g38 From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 209 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 3702 times:
I posted this topic a few months back, however, it was removed because I included a link to another aircraft site which apparently isn't allowed around here.
That being said, I was searching for some interior photos of the VIP A340, VP-CCC. In the course of my searching, I discovered that as best I cant tell there have been no sightings of it since the middle of 2010 when it was seen to be in storage. It seems to have been in and out of storage between 2008 and 2010, but after that I can find nothing.
Who currently owns this aircraft and what is its status? Will we see her flying in her current configuration any time soon?
The most recent photo in the data base of this beautiful plane:
zkojq From New Zealand, joined Sep 2011, 776 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 3587 times:
Quoting g38 (Thread starter): Who currently owns this aircraft and what is its status?
According to planespotters.net it is owned by Saad Air but operated by National Air Service (NAS). This photo (http://bit.ly/wu81ul) suggests that it is in storage at BSL, which is a sad as it is a very pretty looking aircraft. I can't find any information about the aircraft that is more recent than 2010.
Quoting g38 (Thread starter): I was searching for some interior photos of the VIP A340, VP-CCC
g38 From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 209 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 3550 times:
No, I didn't. I looked everywhere but I can't seem to find any pics of the interior. I find this very surprising, as I'm sure someone must have taken some somewhere along the line. I just cant find them.
GCT64 From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2007, 1104 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 3265 times:
VP-CCC was logged at BSL two days ago (27 Jan 12). It didn't expressly say it was in storage but every sighting of it I can see for the last year is in BSL.
g38 From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 209 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 2897 times:
So the question then that pops to my mind is why is such a new aircraft in storage? The obvious answer is that a VIP A340 is simple excessive. The market for a personal transport of that size has got to be almost nonexistent. That being said, what are the chances that the proposed VIP A380 wont end up in storage after only a couple years of service?
BasilFawlty From Netherlands, joined Jun 2009, 1254 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 2745 times:
It's not stored, it's just undergoing or awaiting VIP cabin installation at Jet Aviation in BSL. VIP cabin installation can take up to several years, waiting time not included.
Other good examples are JY-ASX and M-IABU.
'Every year donkeys and mules kill more people than plane crashes'
N14AZ From Germany, joined Feb 2007, 2313 posts, RR: 25 Reply 6, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 2667 times:
Quoting BasilFawlty (Reply 5): It's not stored, it's just undergoing or awaiting VIP cabin installation at Jet Aviation in BSL. VIP cabin installation can take up to several years, waiting time not included.
Other good examples are JY-ASX and M-IABU.
That's what I though as well. In the last years of its production Airbus produced a considerable number of VVIP A 340s (besides the ones already mentioned Gvmt. Algeria, Morocco, Kuwait).
Hangar space for cabin outfitting of such large VVIP jets is obviously limited.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21464 posts, RR: 24 Reply 7, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 2391 times:
Quoting BasilFawlty (Reply 5): It's not stored, it's just undergoing or awaiting VIP cabin installation at Jet Aviation in BSL. VIP cabin installation can take up to several years, waiting time not included.
As a sidenote, I believe the first 747-8i to be delivered is a VIP aircraft, but it will only be flown to the location where the interior is being installed and won't go into service for another 2 years or so.
breiz From France, joined Mar 2005, 1808 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 2374 times:
Quoting g38 (Reply 2): No, I didn't. I looked everywhere but I can't seem to find any pics of the interior.
It is likely that there is no interior picture because there is nothing yet to be shown.
When delivered in late 2006, it was said that the ac would be out-fitted for 80 PAX.
She was flown to Dublin in early 2008 to receive the crew rest module in the cargo hold.
She was then flown to Basel where she was seen cocconed in 2010.
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