Engineering:Inkwazi

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Short description: Type of aircraft
Inkwazi
South Africa - Air Force Boeing 737-7ED BBJ ZS-RSA "Inkwazi" (22820865373).jpg
Boeing 737-BBJ "Inkwazi" at Zurich-Kloten Airport in Switzerland
Type Boeing Business Jet
Manufacturer Boeing
Registration ZS-RSA
Radio code LMG1
Owners and operators South African Government
In service 2001 - Current
Status Operational with 21 Squadron SAAF

Inkwazi is a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ / Boeing 737) aircraft used as the air transportation for the President of South Africa and operated by 21 Squadron South African Air Force . It has seating for six ministers and ten significant others.[1] It cost R300m to acquire and another R108m to fit and decorate the interior which can seat up to 15 passengers.[2][3] The jet's name means "fish eagle" in Zulu.[4]

Replacement Tender

In November 2015, Armscor, tendered for the replacement of the Boeing 737 aircraft.[2] The cost of the new aircraft could range from R2-billion to R4-billion.[5][3] Some of the specific set of criteria include, a range of 13,800 km, seating for 30 passengers, a conference room for 8, and a private bedroom and bathroom suite.

The potential replacements include:[6][2]

In October 2016 Armscor announced, "none of the bids achieved a full score satisfactorily in the overall evaluation, thus prompting the cancellation of the tender."[7][8] The company said it was reviewing the tender process and will continue to search for a replacement.[8]

Current arrangement

The current aircraft is still used for regional trips. However when the ageing aircraft has been grounded for repairs, other private aircraft have been chartered.[9][10] When an intercontinental aircraft with a range of 13,300 km is needed, an aircraft has been leased from Fortune Air for almost R2m a month.[11][12][13] The aircraft was back into service (As of 2018).[14]

References

  1. ↑ "SAAF Aircraft". South African Air Force. 9 June 2014. http://www.af.mil.za/equip/aircraft.html. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Nhlabathi, Hlengiwe; Gibson, Erika (8 November 2015). "R4 billion VIP jet for Zuma?" (in en-US). https://www.news24.com/citypress/News/R4-billion-VIP-jet-for-Zuma-20151108. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 News24, Lizeka Tandwa. "New presidential jet will make Nkandla seem like child's play - Maimane" (in en-US). https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/new-presidential-jet-will-make-nkandla-seem-like-childs-play-maimane-20160915. 
  4. ↑ Laing, Aislinn (29 June 2012). "Jacob Zuma 'to buy presidential jet despite South Africa's poverty'". The Daily Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/9364963/Jacob-Zuma-to-buy-presidential-jet-despite-South-Africas-poverty.html. 
  5. ↑ "Presidency requests info about Zuma's 'new jet' | eNCA" (in en). https://www.enca.com/south-africa/presidency-requests-info-about-zumas-new-jet. 
  6. ↑ "This is what Zuma’s R4 billion plane could look like" (in en-US). 9 November 2015. https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/103447/this-is-what-zumas-r4-billion-plane-could-look-like/. 
  7. ↑ Wakeford, Kevin (25 October 2016). "STRICT TENDER COMPLIANCE KEY TO ARMSCOR’S SUCCESS". ARMSCOR (ARMSCOR). https://www.armscor.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Media-Statement-Strict-Tender-Compliance-25-Oct-2016.pdf. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Armscor cancels intercontinental jet tender for South African Air Force" (in en). 25 October 2016. https://www.polity.org.za/article/armscor-cancels-intercontinental-jet-tender-for-south-african-air-force-2016-10-25. 
  9. ↑ "Abuse of power: African leaders and their flying machines" (in en). 2016-04-23. https://www.france24.com/en/20160422-africa-presidential-planes-power-prestige-corruption. 
  10. ↑ Ramaphosa, Cyril (4 March 2018). "Arrived to a very warm reception in Gaborone". https://twitter.com/CyrilRamaphosa/status/969932877382193152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E969932877382193152%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news24.com%2Fnews24%2FSouthAfrica%2FNews%2Framaphosa-uses-controversial-businessman-zunaid-motis-private-jet-for-official-trip-20180306. 
  11. ↑ Serrao, Angelique (6 March 2018). "Ramaphosa uses controversial businessman Zunaid Moti's private jet for official trip" (in en-US). https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/ramaphosa-uses-controversial-businessman-zunaid-motis-private-jet-for-official-trip-20180306. 
  12. ↑ "Zuma's R500m backup Boeing is on its way" (in en-ZA). 11 September 2016. https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/news/2016-09-11-zumas-r500m-backup-boeing-is-on-its-way/. 
  13. ↑ "Zuma ditches presidential plane for a rental that costs R2 million a month" (in en-US). 25 July 2016. https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/131344/zuma-ditches-presidential-plane-for-a-private-jet-that-costs-r2-million-a-month/. 
  14. ↑ Helfrich, Kim (2018-11-21). "Inkwazi flying again" (in en-ZA). https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/aerospace-aerospace/inkwazi-flying-again/. 

See also

  • 21 Squadron SAAF
  • Air transports of heads of state and government



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