Summary
- UK billionaire Mike Ashley increased private jet spending to $3.3 million last year from $1.9 million the year before.
- Frasers Group owns a $51 million Dassault Falcon 7X jet and Agusta Westland AW109 helicopter.
- Ashley defends private jet use, stating it saves time and is efficient, especially for traveling to and from work.
The UK retail billionaire, Mike Ashley has upped his spending on private jet and helicopter use, according to files submitted to Mash Holdings, the holding company for his business empire. But what aircraft does he have and how much does he use them? Let’s take a look.
A bit of background
Ashley has come a long way since his owning his first sports shop in Maidenhead in 1982. He went on to build the Frasers Group, a FTSE 100 business, that owns the sportswear chain Sports Direct as well as Evans Cycles, Jack Wills and Gieves & Hawkes. The group is thought to be worth $4.7 billion. He also has stakes in retailers such as ASOS, Boohoo and Currys and owns 70% of Frasers shares.
Aircraft and spending
The Frasers Group owns a Dassault Falcon 7X that it paid $51 million for in 2016 and they also have an Agusta Westland AW109. The files show that during the last financial year (from April 30th, 2023 to this year) his private jet and helicopter spending was up from the previous year, from $1.9 million to $3.3 million.
Defends aircraft use
Ashley took a step back from running his empire in 2022, handing the reigns to his son-in-law, Michael Murray, who wants to modernize the group and brands. Ashley is no longer on the board but advises when asked. He defended using the helicopter to fly to work, to the BBC, saying that he was not paid a salary.
“I do like to go by plane and I do like to go by private plane, because it saves a lot of time and is very efficient.”
Mike Ashley as told to the BBC
The Falcon 7X
The Dassault Falcon 7X has a range of 5,950 nautical miles or 11,019 kilometers. This business jet entered into service on June 15, 2007. The tri-jet has a high-swept wing and winglets. The aircraft is powered by three rear-mounted engines; Pratt and Whitney PW307A turbofans, two are on the side of the fuselage and one is on the top in the center.
Photo: Air Charter Scotland
The aircraft can take up to 16 passengers and three crew. It was the first fully fly-by-wire business jet with Honeywell Primus Epic avionics and the Enhanced Avionics System (EASy). It was the first aircraft to be designed entirely on a virtual platform using computer-aided design. It has a quiet cabin and can be fitted with a shower. Ashley’s aircraft has the registration G-MATO and is operated by Air Charter Scotland.
Technical Specifications:
|
Variant |
7X |
|---|---|
|
Cockpit crew |
Two |
|
Capacity |
12 to 16 passengers |
|
Cabin section |
2.34 m (7.67 ft) width, 1.88 m (6.17 ft) headroom |
|
Cabin length |
11.91 m (39.07 ft) |
|
Length |
23.38 m (76.08 ft) |
|
Height |
7.83 m (25.67 ft) |
|
Wingspan |
26.21 m (86 ft) |
|
Wing area |
70.7 m2 (761 sq ft) |
|
Wing loading |
449 kg/m2 (92 lb/sq ft) |
|
MTOW |
31,751 kg (70,000 lb) |
|
Max payload |
1,996 kg (4,400 lb) |
|
Fuel capacity |
14,488 kg (31,940 lb) |
|
BOW |
16,601 kg (36,600 lb) |
|
Turbofans (×3) |
P&WC PW307A |
|
Thrust |
28.48 kN (6,402 lbf) |
|
Range (8 passengers) |
5,950 nmi (11,019 km; 6,847 mi) |
|
Ceiling |
15,545 m (51,000 ft) |
|
Max speed |
Mach 0.9 (516 kn; 956 km/h; 594 mph) |
|
Cruise speed |
Mach 0.8 (459 kn; 850 km/h; 528 mph) |
|
Takeoff BFL |
1,740 m (5,710 ft) |
|
Landing |
631 m (2,070 ft) |
|
Avionics |
Falcon Enhanced Avionics System (EASy) Flight Deck |
The Agusta Westland AW109
The Agusta Westland AW109 now known as the Leonardo AW109 is a lightweight multi-purpose twin-engined helicopter designed by Italian company Agusta. It can seat six passengers with two pilots or seven passengers with one pilot. Some have a convertible interior, making it suitable for different missions. It is often used for VIP transport, military use, aeromedical flights, and search and rescue operations. The helicopter’s registration is G-CDWY.
It was introduced in 1976 and is still in production today. It is known for its speed, elegance, and ease of control. The AW109 is powered by two fadec-controlled Pratt and Whitney Canada PW206C turboshaft engines. The engines drive a four-blade fully articulated rotor system. Various avionics have been used, including a three-axis autopilot, an auto-coupled Instrument Landing System, integrated GPS, a moving map display, weather radar, and a traffic alerting system.
Aircraft Specifications:
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 or 2
- Capacity: 6 or 7 passengers
- Length: 11.448 m (37 ft 7 in) fuselage
- Height: 3.50 m (11 ft 6 in)
- Empty weight: 1,590 kg (3,505 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,850 kg (6,283 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206C Turboshaft engines, 418 kW (560 hp) each
- Main rotor diameter: 11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 311 km/h (193 mph, 168 kn)
- Cruise speed: 285 km/h (177 mph, 154 kn)
- Never exceed speed: 311 km/h (193 mph, 168 kn)
- Ferry range: 932 km (579 mi, 503 nmi)
- Rate of climb: 9.8 m/s (1,930 ft/min)
Popular locations
Mike Ashley’s aircraft were seen recently at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport, and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Nearer to home, by helicopter, he visited London, Redhill, Reading, Grimsby and Coventry, UK. The Dassault Falcon 7X was also seen on a bank holiday weekend traveling between London Luton Airport and Mallorca.