Helicopter

Todd Rome co-founded Blue Star Jets in 2001 (with CEO Ricky Sitomer) in response to the inefficiencies in the private jet marketplace. It is now one of the world's largest private aircraft charter brokers, offering an unparalleled level of personalized service; their motto is "Any Jet, Any Time, Any Place." Blue Star Jets grants clients freedom from the financial constraints of fractional jet ownership; the savings of paying only for trips taken; and the flexibility to choose the best aircraft according to a trip's specific budget requirement. With its ShareAJet Exchange, Blue Star Jets has lowered the barrier of entry for the private aviation industry for commercial fliers.

By creating a network of charter companies, Blue Star Jets now has access to over 4,000 aircraft worldwide, ranging from helicopters to Boeing business jets. Prior to Blue Star Jets, Mr. Rome ran a successful broker-dealer firm on Wall Street. He is also Co-Chair of the Diabetes Research Institute, and has made numerous appearances on CNN, CNBC and FOX, among others. When not traveling or working at his office in New York, Mr. Rome enjoys spending time with his family at home in the Hamptons, where Blue Star Jets was one of the key sponsors of the Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge. In the gallery, Rome reveals his 10 essential luxuries and explains what makes them a must.

Eurocopter has just unveiled a new nautical-themed helicopter concept designed specially for use on superyachts at the Monaco Yacht Show, in partnership with luxury yacht broker Edmiston. The exterior of the twin engine Eurocopter EC155 B1 Dauphin by Andrew Winch Designs (AWD) is meant to evoke the contours of ocean waves via curving raised polished stainless steel trim lines. Yacht-inspired interior teak flooring, leather wrap-around adjustable sport seats fitted with carbon fiber back shells, fold-down central armrests, and "floating" LCD screens with headphones combine to offer the ultimate in luxury transport, along with bespoke touches such as the yacht's name etched in the rear windows. "The key idea behind my concept is endless comfort, be it on land with a Range Rover, at sea with a yacht or in the air with a helicopter," Winch notes.

[via JamesList]

U.S. Helicopter, a popular New York shuttle service offering scheduled helicopter service between two heliports in Manhattan and Kennedy International or Newark Liberty International Airports shut down last week. The company started up over three years ago but was in financial trouble. The U.S. Helicopter website says that the shutdown is temporary while the company regroups and gets additional financing. A senior vice president of the company told the NY Times that the company plans to be up and running again by late November.

The world's first $6 million Hermès helicopter, designed by the famed French fashion house in conjunction with Eurocopter, has been delivered to Falcon Aviation Services in Abu Dhabi. Back in 2007 my colleague Deidre Woollard reported on the announcement of the ultra-luxurious chopper, dubbed the "l'Hélicoptère par Hermès," though no price was quoted at the time. Unsurprisingly, the oil rich emirate has snapped up the first of the craft, based on Eurocopter's EC135 model and done in brown and cream livery with signature Hermès orange accents.

The cabin of the helicopter was completely redesigned by Hermès Interior and Design - who also created a custom Rolls-Royce for the Four Seasons George V in Paris we wrote about last year - to maximize the available space and make it as luxurious as possible. Hermès' classic canvas "Toile H" was used to cover the cockpit while the handcrafted seats and banquette are upholstered in natural-grained Hermès calf leather. A sliding glass partition separates the passenger compartment and cockpit, enhancing privacy while allowing light to enter.

"We are delighted to be the first customer for 'l'Hélicoptère par Hermès', which gives us the opportunity to offer a unique travelling experience to our customers" FAS's Vice Chairman Salem Al Kayoumi stated. "This helicopter illustrates a successful fusion between design and technology, where every detail has been created for VIP and business travellers. They are busy and highly demanding, yet wish to travel with utmost comfort and elegance."

Check eBay next week for an online auction. The 19 leading luxury tourism companies in New Zealand (New Zealand Luxury) are coming together to offer an amazing travel deal for the starting bid of only NZ$1 (only 50 cents in the United States). Each participant is estimated to have donated NZ$1,500 (US$855) worth of travel goods and services for this effort – for a total value of NZ$33,000 (almost US$19,000).

So, what does the winning bid get you?

Come out the other side of this 10-day auction a winner, and you'll fly on a private jet to New Zealand, stay in private villas and upscale hotels for four weeks and dash around the country on helicopters and in chauffeur-driven cars. You'll even get to hit the water on a private yacht.

The largesse from the top bid will go to the Untouched World Charitable Trust, the non-profit arm of the Untouched World clothing brand – which is kicking in NZ$2,000 (more than US$1,000) in apparel for this auction.

Save the planet, and treat yourself as you demand to be treated!

The new presidential helicopter may be the latest casualty of the economic crisis. The Lockheed Martin Corp VH-71 helicopter program was created to replace the current VH-3 helicopters which have been in service for decades. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is calling for termination of the program which has seen costs balloon as time went on. Originally a fleet of 23 helicopters created to support the president was supposed to $6.5 billion but now it is estimated to cost over $13 billion and is years behind schedule. Gates has said the Pentagon will work on new strategies for a presidential helicopter soon. At over $400 million apiece, each new VH-71 helicopter would have cost more than the last Air Force One plane.

The VH-71 is currently in the testing phase,the first operational, or pilot production VH-71 made its initial flight September 22, 2008.

Apparently among the many services offered by Harrods of London, the world's most exclusive department store, is a private aviation program. Air Harrods has now partnered with UK-based Watkins Yacht Management to provide air and concierge support via helicopter and corporate jet to the firm's superyacht clientele. Watkins, which has sister companies In Asia, Dubai and the U.S., provides yacht management services, sources yachts for charter, assists new owners, provides brokerage for sales and purchase, and offers a "discreet acquisition service with access to a number of high profile owners."

