Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath featured the multiple talents of the Thai deputy prime minister and health minister Anutin Charvirakul.

 

Now he can add piloting to politicking.

 

The instantly recognisable man whose face was a daily staple during the pandemic has qualified as a pilot.

 

He has two private jets - one a Cirus SR22T that he bought in 2013 for 22.7 million baht and a TMB 930SOCATA that he acquired in 2016 for 139.23 million baht, according to assets' declarations.

 

Anutin has flown provincially and regionally to Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

He was with some rich buddies in Khao Yai about 11 years ago. It was a place he drove to but one of his friends arrived by plane and within five years Anutin had his licence. 

 

He cited as a time when he carried a heart for transplant as one of his proudest hours in the cockpit.

 

His record flight with a copilot was to England from Don Muang. This included fuel stops in Bangladesh, Dubai, Cyprus, Monaco and France.

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Anutin is the son of businessman and politician Chawarat Charnvirakul who served under many governments starting with that of Chaowarit Yongchaiyudh in the mid nineties.

 

Anutin's father was involved in real estate development and his son is listed as a billionaire in his own right. 

 

Thai Rath charted some of the DPM's political dramas over the choppy last five years.

 

The head of the Bhumjaithai party will be hoping for clear skies ahead as he continues to fly into uncertain political times.

 

He has made it plain that he'd like to be Thailand's next PM. 

 

With strong political connections adding to a will to win who is to say that Anutin will not be landing at an airport near you as PM.

 

 

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Well, it's good he has other talents because as a public health minister... not so much.

This guy may be responsible for a massive tourism shift in the next few years. Guys got some balls and he looks like he is prepared to defend them

I do wish that whoever writes stories like this would do a little research about their subject before they post. Part of the problem seems to be that nobody checks their work, (editor or whatever) before it is dumped out.

 

Actually neither of the aircraft are jets.

 

He has two private jets - one a Cirus SR22T that he bought in 2013 for 22.7 million baht

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirrus_SR22

 

 It is powered by a nose-mounted 310 hp (231 kW) Continental IO-550-N piston engine. The four-seat cabin is accessed through doors on both sides of the fuselage.

 

The TMB 930SOCATA that he acquired in 2016 for 139.23 million baht, according to assets' declarations.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOCATA_TBM

 

1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66D turboprop engine,

And to think that all we thought he was good for. was handing out facemasks to ungrateful felangs.

Let us count his talents. 

1. He is a pilot. Few know of his abilities as a pilot, though he has a license. A propeller plane license, not a jet license, as he does not own any jets. 

2. He is very wealthy. Was that money well earned, or did it happen largely as a result of dad's patronage?

3. He is a very poor health minister. He oredoded over a poor vaccination drive, with the choice of the one with the  lowest efficacy rate in the world. His choice? We don't know. He was likely part of the reason why Thailand refused help from the world community on the better vaccines, and this was at least part of the reason they ended up so far behind the curve. 

4. The highly selective economic shutdowns he and Prayuth presided over killed the economy here. Nobody knows how many businesses were lost and livelihoods destroyed. The economy will likely struggle for years to come. 

5. He was highly instrumental in devastating the tourism industry, through extreme cowardice and draconian restrictions, that lasted far too long. 

6. He has been the figurehead for the legalization of cannabis. He does deserve some credit for that. 

 

Did I miss anything? 

Edited October 4, 20223 yr by spidermike007

One of the greatest politicians in the world I totally admire him.

In the end, his ego will get him, especially flying.

I have always believed he will be PM sooner or later. Not only does he have the money to support such an ambition, he also has all the right connections.

He seems decent to me, he has so far fought for the cannabis industry. Thats a massive shift in thinking and he is taking flak for it and defending it. This guy might just be saying what the old hands want to hear, biding his time. He could be a trojan horse for the students. To get that change under this government is strategic and creates real optimism for changes in the near future.

20 hours ago, webfact said:

He has made it plain that he'd like to be Thailand's next PM. 

Just retire and enjoy your ill-gotten gains.

The man who would be Weed King.

 

10 hours ago, rankric said:

He seems decent to me, he has so far fought for the cannabis industry. Thats a massive shift in thinking and he is taking flak for it and defending it. This guy might just be saying what the old hands want to hear, biding his time. He could be a trojan horse for the students. To get that change under this government is strategic and creates real optimism for changes in the near future.

His family are also a part of the cartel of big businesses that own many of the cannabis concessions.