Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin plans to sell her predecessor’s lavish private jet on the Web auction site eBay, grounding a plane that became a lightning rod of criticism for former Gov. Frank Murkowski.

Palin said in a statement the purchase of the corporate-style jet was impractical and unwise. Her news release, issued late on Tuesday, was accompanied by a photograph of the plane and a person holding a sign that reads: “For Sale by Owner: The People of Alaska.”

Murkowski ordered the $2.7 million Westwind II jet over the objections of much of the public and the state Legislature. Even the Department of Homeland Security denied him a grant to buy the aircraft.

Eventually, the former governor tapped into a discretionary account to make the purchase, which he said was necessary to provide speedy and comfortable travel. Alaska took delivery of the plane last year.

“It’s time to get rid of it,” said Palin, who took office earlier this month. “I am keeping my promise not to set foot on the jet.”

Critics complained the jet, which must land on long paved runways, was of little use in much of rural Alaska, where airplanes often must land on short gravel airstrips, lakes or even glaciers.

Murkowski, who consistently ranked as one of America’s least-popular governors, lost a re-election bid when he finished a distant third to Palin in the Republican gubernatorial primary in August.

The winning entry in a Anchorage radio station contest last year to name the jet was “Bald Ego” — a reference to Murkowski’s reputation for arrogance.

Other suggestions included “Murky’s Turkey,” “Second Terminator” and, in a reference to Murkowski’s complaint the no-frills turboprop used by previous governors lacked a bathroom, “Incontinental Airlines.”

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