The new Prime Minister's plane took off this morning for a first test flight

The new Prime Minister's plane took off this morning for a first test flight, a plane held by the pilot of the IAA pilot. The flight lasted between two and three hours, during which time the airplane systems were examined.
This is the first test flight of a series of flights and further tests to be conducted later. Last Thursday, the plane, worth NIS 729 million, performed a convection test according to the test flight preparation protocol. In this convection test, hydraulic systems, brake systems, and ground steering systems were examined.
During the preparation for the first run, light smoke was detected from the left wheel and according to the procedure, a fire crew arrived in the air area. Later in the day the plane performed another run, in which the engines were tested at full power, the braking system, the ground steering system and other systems.
Over the past two years, hundreds of Aerospace Aviation Division employees have worked on the project. Compared to other divisional projects carried out by the division, for cargo and refueling aircraft, fewer changes were made to the PM's aircraft, and the main emphasis was on the construction of the new passenger compartment, which includes a rest room for the prime minister, a conference room and seats for 116 entourage members.
This is the first time that the State of Israel will operate an official VIP aircraft, so far the prime ministers have used Air Force transport aircraft, or aircraft hired from El Al and Arkia. The aircraft is also officially intended for the President, but President Ruby Rivlin has stated that he does not want to use it. at him.
The Israeli Air Force 1 is a 20-year-old Boeing ER767-300, purchased after a long service at an Australian airline.
The government has so far approved NIS 729 million for the purchase, conversion and operation of the aircraft for the first five years. The aircraft is intended to serve 25 years, and shares many parts with the new US Air Force refueling aircraft, the KC-46 Pegasus, which the Israeli Air Force is also adjusting to purchase, ensuring their availability.
The aircraft painted in blue and white and with a large Star of David painted on its tail, was awarded the unique 4 X-ISR license number. It can fly on a direct flight to the US or China, equipped with contact systems that enable secure contact with heads of state with the country, as well as the Elbit self-defense missile system, the type installed on Israeli airlines, which uses laser to 'blast' missiles launched at him.

The aerospace industry has announced  last week that it is in the final preparations for the first test flight of the aircraft, which is to be used by the Prime Minister, a plane built at the production site of its airline division in Lod. The aircraft is to be used by heads of state for decades to come. With that in mind, it is not yet clear who will serve the aircraft in the near future. The Aerospace Industries also published initial images of the Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, announcing that the aircraft could fly on a continuous flight without the need for intermediate landings, to China and Japan in the east and the US or Brazil in the west, and that installed sophisticated and encrypted interconnections allowing continuous, secure and encrypted contact To the heads of state with the interested parties.
The production of the aircraft in question is a product of Netanyahu's demand, and his construction was strongly criticized by the Netanyahu government's decision to invest huge sums in such a dedicated aircraft. However, given the political map picture as of today, it is not at all certain that, after years of anticipation, Netanyahu will be the first prime minister to initiate and use it.
The criticism of the aircraft construction was financial. First of all, the decision - since the Treasury held from the first decision that it is financially correct to continue flying the Prime Minister abroad based on the current model: Leasing an adapted aircraft from Al according to the Prime Minister's needs. In contrast, the Goldberg Commission in 2014 Because the ISA, according to the ISA, is security, because this aircraft will have communication systems that will allow it to run the state freely even when it is in the air and the need for additional aids.
The criticism continued from the swelling of the budget. Initially, the Goldberg Committee discussed the cost of $ 76.5 million (about NIS 300 million). At the treasury, they talked about $ 50 million - about NIS 200 million, but no protection costs. Either way - by the time of the auction, the estimated cost in the Finance Ministry had already jumped to more than NIS 700 million. In the end, the cost of the project amounted to about NIS 580 million, which includes the maintenance of the aircraft in the coming years. Originally designed to be in a shower plane - a plan that was eventually canceled due to the complexity of installing water systems in the aircraft.
A significant issue facing project leaders was the type of aircraft to be purchased. For which, too, there are now sure factors that make the wrong decision. In order to save the initial costs, the Prime Minister's Office decided to buy a Boeing 767 - a plane more than 15 years old. This decision meant a much lower cost than buying a new, more expensive 787 aircraft, but in the past year we have been told that by the end of 2018, all Boeing 767 aircraft will be out of use.

Photo: Yoav Weiss, IAI