Eliud Kipchoge is a man who needs little introduction, if you have never actually seen him in action, then chances are you’ve probably heard of his human-defying achievements.
On Monday, October 8, the Eldoret-based athlete quietly took off from his local aiport, as he looks to soar into the history books as the first man to ever run the 42km marathon in under 2 hours.
His choice of plane? A customised Gulfstream G280 (M-INTY) that landed at the Eldoret International Airport, straight from British billionaire – Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s private hangar in the UK.
Seating up to 10 passengers and providing sleeping accommodations for up to five, this particular model of aircraft is meant to create an aura of class and sophistication.
The jet is valued at Ksh2.4 billion and was expected to make a fuelling stop at Luxor, Egypt, before proceeding to Vienna.
It offers a range of 3,600 nautical miles, which gives it transatlantic capability.
Unlike the big jets, the G280 is not built at Gulfstream headquarters in Savannah, Georgia. Instead, it’s assembled for Gulfstream under license by Israel Aerospace Industries.
Once airworthy, the aircraft is then flown to one of Gulfstream’s US facilities where its customer interior is fitted.
Kipchoge shared some personal photos after landing in Vienna, where he is set to take part in the INEOS 1:59 challenge in Vienna, Austria.
INEOS – the chemical company that is sponsoring Kipchoge’s phenomenal challenge, is owned by the British billionaire.
Here’s a short video of the Gulfstream G280’s stunning interior:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SntzpYvzikQ?autoplay=0&start=0&rel=0&w=854&h=480]
