.
DEVILFISH From Philippines, joined Jan 2006, 3048 posts, RR: 2 Reply 20, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 4733 times:
Quoting Dionysus (Reply 17): The Government of Thailand paintwork on the A319CJ will be changed to RTAF paintwork consistent with the A310, 734, and 738 currently in the VIP transport fleet.
So be on the lookout for it and take your fill of photos of HS-TYR in the current livery while you still can.....
Flybyguy From United States, joined Jun 2004, 1578 posts, RR: 1 Reply 21, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 4220 times:
Quoting Warreng24 (Reply 19): His Majesty King Bhumipol Adulyadej of Thailand was born on December 5, 1927 at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
He is a US Citizen as well.
This was an article that was published on boston.com a few months ago.
Interesting read. How is it possible for a king of a foreign nation to retain citizenship of the United States? I thought the State Department automatically renounces a person's citizenship when they gain an official position in foreign government.
Quoting ENU (Reply 6): 55-555 (BBJ2) is already in the A.net database:
Certainly, it's great that the longest reigning monarch in the world get a good plane... but the paint-job on that plane looks a bit drab to me. I figure if the king is going to fly on that aircraft exclusively than it should have a more regal look to it, much like the Royal Jordanian scheme.
"Are you a pretender... or a thoroughbred?!" - Professor Matt Miller
AirbusA346 From United Kingdom (England), joined Dec 2004, 7434 posts, RR: 2 Reply 23, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 3912 times:
RIXrat From United States, joined Nov 2005, 612 posts, RR: 0 Reply 25, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 3434 times:
Doesn't the King of Jordan retain U.S. citizenship through his mother who is an American?
Here in Latvia, the President is Canadian, although she had to put her Canadian passport in the freezer while in office. Come June, she'll be dual Canadian-Latvian again. The same in parliament. There are a number of Americans, Canadians and Aussies, who when no longer serving, revert back.
[Edited 2007-04-21 21:48:14]
[Edited 2007-04-21 21:50:13]
26 Lostmoon744: The 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution is very clear: AMENDMENT XIV Ratified July 9, 1868. Section 1. All persons born or naturalized i
27 Scottieprecord: Hahaha... The wisdom of Ben Franklin prevails yet again: "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Was the 2006 mili
28 Malaysia: hahaha in THAI, they use 555 as nick for laughing, like we would use LOL, they will use 555
29 Je89_w: Actually, I don't think the registration of the aircraft is actually 55-555; the registration is HS-TYS, judging from a rather desperate shot I have
30 RobK: 55-555 is the military serial, HS-TYS is the civilian registration. You can see both on the tail and rear fuselage in the pics. To answer the questio
31 EK413: LONG LIVE THE KING Highly respected by his people and difenately deserves the best... EK413
32 Spk: It is said that the interior has been heavily customized in traditional Thai style. They even use carved teak wood components to decorate the interior
33 Scbriml: Not too surprising when it is actually against the law to disrespect him. http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2046224,00.html Nice plane
34 Christao17: That's a tremendously complex question to answer. Nobody who is as beloved by his citizenry would risk that by overtly being involved in something so
35 Viscount724: " target=_blank>http://www.guardian.co.uk/internatio....html But just to complete that story: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/...-GEN-Thailand-Swi
36 Positiverate: What's the old Mel Brooks quote? "It's good to be the King..."
37 EK413: " target=_blank>http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/...g.php I havent read the article/links, but if this is regarding the idiot (I believe he is Iri
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