French president takes maiden flight on "Air Sarko"

[sn26567]

French President Nicolas Sarkozy took his maiden flight on a newly purchased presidential airplane on Thursday, travelling to the G20 summit in Seoul aboard the swankily outfitted Airbus A330.

Bought second-hand from Caribbean Airlines, "Air Sarko" is a converted passenger plane equipped with missile-aversion technology, a secure communications unit and a bedroom with adjoining shower.

To be used for all of the president's official journeys, the A330 replaces two smaller Airbus A319 planes. It is larger with a longer range of 12,000 km versus 7,000 km for the other planes.

More from Reuters

[earthman]

An A330 is not large enough for his personality.

[galaxy]

Bought second-hand from Caribbean Airlines, "Air Sarko" is a converted passenger plane

Have I heard of a second-hand A380 somewhere in Singapore , for the president of Europe ?

[Ice]

I would have optet for A340, as B747 is out of the question for a French President, not a wide body, but four is always better than two.

[sn26567]

A description of the aeroplane:

[luchtzak]

Does he really need a plane like this ?

[galaxy]

At last we know for what purpose Sarko has increased the age for retirement.

[Sikiri]

Does he really need a plane like this ?

Apparently he needs more then one. I remembered that the French Air force bought two A340 from Austrian Airlines. I looked it up on planespotters.net. http://www.planespotters.net/Production ... etStatus=1

I was right, they bought the A340's in 2006. A rather impressing fleet:2x a319, 3x A310, 1x A330 and 2x A340. And that is without counting the dassault Falcons. Maybe Sarkzoy has a lot of luggage?

[Ozzie1969]

Does he really need a plane like this ?

Apparently he needs more then one. I remembered that the French Air force bought two A340 from Austrian Airlines. I looked it up on planespotters.net. http://www.planespotters.net/Production ... etStatus=1

I was right, they bought the A340's in 2006. A rather impressing fleet:2x a319, 3x A310, 1x A330 and 2x A340. And that is without counting the dassault Falcons. Maybe Sarkzoy has a lot of luggage?

One of those A319s has already been sold to Senegal. Won't those Senegalese be proud that their president can afford such luxury for himself at taxpayers' expense, while the majority of the population lives in poverty?

[euroflyer]

Does he really need a plane like this ?

My opinion might not be popular and to make it clear from the start: I am 'no friend' of Sarko, but the answer is Yes. You expect that man to run the country (which he probably could do better, I agree) from wherever he is, to participate in meetings and conferences all over the world within just a few days. He obviously needs safety, and needs to be fresh when he arrives for a summit etcetera. Which corporate traveller would opt for flights on which he / she has to make a stop during long-haul flights for refueling every time, delaying the schedule?
By the way, the German government just bought during the past few years two brand-new A319 with special interior (and long-range capacity for Berlin-Washington or Berlin-Peking non-stop) PLUS two second-hand A340-300 with a quite luxurious interior PLUS a number of Bombardier Global 5000 Business Jets. No discussion about this at all. And that government is not better than Sarko at all, by the way (but that is off-topic I guess )

[Captain Remi]

Would this plane feature any in flight botox refueling capacities for the first Lady?

[Nevihta]

This plane is not for him, this plane is for french president...
I totally agree with Euroflyer...