HeliHub.com
6 Nov, 14
AgustaWestland has recently shipped the first of two VIP AW101s to the Nigerian Air Force. The manufacturer flew the helicopter from its Yeovil factory in the UK to London Stansted Airport, where technicians dismantled the aircraft and stored it in a hangar ready for the flight. On a similar assignment in 2013, inclement weather conditions had led to the AN-124 being positioned partially inside the Diamond Hangar in order to protect the helicopter during loading; the same procedure was adopted for this latest movement.
The helicopter was transported from Stansted to Africa on a custom-built cradle specially-designed to enable the aircraft to fit into the AN-124. With an overall height of 4.38m, the helicopter on its transit chassis was a tight fit through the aircraft’s nose door, with only centimetres to spare. With the additional support equipment and spares, the entire load weighed a total of 60,000 kilos. The support equipment, which was provided by AgustaWestland, was subsequently returned to the UK by Ruslan International on another of its fleet. Ruslan is a joint-venture company that manages and markets the 17 AN-124 freighters belonging to its owners, Antonov Airlines and Volga Dnepr Airlines, and they partnered with leading German charter broker Karpeles Flight Services (part of DB Schenker) on this shipment.
Nigeria has bought two AW101 helicopters for their VIP flight, and this is believed to be the first one, which carries the Nigerian Air Force code of 280 and AW serial number 50251. Both were originally part of the Indian order for 12.
http://helihub.com/2014/11/06/agustawestland-ships-first-nigerian-vip-aw101/

this is pleasent to the ear
hope it is used for its purpose

seankafor:
this is pleasent to the ear
hope it is used for its purpose

I hope you are merely being sarcastic, otherwise this post is gratuitously moronic.

Good development. Hope the airforce can maintain it

So, in the face of dwindling oil revenue and rising insecurity, Jonathan buys more luxurious aircraft to add to his bloated fleet.

How insensitive!

Hope we are not using military budget to provide escort to VIPs.

Am very sure this is not a combat helicopter, it's for our Ogas to ride in.

4Play:


I hope you are merely being sarcastic, otherwise this post is gratuitously moronic.

Welcome to the world of GEJites...the clowns will defend every action by this govt. no matter how irresponsible..VIP transport in the middle of a war? When the Army is being starved of gunship support?

While insurgents are making advances and our soldiers crying for increased air support, our leaders feel its the best time to get a VIP transport chopper. Is this going to allow Gen Minimah to fly over battle zones or will it just be for transporting babes around the country?

seankafor:
this is pleasent to the ear
hope it is used for its purpose

Are you kidding me We are at war and they are busy buying transport choppers for VIPs and you say it is "pleasant to the ears"?? Gosh! Nigerians indeed deserve their kind of leaders!

dat one dey... I still raep naija[quote author=omenka post=28088751]Are you kidding me We are at war and they are busy buying transport choppers for VIPs and you say it is "pleasant to the ears"?? Gosh! Nigerians indeed deserve their kind of leaders![/q

masseratti:
Am very sure this is not a combat helicopter, it's for our Ogas to ride in.

Its a VIP transport Helic.

At point in our history where our brave troops are in dire need of assault helicopters to combat boko haram , the insensitive GEJ places order and make sure he recieves first VIP leather interiored Agustas choppers.. What a govt