Castro buys new "luxurious" jumbo jet

[barista.marxista]

Castro buys new presidential jet (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4793048.stm)

From the BBC:


Castro buys new presidential jet
External view of President Castro's new presidential plane
The luxury plane was exported to Havana from Russia

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 (£63 million) which Russian officials say is a shot in the arm for their struggling airline industry.

To head off criticism that a new presidential jet is an expensive luxury in austere times, Cuba says one of its new planes is being used to ferry workers to and from Venezuela.

To finance the deal, Cuba has paid 15% of the total sum up front, the rest coming from a 10-year loan from Russian banks.

Creature comforts

Russian NTV Mir television said the designers at Ilyushin had worked hard to give Mr Castro as smooth and secure a journey as possible.

"This is a sofa bed on which he can spend his hours of rest or read a book from his own library. Everything has been designed to be as ergonomic as possible, with a personal reading lamp," designer Aleksandr Kuchukhidze told the channel.
The interior of President Castro's new presidential plane
Designers have used beige colours throughout the plane

Principal interior designer Anton Nikolayev added: "Beige colours will predominate. Business meetings and talks can be held here."

The station showed the little luxuries the president could expect: a DVD player, drinks bar and leather seats. But security is paramount too: the plane comes with armoured cockpit doors and a system for making bombs safe.

Export breakthrough

The report showed the Ilyushin Il-96-300, built in Voronezh, being handed over at Havana's Jose Marti airport. It said the order was one of the biggest the Voronezh Ilyushin plant had secured this decade.

"These are the first Russian civilian aircraft to have been exported in the last 15 years," Ilyushin finance director Aleksandr Rubtsov said.

"We are convinced that Cuba can become a springboard for exporting our planes, above all in the countries of Latin America."

Russia and Cuba plan to sign another contract in Cuba on 10 March for the supply of a further five airliners, for an undisclosed sum.

Cuba has been a key customer of Soviet-built aircraft - whether civilian Ilyushins or military MiGs - since the Cold War era.

Even today, Cuban pilots for the newest Ilyushins are being trained in Russia, and Ilyushin engineers are in to Havana to school ground crews on maintaining the planes.

[cbm989]

seems a tad bit hypocritical...

[FULL METAL JACKET]

sad :(

[loveme4whoiam]

True :(. Still, we don't make a big deal of Air Force One (or the proposed Blair Force One he wants to get) - but then, Castro and Bush are supposed to stand for different things.

[Revolution 9]

I think this is BS, wouldn't this be for travelling to foreign nations?

I mean, you can't have a nation's leader on board NorthWest Airlines, that just provides the perfect opportunity for assassination.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

OMG the president of a country has a plane for traveling to other countries safely!!! THE HORRORS!

[Revolution 9]

Originally posted by Compañ[email protected] 12 2006, 12:34 AM
OMG the president of a country has a plane for traveling to other countries safely!!! THE HORRORS!
Exactly my point!

[FULL METAL JACKET]

OMG the president of a country has a plane for traveling to other countries safely!!! THE HORRORS!
Oh Yes! Am sure it needs to be luxury plane so a president can travel safely.

[Revolution 9]

Originally posted by FULL METAL [email protected] 12 2006, 12:39 AM

OMG the president of a country has a plane for traveling to other countries safely!!! THE HORRORS!
Oh Yes! Am sure it needs to be luxury plane so a president can travel safely.
Let's see: Any world leader needs a rather large plain, considering that the press, cabinet, leader of government, et cetera must be also aboard.
Don't forget that there needs to be a large gas tank, you never know where he must travel at a moments notice.
Do you honestly think that anyone (besides us few commies) would take a world leader that travels in a bi-plane seriously in this modern day and age of capitalism?

[Tekun]

Although IMO this isn't a good investment, considering the situation
Its ridiculous to bicker over a damn plane...

