Chen Minggang, a peasant entrepreneur from rural Guizhou province, China, bought a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter. Chen Minggang, 63, is CEO of Guizhou Dawn Energy Resources (Group) Inc.. Mr. Chen recently hosted free gala dinners for tens of thousands villagers, who came to see his private plane, for 8 consecutive days.
Wherever there is an individual who buys himself a private plane, there is the news, as does for Chen Minggang, too. When reading the news on the Chinese media, I noticed there were three versions (700, 600, and 4,000,000 Yuan) about the price of Chen’s R44 Raven II. According to MIT’s Philip Greenspun, the price tag for the model is US$400,000 (1 USD~6.83RMB).
Chefs were preparing the dinners for the spectators under the makeshift tabernacle
Chen Minggang, whose ancestors were all farmers, is from Liming village, Chengguan Town of Jingsha County. Chen Minggang, an only elementary school graduate though, had a business-savvy brain. Chen, now the richest in his county, started doing his business at 13. During his 50 year’s career, he had sold vegetables, firewood, groceries and also pulled the plate trailer to make money but eventually became a chief executive officer of a private company which has a value of hundreds of million Yuan through his perseverant and strenuous work. Chen had a good fame in his county because he did the charities for the local. Every year he donated big amounts of money to construct the elementary schools or to build the roads.
Cheng Minggang, in white shirt, and a journalist looked the cookpit of his newly-purchased R44 light aircraft. Peng Baiyuan, Secretary of Guizhou Transportation Department, and Zhou Mu, Party Secretary of Jiangsha County, attended the helicopter’s maiden-flight ceremony on August 15 and became its first passengers who circuled one round above Jiangsha’s skyline.
A police, with a loud speaker at his hand was seen standing not far away from the R44. The plane parked on the cement ground of Xinxing Recreational Park. The park, which was free of charge, was built by Chen Minggang for the villager’s entertainment.
Chen Minggang and his pilot, who is from Shangdong Provice, sat on their seats inside the R44 while an American technician was check the plane.
Video: Guizhou TV-2 People Focus programme was reporting on Chen Minggang and his R44.
FYI: For who are curious at why Chen’s plane could attract so many spectators, 1) free food, and 2) too many villagers who never saw a plane.
