Shahin, an elegant, efficient and state of the art Jet
Rouhani's aircraft for official visit to Khuzestan province appears to be Islamic Republic of Iran Boeing 707-386C, registration EP-AJE, 1001 (cn 21396/928). Air crew appears to be IRIAF.
VIP aircraft built in 1978, named "SHAHIN."
Ex-registration EP-NHY & EP-HIM. This plane formerly belonged to last Shah of Iran; registration HIM stood for "His Imperial Majesty."
Contrary to what had been said in the foreign press, "Shahin," the Royal plane was not garish. It was simply but tastefully decorated. The Royal quarters were in front, together with two bedrooms and bathrooms. In the center of the plane there was a conference room with telexes, radios and televisions. The ultra comfortable leather seats were pale yellow in the back section and light blue in front. A sort of efficient American Presidential Air Force One, but on a smaller scale. If you ask me how I know it, here s the answer: I have flown twice on US Presidential planes. Both times while on State visit to the US. That seems now a long, long time ago.
Colonel Moezzi invited me to sit next to him at the control. When we reached the cruising altitude, he tried to get in touch by radio with Teheran - Mehrabad Airport - nobody answered him. He got up from his seat and said suddenly: "Farhad Khan, fly this baby -- It is the first and the last time you will fly a Boeing ." I knew he had put it on autopilot and told him that it was "unfair." Moezzi pressed a button and replied is that so? "Take it up another 2000 feet, just pull here." Up we went... Was I dreaming? I was flying the Shah's Boeing for an instant I almost forgot about the living nightmare I was in.
Behzad Moezzi was an exceptional person, a man of action, truly fearless. He has earned himself a place in two separate chapters of Iran's swift and turbulent history by doing what he knows best -- flying airplanes and removing dangerous human cargo from Iran. Twice this Iranian Air Force colonel and US trained pilot has run a kind of "Exile Airways Express.," featuring hasty takeoffs from Teheran's airport and a sometimes bumpy ride for the foes of Ayatollahs -- The Shah out, he did it again. After flying 1200 hours in Iran's war against Iraq, the Colonel took on the next mission: slipping out the two most hunted men in Iran, ex-President Abdolhassan Bani-Sadr and his then pal, Mujahedin leader Massoud Rajavi -- aboard a military tanker plane and carrying them out to safety in France, one step ahead of three Iranian fighter jets sent up to intercept them.
