Originally D-ABIQ with Lufthansa, this 727 has quite an interesting history. It was used in March 2007 by Jean-Pierre Bemba to flee Kinshasa after he lost the presidential elections. Faro is as far as he went, and this old glory is stored there since then.

The logo on the tail may be that of AIMES Ltd, which reportedly operated this aircraft at the time.

ex D-ABIQ, N727CH, VR-BHP, VR-UHM V8-UHM. In September 1992 as 9M-SAS to Royal Pahang Flight (photographer not known)

ex D-ABIQ

Operated for the Brunei Government.

Looking the worse for wear after 15 years of open storage here.

D-ABIQ Lufthansa of origin. Operated by the Aimes Company. It was acquired in May 95 ex 9M-SAS of Royal Pahang/Sultan of Pahang. It is here still in the basic cols of that operator but with an adapted logo. It was withdrawn from use Mar 2004 and stored. Came back to life with One Charter LLC in Dec 2006 as N134AS. In Jan 2007 it went to the Government of Congo Kinshasa as 9Q-CMC. Stored Faro (Portugal) Oct 2007 and still there in 2020.

In long time "storage" at Faro since 2007. Still there as of 2022.

V8-BG1 takes off from Sydney's runway 16, believed to be operating for the Brunei Sultan's Flight. It was re-registered V8-BG2 in 1989 when a 727-200 took up its old registration. In September 1992 it was sold to the Sultan of Pahang as 9M-SAS.