Posted on 11/12/2005 1:52:53 PM PST by freepatriot32
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Nov. 11) - Critics have dubbed it "Bald Ego," "Murky's Turkey" and "Incontinental Airlines," but Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski finally has the sleek executive jet he says he and other state officials need.
The $2.6 million Westwind aircraft, equipped with a leather sofa, burgundy carpeting and a flush toilet, arrived this week in Anchorage and will replace a no-frills turboprop used by previous Alaska governors for official business.
Critics say Murkowski's jet is unusable in much of rural Alaska, where runways are too short and made of gravel or nonexistent.
Murkowski press secretary Becky Hultberg defended the purchase, saying the Republican governor believes that "this is an aircraft that Alaska needs as one of the most aviation-dependent states in the nation."
Alaska, which has a $30 billion oil-wealth savings account, is in better financial shape than most U.S. states. But the jet purchase has been cited as one reason for the former banker's low approval ratings.
Polls show him to be the nation's second-most-unpopular governor, topped only by Ohio Republican Gov. Robert Taft.
"Bald Ego" was the winner in a name-the-jet contest held by an Anchorage radio station. Runners-up included "Murky's Turkey" and, in a reference to the governor's complaints about the lack of a bathroom on the turboprop, "Incontinental Airlines."
Elected governor in 2002, Murkowski, a Republican, served as U.S. senator from Alaska from 1981 until 2003.
Hmmm, Im not sure, is this thing smaller than a 737? if so, then a short gravel runway should be no problem. I commute to Kuparuk via Shared Services Aviation, run by BP and Conoco Phillips for the express purpose of getting us to and from work. its an old 737, not even a 737-200. Kuparuk has a very short gravel runway, and this landing is done several times a day 7 days a week, winter and summer. And as far as the bridge to nowhere...As soon as folks in New York and the like stop telling ASRC what they can do with THIER OWN PRIVATE land regarding ANWR, then those outsiders can pay for the bridge to nowhere.
This is intenseracer by the way...sorry folks.
$2.6 million for a jet like a Westwind is a low price. What year is it? How many hours on it? Besides, jets tend to have a very good resale value. Alaska is huge and far from the continental US. Having a reasonably fast aircraft that can quickly get over most weather makes more sense than packing the same number of people in a lumbering KingAir and dealing with Alaska's weather at altitudes most turboprops fly.
Reuters was sure to get Republican in there no less than three times in a small article - just because. Now show the Democrat scandal article where they make the same level of effort to make sure everyone understands it is a Democrat..........
In Anchorage, the city spent $1,607,800 to provides floral displays and landscaping on Municipal property. In 2006 they plan to spend $1,734,480.
http://www.muni.org/iceimages/OMB/ParkRec.pdf
$2,600,000 for Jet that doesn't die off and have to be replanted next year sound like a bargin.
A Republican buys an Israeli product and the press comes unglued.
Back in 2002, we were in Mentasta for the 8.0 shaker; now that was something to go thru once in a lifetime. Anyway, 2 days after earthquake, in flys Phony Tony for a feel good, I really care and feel your pain pict op. He came in on copter and hung around for about 1/2 hour. Took a bunch of picts with his arms around Katie John. Grandma Katie is like an Indian Jefferson and the same picts were used at election time. Katie John is pretty smart though and works all politicals for all she can; but detests them as people. Anyway, mentasta had a new paved road and all kinds of needed village improvements the following spring.
Politicals only travel to rural areas if it benefits them and they'd hike in if they had to.
Whenever I see someone take a "poll" seriously, I just have to ask, "who's poll?" ;)
ding, ding, ding
We have a Winner!
I did note the first load on the new jet was a bunch of prisoners headed South.
We will have both. Currently the state owns two King Airs along with several smaller planes. One of the King Airs is being used to partly offset the cost of the jet. I ride on a 737 to gravel strips to the slope. The smaller jet we're buying won't land everywhere, but it will go a lot of places in this giant state.
We have at least one helicopter.
Distances in Alaska are vast and in many areas the only practical means of accomplishing law enforcement missions is with aircraft. The Division must enforce Fish and Game regulations in the entire 586,000 square miles of Alaska as well as its 36,000 miles of coastline. In most of Alaska, there are no roads. Many commissioned officers in remote locations must be proficient pilots in order to patrol their vast enforcement area. The Aircraft Section provides the Department with aircraft that are safe and dependable to complete their patrols and other law enforcement assignments.
The Aircraft Section provides annual training and proficiency check rides to all departmental pilots as required by federal regulations.
The Section's 6 aircraft mechanics maintain the 46 department-owned aircraft used by both Alaska Bureau of Wildlife Enforcement and the Alaska State Troopers. To support the Alaska Bureau of Wildlife Enforcement and the Alaska State Troopers, the section's aircraft mechanics maintain the Department's aircraft by performing routine scheduled maintenance and inspections as well as emergency repairs. They also perform complete aircraft engine and airframe overhauls and rebuilds necessary to keep vintage aircraft in operation.
one for your ping l ist maybe
When you need to get around your state...and there are only four runways capable of handling the jet involved...you aren't exactly the smartest dude on the block. And the amusing thing about this state status symbol....and it doens't matter if its Alaska or New Mexico or Florida...there is a huge cost involved with keeping a jet. Maintenance, fuel, and pilot costs...all add up. This is not cheap. A turbo-prop job is probably half the cost...but its simply not a status symbol.
Could get a turbo-prop cheap. Fast enough for instate travel.
Or skis?
Much as I hate to say it, I can ALMOST see Murkowski's point on this one. The Westwind has half again the range and speed of a King Air (and the all-important bathroom, sheesh!). It can't go into the places that the King Air can go, but if they can actually get some use out of the plane besides it serving as a private limo for the Governor, then maybe it'll be a reasonable purchase. $2.6 mil for a corporate jet isn't that bad a deal.
That is, of course, assuming that the plane will be used responsibly in a manner that will make it worth the cost. That, I'm not holding my breath on.
}:-)4
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