Posted on 11/21/2011 2:34:07 AM PST by wolf78
An Airbus A310 formerly used by the German Chancellor has started a new life as an airliner…in Iran.
Just days after the publication of a report detailing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and subsequent calls from nations around the world—including Germany—for stricter trade sanctions, the former Luftwaffe Airbus A310-304 designated “Theodor Heuss” (10-22) was flown from Kiev to Tehran for use by Mahan Air, Spiegel has confirmed.
Several months earlier, in May, the German government announced it was selling the 22-year-old aircraft, as it had been made redundant by a former Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 specially refurbished for Chancellor Angela Merkel and her successors. Only weeks later, it was announced that an Eastern European investment group had purchased the aircraft for about $4.2 million (€3.1 million), though, the government said, the buyers had not decided what they were going to use it for. There is speculation that the investors either were used as a front for the Iranians or intended to sell the plane to Mahan Air the whole time.
(Excerpt) Read more at nycaviation.com ...
Here’s the wiki entry on the company who purchase the plane, Mahan Air: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahan Air, a private company based out of Tehran.
Their fleet’s not too shabby, even including a 747-300. There were some safety issues back in 2007, but those seem to have been resolved.
Some dubious dealings, according to the US Treasury Department, and Americans are prohibited from flying with this particular carrier.
Sorry about that....here’s a better link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahan_Air
It’s not being used as a VIP jet by Iran, apparently, but as an airliner. My company got a contract to refurbish some equipment we sold to the Wehrmacht which they later resold to Taiwan. Our team that appraised its condition more or less concluded it was better than new.
My company got a contract to refurbish some equipment we sold to the Wehrmacht which they later resold to Taiwan.
Contracts refurbishing equipments sold to "Wehrmacht" ?! And I thought Wehrmacht ended over 60 yrs ago -- Achtung!
When I was in the Army in Deutschland there was Gasthaus near our Kasserne that was run by a couple, a small mousy man from Soviet Georgia and his large Brunhilde-ish German Frau. She clearly despised the GIs who were the bulk of her clientele. But one day, some glittering superannuated Feldwebel in dress uniform showed up, all decorated as if he were Joachim Pfeiffer himself, and she practically had a orgasm fawning over him. Her first words to him, when he came in the door were, in a hushed and awed tone, “Wehrmacht?” For all I know he could have been the local dog catcher.
Interesting story..
I guess Bundeswehr gave way to Bundesstadt .. Bundesstadt (Deutschland)..
Gasthaus to Gastarbeiter..
And, Feldwebel “in dress uniform” back to lederhosen singing hedelweiss.. (am sure you’d know, that isn’t unique to Austria or even southern germany).. sound of music & all..
Btw, “Joachim” Pfeiffer, sounds interesting, at least, linguistically speaking..
...the former Luftwaffe Airbus A310-304 designated "Theodor Heuss" (10-22) was flown from Kiev to Tehran for use by Mahan Air...
It is ridiculous that democratic countries maintain luxurious private jets for traveling dignitaries. It is offensive that somebody digging ditches is paying taxes to support such profligate waste. The mission could be accomplished at 1% of the cost through downsizing and charter operations.
Germans getting redy for when they rule Europe...The Brits and the Frogs don’t have planes for their heads of state..they just charter one from British Airways or Air France..
It seems to me that recently the Iranian govt refused the German Chancellor’s plane permission to fly through Iranian airspace. Or something like that? And now they’re buying the plane.
thank you for the information
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.