Viet Nam’s first private aircraft took off Wednesday afternoon on its maiden flight from Ho Chi Minh City to the Central Highlands, carrying with it a well-known millionaire and proud owner of the US$7 million Beech King Air 350, delivered to him five months earlier.
Mr. Doan Nguyen Duc, chairman of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Company and owner of an eponymous top-league football club flew from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to arrive one hour later at Pleiku Airport in Gia Lai province, where his firm is based.
The main pilot is none other than Nguyen Thanh Trung, former deputy director of state-run Viet Nam Airlines.
Mr. Trung highly praised the plane, saying it is quite small but well-equipped with the latest technology and modern equipment and will be able to provide same service as a big craft.
Its millionaire owner, who was once listed by the media as one of the richest persons in Viet Nam, said he would use it on business trips to domestic places namely Gia Lai, Quy Nhon, Da Nang, Ha Noi, Buon Ma Thuot as well as overseas.
