The South African Air Force’s new intercontinental Boeing business jet, which will be used by the president and senior government officials, landed at Waterkloof airbase minutes after midnight on Tuesday, airforce representative Francois Coetzee said.
The Inkwazi, as the jet has been named, was flown on a non-stop delivery flight some 9500 kilometres from Base, Switzerland. It has a range of 10 185 kilometres. Inkwazi, an isiZulu word meaning Fish Eagle, is owned by the Defence Force and will be used largely by the President and his ministers.
Defence ministry representative Sam Mkhwanazi said the Boeing, registered as ZS-RSA, will be operated by SAAF aircrew supported by SAAF ground technical staff.
These crews have been trained at Boeing and will familiarise themselves with ZS-RSA for a month before the plane is put into service. Mkhwanazi said.
The total cost of the plane, including interior design and fittings and crew training was $51-million (around R533 million). – Sapa