New Aircraft for Air Zim.....
 

Airliner World June 2006 quotes
"The Transport Minister of Zimbabwe, Christopher Mushohwe, has agreed terms to acquire 5 Ilyushin ll-96s for possible operation by national carrier Air Zimbabwe. On a recent visit to the Russian capital Moscow, the African minister agreed financing and terms for the transaction, which is understood to include3 ll-96-400 freighters and 3 passenger models. A similar agreement for up to 5 Tu-204 models is also planned for the middle of this year. The new aircraft will be delivered in 2008 under operating leases from Ilyushin Finance"

Ah hmmmm... no fuel = no fly

So they've reneged on paying the Chinese for the new aircraft supplied by them and Russia is now next on the list of victims.

Have they no shame?

Seems like they're expecting a lot of pax....is the gravy train expanding in line with inflation.:suspect:

Neither the Chinese nor the Russians will be doing this out of the goodness in their heart.
Mugarbage may not pay now, but it will somehow bite the Zim folks in the Butt.

Didn't Castro just buy an Il-96? Figures... :hmm:

Looks like the Russians are moving in next door! Should make things even more interesting! :}

Castro did just buy an IL-96 to be used as a shuttle for Cuban workers working in the oil indsutry in Venezuela......I see a connection in all of this, wonder what it is??!!

Zimbabwe to buy more Chinese aircraft
By Tony Hawkins in Harare
Financial Times
Published: August 24 2006 05:59 | Last updated: August 24 2006 05:59

Zimbabwe has managed to buy six more military aircraft from China despite its financial troubles, the government revealed on Wednesday.

The purchase follows another order for six Chinese aircraft made last year and backs up President Robert Mugabe’s intention to boost the country’s ties with Beijing and other Asian countries following the imposition of sanctions by the EU and US.

The Harare government has been criticised for its human rights record, its alleged rigging of elections and its land distribution programme.

The president said in a speech last week that the country was benefiting from his “Look East” policy aimed at strengthening economic and political ties with Asia.

However, some business leaders, who have had to shut down operations because of fuel shortages, were angered by the purchase. Zimbabwe’s economy has shrunk by more than a third since the late 1990s, with inflation at more than 1,180 per cent and unemployment at about 70 per cent.

Trust Maposa, secretary of the Zimbabwe ministry of defence, told a parliamentary committee that the airforce would be getting the aircraft from China before the end of the year but did not specify the cost. He said the aircraft could be used for training as well as “low intensity” attacks.

Mr Maposa said the government was in arrears with three Chinese defence companies that had supplied jets and military equipment. But he indicated the central bank had plans to pay the debts and thanked it for providing US$4.7m (€3.6m, £2.5m) to help fund imports of military hardware.

Mr Maposa also said the finance ministry had increased its allocation to the defence ministry by more than 80 per cent in May this year.

Economists said that would have increased the military’s share of the total budget to 12 per cent from 6.5 per cent in the original budget.

Additional reporting by Reuters

Well, he might have agreed, but..............who in his right mind would accept payment in Zim 'bearer cheques' or whatever those things are that pass for currency in Zim? Methinks the Reds will exact much more of a price - uranium, chrome, gold, diamonds, platinum etc. The freighters are to take Mad Bob McGarbage and his entire entourage to a safe haven (CUBA?) when the S:mad:t finally hits the fan, no doubt.

The six Chinese 'military aircraft' will be an escort to the freighters, in case SA gets the idea there may be a 'coup plot' on the boil.......:E:E

Why would SA interfere?

Bob's our Dear Leader's big mate...:(

... Zimbabwe certainly needs a replacement for the B767 that has been parked in FRA for weeks now... :D

heard something about high oil consumption of one of the engines - anybody knows more...?
regards,
j. v.

At least the strategy (for China and Russia) is consistently clear; securing raw material resources is a critical goal, irrespective of the credentials of the government of the day.

So a few aircraft on the never never is a very small commission in terms of the big picture.