The Macedonian government is expected to launch a tender for a new head-of-state aircraft, following the crash of its Beechcraft King Air 200 earlier this year.
President Boris Trajkovski and eight others were killed near Mostar, southern Bosnia-Herzegovina, on 26 February, leaving Macedonia without a dedicated VIP aircraft. A Learjet 25B was transferred to the Macedonian air force in 2002 for advanced pilot training and for calibrating ground-based radar stations. The 1976 Learjet, based at Petrovec air base, near the capital Skopje, is awaiting overhaul and is likely to be offered for sale.
The Macedonian government is looking to acquire a brand-new VIP jet, with the Bombardier Learjet 60 or Dassault Falcon 50 considered to be front runners, says the defence ministry.
IGOR BOZINOVSKI / SKOPJE
Source: Flight International
