Usmanov’s Crash-Safe Plane is Worth Every Cent
With over US$15 billion in the bank, Alisher Usmanov is known as the richest man in Russia. He is also one of the top 50 wealthiest people in the world. With numbers like this, it’s no wonder Usmanov is also the owner of the largest and third most expensive private plane in the world. Named Bourkhan, Usmanov’s plane is even bigger than the plane the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin uses.
Taking His Love for Sport Around the World
Usmanov takes travelling in style seriously and jets around with his spectacular flying machine to stunning destinations around the world like Crete in Greece. The super wealthy Russian reportedly arrived with Bourkhan at Chania Airport in Crete, Greece in late 2018. Known as a sports enthusiast, Alisher Usmanov is a major shareholder of Arsenal Football Club, one of Britain’s top teams. He is also the president of the World Fencing Federation, which is what brought him to Greece for a few days as he attended the annual World Fencing Federation meeting.
What Makes a Plane Fit to Fly An Oligarch?
The Bourkhan is an A340-300 Airbus bought by Usmanov a few years ago after selling his stake in the social media giant Facebook. The plane was named Bourkhan after Usmanov’s late father. Registered in the Isle of Man, the super luxurious plane was valued at around US$350 million before the super-rich Russian made several upgrades and increased its value by another US$100 million. It may sound like a crazy price to pay for a plane but experts believe this is reasonable for what it offers.
It’s Crash Proof
Alisher Usmanov can jet around the world without worrying too much about dying in a plane crash. The Bourkhan has a built-in ‘panic room’ that was created to save passengers in case it crashes. All the oligarch has to do is make a run for the room if anything happens, and he should survive the impact. Can one really put a price on safety?