Only Three Aircraft Remain After Two More Were Sold

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez has cut the state's fleet of airplanes from eight to three, with three of the aircraft being sold recently.

Martinez (R) made the planes part of her 2010 election campaign. She had promised to sell what she called a "luxury jet" purched by Governor Bill Richardson (D) during his administration.

The Alamogordo Daily News reports that the "luxury jet" ... a 2005 Cessna Citation Bravo, went to a couple in Alaska for $2.5 million last summer. Thursday, the state announced it would get $575,000 for a 1983 Gulfstream Turbo Commader from a resident of Sante Fe, NM.

Television station KOB reports that a 1976 Beach King Air which had not been flown for five years was sold in April for $245,000. Last fall, a Cessna Skymaster and an Adam A500 were liquidated by the State.

Martinez said "(t)rimming the number of aircraft to three makes more sense than continuing to pay for hangar space and maintenance when our usage has been quite limited."

The airplanes remaining in the State of New Mexico fleet inlcude a Cessna 421, and an AgustaWestland 109E helicopter flown by the State Police, along with a Vulcanair Observer used by the Department of Game and Fish.

FMI: www.governor.state.nm.us