Fidel Force One

[ozzy72]

Cuba is buying one of Russia's most up-to-date airliners, carefully crafted for President Fidel Castro's personal comfort.
The purchase is part of an initial Cuban order for two brand new Ilyushin planes worth $110 million (

[TacitBlue]

That's great, meanwhile the average Cuban makes as much money in a week as most of us do in a few hours.  :-/ Why does old Fidel need a personal aircraft anyway? I didn't think that he did that much traveling.

[Ivan]

2x il-96-300 on order.
One will be the VIP machine and the other one will probably replace the Il-62 or will do the transatlantic stuff.

The other 5 are most likely Tu-204's... for tourist charter work

[cheesegrater]

"These are the first Russian civilian aircraft to have been exported in the last 15 years"

Western european companies DHL and TNT use the Tu-204. Isn't this a new aircraft?

[Ivan]

TNT and DHL ones are leased from Tupolev Plant. Both have them operated by Air Cairo pilots.

The Air Cairo pax ones that DHL used are possibly at their final customer now (Mahan Air) if they aren't planning to go for the PS-90 engine for the final deal.

Mahan actually bought the aircraft while Air Cairo leased it, so Air Cairo had to return them to the factory where they were sold to the final customer. They still have the Egypt registrations though.

So while they do have a non-russian registration (makes things easier checks wise) they still are OWNED by a Russian company

[cheesegrater]

There are pictures of the Cuban Il-96 on anet. The weird thing is the aircraft doesn't have a center overhead baggage compartment.

I find it odd that Fidel is getting a personal airplane. I don't think he travels a lot.

Also, you should post the source article.