If some people want to attack Castro, attack him based on his interpretation of socialist principles, but to bring up a plane...cmon :rolleyes:

[ComradeOm]

Originally posted by Revolution [email protected] 12 2006, 12:50 AM
Do you honestly think that anyone (besides us few commies) would take a world leader that travels in a bi-plane seriously in this modern day and age of capitalism?
So Castro needs to impress the capitalists? Would any of those bourgeois leaders be impressed by a leader (a term that has no place in communism) that does not live in luxury? For that matter would any capitalist be impressed by a communist? :o

[FULL METAL JACKET]

Originally posted by [email protected] 11 2006, 07:50 PM
Although IMO this isn't a good investment, considering the situation
Its ridiculous to bicker over a damn plane...

If some people want to attack Castro, attack him based on his interpretation of socialist principles, but to bring up a plane...cmon :rolleyes:
No one's attacking Castro. But a "socialist" president does not need a luxury plane.

[Tekun]

Originally posted by FULL METAL JACKET+Mar 12 2006, 12:59 AM--> (FULL METAL JACKET @ Mar 12 2006, 12:59 AM)
[email protected] 11 2006, 07:50 PM
Although IMO this isn't a good investment, considering the situation
Its ridiculous to bicker over a damn plane...

If some people want to attack Castro, attack him based on his interpretation of socialist principles, but to bring up a plane...cmon :rolleyes:
No one's attacking Castro. But a "socialist" president does not need a luxury plane. [/b]
Feigned or not, this is to a certain degree, an attack
The article is meant to foster some contempt towards his action

Its a plane, and who knows if its as luxurious as they claim
A plane used for transportation, its not like he owns Boeing or somethin
Not that Im justifying such an action, but to attack a man that dedicated his life to the uplift of his people, over an airplane seems foolish

[Revolution 9]

So Castro needs to impress the capitalists? Would any of those bourgeois leaders be impressed by a leader (a term that has no place in communism) that does not live in luxury? For that matter would any capitalist be impressed by a communist?

I fear that if Castro wants to keep Cuba from being totally killed through trade embargoes from every corner of the world, then yes, he has to impress the cappies.

Besides, we all know Cuba is socialist... There has yet to be one class and only then can it move on to communism.


No one's attacking Castro. But a "socialist" president does not need a luxury plane.

So he should be aboard NorthWest right now waiting to get assassinated, right?

Oh, and what about the press corps, cabinet, ambassadors, and other functions of government/public that would go with Castro?

Should they reserve themselves to Coach? Or do you want Castro in Coach too?

[FULL METAL JACKET]

So he should be aboard NorthWest right now waiting to get assassinated, right?

Oh, and what about the press corps, cabinet, ambassadors, and other functions of government/public that would go with Castro?

Should they reserve themselves to Coach? Or do you want Castro in Coach too?
Stop being an idiot. I said a socialist president shouldn't have a luxury plane.

[Entrails Konfetti]

He should spray-paint the outside of it and make it look punk rock!

Seriously though, I don't understand the drink bar, and leather seats.

[rouchambeau]

To hell with Castro. This is exactly the kind of thing that happens any time a vanguardist gains power.

[Severian]

Some of this stuff may come with a plane that was purchased mostly for security reasons.

But Castro does enjoy some personal privileges, even though they're less than many people would expect. He's not a saint, and Cuba's not a utopia - or socialism in one country.

[Janus]

I think that the title of the news article is somewhat wrong since it is the state that is purchasing the jets. The state usually pays for the leader's needs since it wouldn't look very good if Castro paid out of his own pocket.

Anyways, some of the accessories seem to be a bit excessive for Castro who supposedly avoids the luxurious life but some of it is for security and practical reasons as others have mentioned. I'm just wondering what was wrong with the plane that Castro previously used.

[redstar2000]

Is it an unnecessary extravagance?

Beats me.

It would seem to be the Russian manufacturer that's emphasizing the "luxury" aspects of this deal...perhaps because they wish to sell some more planes to other Latin American governments that may no longer wish to purchase American-made planes.

In addition to which, just how "luxurious" can an airplane be?

