If you are in the market for a private jet with prominence, AuctionAlliance in South Africa will soon (21 days according to their auction countdown ticker) be auctioning off two DC-9 aircraft that boast either famous former passengers or owners.
The first aircraft, ZS-MNT, was manufactured in 1966 and was originally owned by Lee Iacocca who gained renowned for engineering the Mustang and reviving Chrysler in the 1980s. Later, the aircraft was owned by Ken Mizuno, a Japanese golf club developer with alleged ties to the Yakuza (organized crime in Japan) who then lost the aircraft at the roll of the dice to Steve Wynn, who subsequently used it to ferry Las Vegas high rollers to his Golden Nugget casino.
In 2008, ZS-MNT was acquired by Elite Jet & Mvelaphanda to charter South African heads of state and ministers. Since then, it has transported Nelson Mandela to his home, Thabo Mbeki on a business trip to Darfur, deputy president Kgalema Mothlanthe and former UN secretary general Kofi Annan.
The second aircraft, ZS-PYB, is part of Minister of Human Settlements Tokyo Sexwale’s family trust and its configuration includes a double-bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and plenty of wood veneer detail.
According to Auction Alliance, most of the demand for these two aircraft is expected to come from charter companies, corporates and perhaps African governments. Specifically:
The aircraft configuration of 17-19 seats, generous sleeping accommodation, meeting facilities and even the internal stairway, makes these aircraft ideal as they can carry large contingencies, which is often a problem when attending conventions across Africa.
Moreover, both aircraft have relatively low mileage at about 36,000 hours and they are in excellent condition.
Hence and should either of these aircraft suit your aviation requirements, be sure to check out the virtual tour that Auction Alliance has included on its website.
