Republica Argentina 757-200, ARG-01, c/n 29306/920 departed Salina (SLN), Kansas, USA on its delivery flight on 17May23 via Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW) and Miami (MIA) where formalities were completed, finally arriving several days later at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) in Argentina on 25May23, fittingly the Argentine May 1810 Revolution Day, which is celebrated on par with the country's July 9 Independence Day holiday.
The aircraft joins the Agrupacion Aerea Presidencial (Presidential Flight), a component of the national civilian government, unlike its predecessor aircraft, which used to be part of the Fuerza Aerea Argentina (Argentine Air Force).
ARG-01 was initially delivered to Iberia Airlines of Spain as EC-HIP on 24Apr00, passing on to Funair Corp. (manufacturer of inflatable accessories for yachts) on 29May05 where it was re-registered as N757AG and reconfigured for executive use, after which it was stored on and off for several years before joining the Argentine Presidential Flight.
ARG-01 replaces another 757-200, T-01, c/n 25487/470, which was delivered factory-direct to Argentina on 22Jul92 and flew for the Presidential Flight until 2014 when it was grounded due to ongoing mechanical issues, the most serious of which was an engine fire on 19Oct04.
Prior to purchasing ARG-01, the Argentine government reportedly considered buying the Mexican government's presidential 787-8, TP-01, c/n 40695/6, which Mexico was selling due to its controversial high initial cost, but the Argentine government apparently desisted due to the still-high asking price of the aircraft, even being used, with the plane eventually being sold to Tajikistan.
Finally, in late 2022, the C&L Aviation Group of Bangor, Maine USA arranged the sale of ARG-01 to Argentina for US$ 25 million minus a US$ 3 million trade-in credit for T-01 with the US$ 22 million balance being financed over ten years. Argentine government officials claim that the aircraft will last 35 years, so it is worth the price.
Delivery of ARG-01 was held up for several months because a government committee that traveled to inspect the aircraft in late 2022 found 54 deficiencies of time-expired equipment or with less than half of their authorized life remaining, ranging from windshield wipers to all 39 oxygen masks, requiring the update of these and other items.
ARG-01 passenger cabin features include:
- Bedroom suite with a queen-size bed and ensuite bathroom
- Main salon with seating for 12
- Two other meeting rooms with seating for six each that can be converted to bedroom suites
- Rear cabin seating for 12
- Seating capacity for 39 passengers overall
The aircraft has a range of 11,500km (7,150 miles) / 14 hours flying time, enough for nonstop flights to the US and Europe.
ARG-01 was painted by 1 Vision Aviation of Salina, Kansas with Republica Argentina titles and in a color scheme resembling an Argentine flag superimposed on the fuselage from nose to tail in alternating light blue and white "waves" with the sun of the flag on both the tail and on the belly between the undercarriages.
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