Interior space is perforce limited. I'm sure it's bigger than my apartment...but probably not by much. :lol:

And just how much traveling is that old guy going to be doing, anyway?

I daresay a slightly less expensive model was available and might have been a more prudent purchase.

But Castro's chronic sucking up to Catholicism bothers me a lot more than the airplane he travels in.

What if he uses it to pay a "state visit" to the Vatican? :angry:

http://www.websmileys.com/sm/cool/123.gif

[Commie Rat]

$10 on the russian manufacturer exagerating the extent of the luxury, i admit that it aint going to be econmony but i doubt that it will be a luxurious as they make out.

[Martin Blank]

Originally posted by barista.marxista+Mar 11 2006, 04:15 PM--> (barista.marxista @ Mar 11 2006, 04:15 PM)Cuba is buying one of Russia's most up-to-date airliners, carefully crafted for President Fidel Castro's personal comfort.[/b]

... a model that has been in the air for three years at least. The Il-96 series is the Russian equivalent to the Boeing 767 and Airbus A600 series. Not quite Air Force One.


Originally posted by [email protected] 11 2006, 04:15 PM
To head off criticism that a new presidential jet is an expensive luxury in austere times, Cuba says one of its new planes is being used to ferry workers to and from Venezuela.

I would guess that Venezuela is helping the Cubans pay for the two Il-96s in exchange for all the doctors and other aid.


Originally posted by [email protected] 11 2006, 04:15 PM
"This is a sofa bed on which he can spend his hours of rest or read a book from his own library. Everything has been designed to be as ergonomic as possible, with a personal reading lamp," designer Aleksandr Kuchukhidze told the channel.

The comment about the furniture being "as ergonomic as possible" sounds like it comes right out of the sales pitch for the plane. I bet he says this about all the planes of this model that he sells.


[email protected] 11 2006, 04:15 PM
The station showed the little luxuries the president could expect: a DVD player, drinks bar and leather seats. But security is paramount too: the plane comes with armoured cockpit doors and a system for making bombs safe.

"Little luxuries" is right. Very little. A DVD player? Quelle horreur! My friend's SUV has leather seats and a DVD player. And let's not get all excited about the so-called "drinks bar". For all we know, that "bar" is little more than a floor-level fridge that can fit a six-pack of beer and some ice. Motel "drinks bar", anyone?

Miles

[bunk]

"Little luxuries" is right. Very little. A DVD player? Quelle horreur! My friend's SUV has leather seats and a DVD player. And let's not get all excited about the so-called "drinks bar". For all we know, that "bar" is little more than a floor-level fridge that can fit a six-pack of beer and some ice. Motel "drinks bar", anyone?

That is still an unnecessary extravagance, even if it's quite common

[Martin Blank]

Originally posted by [email protected] 12 2006, 03:39 AM

"Little luxuries" is right. Very little. A DVD player? Quelle horreur! My friend's SUV has leather seats and a DVD player. And let's not get all excited about the so-called "drinks bar". For all we know, that "bar" is little more than a floor-level fridge that can fit a six-pack of beer and some ice. Motel "drinks bar", anyone?

That is still an unnecessary extravagance, even if it's quite common
When a jet is built, they are either built for commercial or "private" use. I would figure this is the standard package for the "private" version (again, think of the comment about "ergonomically designed") -- and it would have cost more to have these amoenities removed.

Miles

[xprol]

What an excellent example of trot/anarchist childish mentality. The same daft mentality that complained about Lenin having a car when others had to walk through the snow. 'A bedside lamp and a library' scandalous! Lets have a revolution. Ha ha ha!

[Sabocat]

Maybe he should trade it in for a Cessna 172. He could ride in the back on a milk crate. That would definitely prove his prole sensibilities. Give him true "street cred".

Can they refuel a 172 in flight?

:lol:

All behold Cuban Airforce 1.

[Janus]

All behold Cuban Airforce 1.
:lol:


He could ride in the back on a milk crate.
It would make for a great propaganda poster. Better yet, Castro could actually pilot it around Cuba.