The two firms will now provide a "streamlined luxury travel experience" for yacht-goers. Transfers to the yachts will now start at the owner, charterer or guest's own front door and will seamlessly incorporate limousines, flights and/or helicopter transfers to and from the vessels, overseen by Harrods' highly-trained staff with all the perks one would expect of such a hallowed name.

In one of the most highly-anticipated events in the commercial aviation industry, Sikorsky's stunning new multimillion-dollar S-76D helicopter (above) just successfully completed its first test flight, paving the way for production and delivery by next year. The prototype maneuvered through taxi, hover, hover turns, and forward flight to 40 knots. The sleek helicopter features all-composite, flaw-tolerant main rotor blades; an advanced Thales avionics system and autopilot; dual speed rotor with active vibration control; powerful Pratt & Whitney 210S engines; and an optional ice protection system for all-weather flying. Inside the S-76D, the atmosphere is comparable to a luxurious private jet with satellite phones, entertainment systems, flight progress displays and refreshment cabinets featuring custom woodwork. There are dozens of customization options as well.

Great Canadian Heli-Skiing in British Columbia is now offering a Platinum Heli-Skiing Season Pass for CDN $100,000, or about $80,000 US, making it quite literally the world's most expensive lift ticket. The Platinum Pass from GCH offers unlimited "vertical access" to the world's best deep powder skiing in the heart of British Columbia's Purcell and Selkirk mountain ranges.

The pass absolutely guarantees the holder a seat on one of GCH's A-Star B2 helicopters - forget about ski lifts or gondolas in this extreme terrain - every single day of the heli-skiing season, from December 26 to March 28, overriding all other bookings. The $80,000 also gets you a personal "powder concierge" to keep you up to date on conditions and forecasts and advise you on getting the ultimate heli-skiing experience.

[via JustLuxe]

Back in May we quoted Adam Katz, founder of on-demand luxury private jet charter and management service Talon Air, to the effect that despite the sluggish economy the luxury travel sector would continue to grow. That seems to be holding true in Katz's case, anyway; the company just added a $4 million Sikorsky S-76B helicopter to its fleet. The S-76 is a twin-engine craft designed to provide premium comfort and privacy for up to six passengers and two pilots in a "jet-like environment." The interior features first-class leather seats, wood paneling and a 4.5-foot tall cabin with more headroom than a typical helicoptert. In October, Katz plans to branch out even further - to sea, with the launch of a 135-foot, 6-bedroom, 5-bath, Serqué yacht.

Talk about bizarre, Lamborghini recently enlisted the help of the Italian military (don't they have anything better to do?) to fly one of their rare and uber-expensive Lamborghini Reventon cars over the town of Turin and land it on the roof of the Lingotto building, where they were having a conference titled "Lamborghini and speed, a project in record time." And record money too I bet.

The only explanation Lamborghini gave to curious onlookers was "all 20 units (of the Reventon) have been sold worldwide." I guess that since they were each priced at over $1.5 million that is a big deal, but who came up with this idea?

While not as dramatic perhaps as other city skylines, Boston's view from above has its own charms. Experience them with the new Fly Above Boston package from Hilton hotels. The package is available through five different Hilton and Doubletree hotels in the Boston area and includes an overnight stay, transportation to the Aquarium for pick up, then a helicopter ride above Boston and an 11 Lighthouse tour for two followed by dinner for two at a hilltop golf club overlooking Boston. The package starts at $1,600 per couple.

If the black-and-white Versace helicopter wasn't your color scheme check out l'Hélicoptère par Hermès, a Eurocopter EC 135 helicopter designed by the French luxury brand in rich brown with classic Hermes orange accents. The EC135 is a twin engined multimission helicopter which can hold five passengers plus a pilot and luggage. The gorgeous interior has Hermès calf leather seats and leather trimmed controls and the entire cabin is enclosed in Hermès canvas and comes with binoculars so the passengers can view the scenery from above. I particularly love the neat little cubbies for your reading material. Certification is expected by next summer and there are already several interested buyers but they will have to wait until next October for their new toy.

[via Sybarites]

We've seen in the past that 50 Cent has lavish tastes, whether it is his Connecticut mansion, his Manhattan office or his chromed-out Lamborghini. Now the rapper is set to spend a whole lot of money in one night just to honor his commitment to appear at two award shows on the same night. It has been reported that he will spend $2 million on a six-mile journey through London to perform at both the Vodafone Live Music Awards in West London and the MOBO Awards at the O2 Arena in Greenwich. For the events is said to have booked three helicopters, a fleet of SUVs and a team of ex-special forces so that he can get to the MOBO awards in time and have a little room to spare for relaxation.

UPDATE: Looks like 50 Cent has pulled out of the MOBO awards and is canceling a bunch of tour dates in Europe. Is he following through on his promise to retire if Kanye West bested him in the charts or just looking to s save some cash?

[Thanks, Zachary!]

Last week was a good news, bad news situation for imperiled hedge funds mogul John Devaney. As I mentioned last month, Devaney, the chief executive of United Capital, had put his 142-foot Trinity yacht "Positive Carry" on the market for $23.5 million as well as his Aspen home, the historic Sardy House, for $16.5 million. Good news first, Devaney has unloaded the Sardy House to as the Apsen Times reports "a Florida concern with ties to the hospitality industry."

The bad news is that Devaney's fire sale isn't over yet. The NY Post reports that Devaney is also his selling his helicopter. The Sikorsky S76C helicopter is listed at $10.995 million in a brochure that states that the reason for the sale is "changing corporate travel requirements." The helicopter seats six in a luxurious leather-padded cabin.