Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
Two different circumstances with Taiwan's aircraft! Panama uses Legacy 600 as Rescue Plane, Eswatini's Presidential Aircraft becomes a key contributor to President Lai's visit
Reporter : Huang Jingxuan / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/5424043 / Image : President Lai Ching-te successfully made a state visit to Eswatini by taking a direct flight on the Eswatini presidential aircraft, breaking through China's blockade. (Screenshot from Lai Ching-te's Facebook)
President Lai Ching-te's successful visit to Eswatini owes much to the Eswatini presidential aircraft. Taiwan donated a rescue plane to the Panamanian government in 2009, but it was converted into a presidential aircraft; the A340 that Taiwan resold to Eswatini in 2016 is still in use and became a key contributor to President Lai's successful visit.
In 2010, during the presidency of Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwan donated a Legacy 600 aircraft to Panama, a then-diplomatic ally, for use as a rescue plane. However, then-Panama President Ricardo Martinelli converted the rescue plane into a presidential aircraft, adding large dining tables, leather chairs, and other luxurious amenities, and even used it to attend the inauguration of then-Honduran President Porfirio Lobo.
In 2016, during the presidency of Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan resold a China Airlines A340 aircraft to Eswatini for approximately US$12 million. The aircraft, registration number 3DC-SDF, arrived in Eswatini in 2018; it was 25 years old. Military technology commentator James Jseng pointed out that the A340 ceased production as early as 2011 and was gradually phased out globally. Parts were difficult to obtain and maintenance costs were high, but this King Swan aircraft was still able to complete a 14-hour long-distance flight, which means that there is still complete and reliable maintenance support behind it.
Image of Eswatini's A340: Screenshot from the.plane.enthusiast
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