Can they refuel a 172 in flight?
Cessnas are mainly used by novice pilots and aren't built for that.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

They're also used for smuggling coke.

[redstar2000]

They are fun to fly in...as long as the weather's nice. The interior is like a car, with room for two pilots and four passengers, seated 2 + 2 + 2.

The view from 1,000-2,000 feet is fabulous.

But their range is rather limited...as is their speed; about 180 mph and I don't suppose more than 400 miles or so without refueling.

Smoking is permitted. :)

http://www.websmileys.com/sm/cool/123.gif

[Entrails Konfetti]

Originally posted by [email protected] 12 2006, 08:05 AM
"Little luxuries" is right. Very little. A DVD player? Quelle horreur! My friend's SUV has leather seats and a DVD player. And let's not get all excited about the so-called "drinks bar". For all we know, that "bar" is little more than a floor-level fridge that can fit a six-pack of beer and some ice. Motel "drinks bar", anyone?

I can understand a DVD player, most countries media isn't on VHS anymore--DVD is more universal. And I doubt Castro will be doing any watching of the first season of Beavis and Butt-head.

Oh so the drinks bar is a floor level fridge. Damn, I was picturing a luxurious pub in his airplane complete with a bartender.

Are Russian transportation vehicles good quality these days?

[CubaSocialista]

Originally posted by Compañ[email protected] 12 2006, 12:34 AM
OMG the president of a country has a plane for traveling to other countries safely!!! THE HORRORS!
Considering the amount of money Fidel has contributed to the impoverished worldwide and the amount of help and awareness he has tried to mount, I find the purchase of 6 "luxurious" airliners from the SOVIET ERA to be a minor thing to squabble about.

It's not like the US, where we spend more money on pornography than it would literally cost to provide basic education for the third world.

[Red Heretic]

Originally posted by [email protected] 12 2006, 02:38 AM
To hell with Castro. This is exactly the kind of thing that happens any time a vanguardist gains power.
You do know that Castro didn't use a people's vanguard in the revolution right? They used a guerilla army without a political party or base areas, that was not integrated with the masses.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Wow, you almost have to try to be that wrong.

[Entrails Konfetti]

Originally posted by Red [email protected] 13 2006, 08:12 PM
You do know that Castro didn't use a people's vanguard in the revolution right? They used a guerilla army without a political party or base areas, that was not integrated with the masses.
Well he did have multi-class suport in and for his campaign.

Which leads me to a question I planned on asking today, and maybe this question will be split.

Anyways, why did Castro figure that if he were to favour the support the upper-classes he'd inevitably be leading Cuba back into gangsterism?

[TC]

The station showed the little luxuries the president could expect: a DVD player, drinks bar and leather seats.

OMFG, they have Castro living like a king!!!!!! :lol: A fucking DVD player, doesn't he know that not everyone in all coach sections for domestic US flights have those?

...This article is clearly meant to attack Castro. Its labled a 'luxury' jet purely to embarrase Castro and imply some sort of hypocracy on his part when nothing described in the article is above the 'luxuries' expected on any comercial long range jet. The plane doesn't have anything in that a Virgin Atlantic or British Airways economy class passanger doesn't have, or that a buisness class passanger in any airline doesn't have.

And i looked up information about the make of the plane on google. Il-96-300's are cheap planes from the 1980s and i'm not sure where the term 'jumbo jet' came in because they're less than half the size of 747s.


I think it was extremely inappropriate to post this blatant propaganda article without any criticism.

[which doctor]

If Castro had a shitty plane, the bourgeois media would use it against him by saying that his country is so poor, they can't afford anything better. If he bought a luxury jet, they would critisize him for being such an extravagant spender while being the "dictator" of such an "impoverished" country. He can't win either way.

[piet11111]

first of all castro is old you cant have him flying around in a bone-shaker airplane.
second you can see the purchase as support for the russian air industry.
also with the emergence of the left in south america cuba needs airplanes to effectively reach those country's.

these planes are a great way to become more flexible with political contacts and to spread cuban influence around the south american continent.