Sultan of Brunei pilots own aircraft

For Bolkiah, it’s passion not exception

Liz Mathew. New Delhi

He is one of the world’s richest men but still believes in do-it-yourself. Hassanal Bolkiah, the sultan of Brunei, not only pilots the fortunes of his country but also his own aircraft. When the sultan arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday evening from Brunei capital Bandar Seri Begawan on a four-day visit, he flew his own Boeing 747.

And the long, five-and-a-half-hour flight was not an exception. The sultan pilots his own aircraft even when he flies across the seas to the US.

Minister of state for external affairs E Ahamed, who had gone to receive the flamboyant royal at the air force station in Palam, was first disappointed and later shocked.

Ahamed waited in anticipation as the sultan’s flight landed, but the royal seemed to be taking a long time to appear. When he finally did, he explained to the bewildered minister that he was coming out of the cockpit because he had been piloting the aircraft.
Bolkiah, 61, who also holds the portfolios of finance and defence in his island nation of 3,81,371, told Ahamed he had flown the aircraft for five-and-a-half hours to reach the Indian capital.

The sultan, one of the world’s longest-serving monarchs since 1967, reportedly owns around 5,000 cars. His auto empire includes 50 Rolls-Royces and the only right-handed Mercedes CLK-GTR in the world. His palace is said to have 1,788 rooms and he has also built mosques with touches of gold and diamonds.