ROCKFORD, ILL. – Courtesy Aircraft Sales located at Rockford International Airport, Rockford, Illinois, received a call in mid-April 2012 from an F-16 pilot in Norway looking for a special aircraft for a special mission…to help celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Flight by the Norwegian Airforce. But the aircraft had to be delivered and ready to fly by June, just in time for air show season in Europe.
Exporting an ex-military aircraft is no easy task, not to mention making a delivery to Norway. There are several steps involved to get final approval to export such aircraft.
Approximately 20 percent of Courtesy Aircraft sales each year are overseas. But the time frame needed to complete the transaction was much shorter than most deals done in the past.
First, the aircraft must meet approval by the United States government to export a former military aircraft. Courtesy Aircraft holds a license from the United States State Department Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) office as an exporter and broker.
After all requirements were met and approval was made by the state department, arrangements needed to be made to have the aircraft inspected and prepared by Heritage Aero mechanics, also located at Rockford International Airport. The T-33 also had to be equipped with a Mode S transponder for foreign flight. Avionics Place, also based in Rockford, did this.
After all maintenance requirements were met, the right flight crew needed to be located for this two-seat aircraft…a crew willing and knowledgeable of making the transatlantic flight.
Courtesy Aircraft found the right pilots for the job: retired U.S. Air Force reserve pilot and current Delta 777 first officer, Paul Keppeler, who also owns and flies a T-33 based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The other pilot selected was retired U.S. Air Force pilot and current Delta 777 captain, Richard Hess, who is also president of International Jets. Hess has flown several transatlantic flights over the years.
The transatlantic trip took 3 days to complete starting at Rockford, then with stops at Quebec City, Canada; Goose Bay, Newfoundland; Narsarsuac, Greenland; Kevlavik, Iceland; and ending in Norway.
Once the aircraft arrived at its destination in Norway, it was the featured attraction at many events celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Flight by the Norwegian Airforce because it is currently the only flying T-33 in Europe.
Martin Thu Tesli, the new owner of this aircraft, was pleased with the entire transaction: “The impossible has been made possible!” said Tesli. Former military pilots who used to fly the jet are so thankful and happy to see this aircraft flying again. They have such a deep connection to the aircraft.
Tesli has already been asked to participate in Red Bull’s Annual Airshow in Austria, as well as the famous Duxford Airshow held in the United Kingdom (www.courtesyaircraft.com).
