Govt. Demands Quick Conclusion of Air Inquiry-Stolen Angolan 727 Aircraft Has US Plates (ID-N844AA)

Angola Press ^ | May 31, 2003 5:02 PM | Andre Luis Brandao

[ewing]

The Angolan Goverment recommended the setting up of mutilsectorian comission to study, evaluate, and propose the adoption of measures aimed at reinforcing security of airports in the country.

(after one man walked on the African tarmac and piloted the 727 off to destinations unknown-ed)

The Angolan Minister of Transportation Andre Luis Brandao assured that an inquiry is being done and that in his department 'the results are always published' noting that this was a very unusual case.

He stressed that this situation will call for urgent and efficient measures to be taken to keep order and security in the '4 de Fevereiro' International Airport.

The airplane which had a USA Number plate (N84AA) was in the country working for a company called 'Air Angola.'

[ewing]

How does one guy just walk off and steal an African 727 on the tarmac?

[widowithfoursons]

When this was first posted, many Freepers thought that it was a repo guy who took it. Sounds possible.

[ewing]

I dont care who this guy is, don't we have F-16's or an aircaft carrier in the seas near this country?

[Calpernia]

More background on these events here

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/920662/posts

[ewing]

Im wondering why we never heard of the nationalities of the friendly 'immigrants' who were quietly arrested at the Sears Tower last week..

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

don't we have F-16's or an aircaft carrier in the seas near this country?

Probably not.

Angola

[ewing]

If this guy ventures into international waters with the 727-he will most likely be toast now that his ID number is outthere..right??

[pabianice]

N844AA is Assigned

Assigned/Registered Aircraft Aircraft Description

Serial Number 20985

Type Registration Corporation

Manufacturer Name BOEING

Certificate Issue Date 01/03/2002

Model 727-223

Status Valid

Type Aircraft Fixed Wing Multi-Engine

Type Engine Turbo-Jet

Pending Number Change None

Dealer No

Date Change Authorized None

Mode S Code 52707266

MFR Year 1975

Fractional Owner NO

Registered Owner

Name AEROSPACE SALES & LEASING CO INC

Street 9990 SW 77TH AVE PH 9

City MIAMI State FLORIDA Zip Code 33156-2661

County Unknown

Country UNITED STATES

Air Worthiness Date 05/12/1975

[AlaskaErik]

N84AA is assigned to a balloon in Illinois. Usually the last two characters identify the airline, in this case, American Airlines. They must have sold it a long time ago.

[ewing]

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

How does one guy just walk off and steal an African 727 on the tarmac?

This guy probably used to work for Air America.

I saw a show about repo guys on Discovery Channel where a plane was repossessed. The plane was a single-engine Cessna, not a 727 though.

[ewing]

So there is no international law about this? Sounds fishy especially when the tag check runs back to Florida..

[adam_az]

I found a contact for aerospace sales & leasing co. inc at:

http://www.aviatorsale.com/seller/contactseller.asp?SellerID=756&AircraftID=708

frank molinaris
15001 nw 42 ave bld 47
33054 - opa locka
Florida
USA
Phone : 305-688-9720
Fax : 305-688-9725


They appear to have a 1978 727 for sale now.

http://www.aviatorsale.com/seller/selleraircrafts.asp?CompanyID=756

googling also turned up this:
http://www.alair.com/avdata/dealers.htm

dealer: #1855
Contact_Name: Chuck Moore
Contact_Country: United States
Contact_CompanyName: Aerospace Sales & Leasing Co., Inc.
Contact_Activity: Aircraft Sales & Leasing
Contact_Email: mojoaerospace@aol.com
Remote Name: 205.188.208.41

Contact_Details
1979 B727-223 Stg III, JT8D-9A, FAR 121 full over water equipped, TCAS II, W/S Recaro interior, Security cockpit door, 6038's to 2006


This is apparently a dealer - it could very well be a repo!!! too funny.

[Calpernia]

Just tried to do a search for more info on the Sears Tower. I got this online newsletter about it: http://www.refuseandresist.org/detentions/art.php?aid=821 . The story about Sears is the same we all knew; but, I found a few more I don't remember seeing posted here AND I found the distribution source of interest: Nicaragua Solidarity Network of the A.J. Muste Memorial Institute - Operating under Refuse and Resist. Seems to be an 'interesting' group.

[DannyTN]

This plane had been grounded for a year. I'm thinking it should have been resolved long before this. My guess is that somewhere there is a legitimate owner that just gave up trying to deal with the angolan goverment and came and got the plane.

[AnAmericanMother]

Dang if I would like to work as a repo man for airplanes. . . . that's got to be a high risk occupation.

Think about it. Folks who aren't paying their bills and wind up getting their aircraft repo'ed are not likely to be paying a mechanic to maintain the item they're about to lose.

But if the plane quits, you can't just roll to the shoulder of the road and call AAA . . .

[DannyTN]

Agreed, lack of maintenance is one risk.

That the country that grounded the plane that you are trying to retrieve the plane from shoots you out of the sky is another.

I bet he got paid pretty well.

[Nexus]

Wow. Used 727's aren't even that expensive ($500,000 fot a 1970 version). Check out their full list of transport jets:

http://www.aviatorsale.com/Large_Transport_Jet/

Let's have a Freepathon and get one!

[ewing]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/916542/posts

[ewing]

John Travolta recently bought a used one, I think he even had to go through an extensive background check.