Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX, KPHX)

[Joe Copalman]

JET PLANES, ISLANDS, TIGERS ON A GOLD LEASH . . .

[Tower Guy]

Trying to see what the interior looks like on this private jet, I'm sure it's nice. by Harvey Brugger, on Flickr

[Ross Dinsdale]

I'm digging all the different looks everyone is posting

[Joe Copalman]

Whoa.  Area-ruled engine nacelles.  Didn't even notice that.  Cool close-up Harvey.

[Tower Guy]

Thank you gentlemen, just looking for a different view.

[Scott Youmans]

Harvey, Love the close up shot. I was considering selling my 300mm but I think you just changed my mind.

[Jonathan Navarro]

LUXURIOUS LIVING

[Jay Beckman]

Well covered by all...!

[Anna M. Wood]

Great images everyone of the Qatar Amiri flight...   

[Matt Ottosen]

Since posting my photo yesterday evening to the Internet, I have received a little schooling and done a lot of research on this Boeing 747-8i BBJ.  It turns out that this aircraft does not belong to Qatar Amiri Flight and is not used by the current Emir of Qatar.  This is actually Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani's personal aircraft, and is registered to Worldwide Aircraft Holding in Bermuda.  Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is a member of the ruling Al Thani Qatari royal family, and he was the ruling Emir of Qatar from 1995 to 2013.

Boeing 747-8i BBJ

[Joe Copalman]

This makes the medical connection make more sense, since it was the current Emir's father who would come to AZ for treatment.

[Joe Copalman]

That said, I'm pretty sure it is still an Amiri Flight bird.  The fact that it is registered to a holding company is irrelevant - how many airlines and charters and corporations have their aircraft "owned" by banks or trusts or holding companies?

[Jeff D. Welker]

Interesting background info. I got back to the house yesterday and wondered aloud to my wife why a "royal" from Qatar would come to Phoenix in the middle of the summer heat? She quickly said, the Mayo Clinic. Who knows, maybe she's right.

Regardless of who actually owns and was using this wonderful example of flying wretched excess, my genealogy shows we're related  

[Scott Youmans]

Maybe I can get a job with them as a bus boy!

[Matt Ottosen]

That said, I'm pretty sure it is still an Amiri Flight bird.  The fact that it is registered to a holding company is irrelevant - how many airlines and charters and corporations have their aircraft "owned" by banks or trusts or holding companies?

You are right about aircraft that are registered to holding companies, but what I am finding is that all Qatar Amiri Flight aircraft have A7-??? (Qatar) registrations.  There is a lot of conflicting information online about this aircraft and who owns/operates her, but through digging a little deeper it appears that it is not part of Qatar Amiri Flight.  I do know that the FBO reservation was not done with Qatar Amiri Flight, but with a company in the UK that is owned by Boeing.  With that said, I honestly can't find any concrete evidence that it either is or is not a Qatar Amiri Flight bird.  There appears to be many questions about this aircraft's true owner and whether it is part of Qatar Amiri Flight.