Private jet

Italian Painter Turns a Private Jet Into a Work of Art

Filed under: Wings, Art

Renowned Italian sculptor and painter Mimmo Paladino has become the first person to turn a private jet into a work of art with the installation of a customized Piaggio P.180 Avanti II aircraft at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan.

Dubbed the "Cacciatore di Stelle" (Star Hunter), Paladino's plane (above) will be on display in the famed luxury shopping mecca through April 28. Paladino decorated the turboprop with ancestral symbols, constellations and geometrical designs in homage to the skies in which it travels.

The plane is part of an exhibition of Paladino's work hosted by Milan's historic Palazzo Reale, including more than 50 of his artworks from the '70s to the present day. The P.180 Avanti was chosen for the project as an expression of "Italian genius in design and engineering."

Tags: art, art jet, artist, Italy, Milan, Mimmi Paladino, Piaggio, private jet

HondaJet Hits 489 MPH as First Deliveries Approach

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

Aviation enthusiasts have been closely following the development of the HondaJet. Designed and engineered by the same Japanese motor company that builds everything from cars and motorcycles to lawnmowers and robots, the HondaJet is a thorough re-think of a private jet.

It's been a long time in the making, having started with research as far back as the 1980s and making its first flight in late 2003. Now the HondaJet has made its first FAA-certified test flight, achieving a top speed of 489 miles per hour at 30,000 feet -- by far surpassing the CBR sport bike, the Acura NSX sportscar and Honda F1 cars as the fastest thing the company has ever produced.

The jet is configured to carry five passengers in addition to the pilot and co-pilot. Powered by General Electric jet engines, the aircraft designated HA-420 will be built in Greensboro, North Carolina. Orders are being taken now at around $3.65 million, with production planned for 70 units per year and deliveries targeted for late 2012.

Tags: honda, honda jet, hondajet, jet, private jet

The $60 Million iPad-Controlled Gulfstream G550 Private Jet

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Wings, Architecture & Design

Spain-based industrial designer Stefan Radev has given the $60 million Gulfstream G550 private jet a makeover, including cool iPad controls à la P. Diddy's Solemates superyacht. From the exterior livery to the seating arrangements, Radev's design scheme is simple, elegant and ergonomic. It's also full of eco-friendly touches like bamboo woodwork.

Natural light is emphasized in the airy interior design with oversized oval-shaped windows and neutral tones complementing the bamboo in an open-plan layout equally suited to working or lounging. iPads and iPods also control the various climate and entertainment functions for the passengers. It's just a concept at this point, but easily made real with enough money.

Gallery: Gulfstream G550 iPad Concept

Tags: Apple, Gulfstream, Gulfstream G550, interior design, iPad, iPad jet, iPad yacht, private jet, private plane, Stefan Radev

The Classicist: Thoroughbreds, Bourbon and Private Planes from Flexjet

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spirits, Wings, Events, Sports, The Classicist

The Classicist: Thoroughbreds, Bourbon and Private Planes from Flexjet

Private jet juggernaut Flexjet is offering an alluring incentive to new fractional owners via a promotion with Kentucky's Keeneland, one of the world's leading thoroughbred racing and auction facilities. The three-day Unbridled experience centers around the 2011 Breeders' Cup World Championships this fall. Known as the thoroughbred industry's most prestigious championship event, the Breeders' Cup attracts fierce competition for the richest prize-money event in the world with over $26 million in purses at stake. There's a lot more to the Unbridled experience, however, as you'd expect considering the cost for a 1/16th fraction (or 50 hours / year) on one of the company's Learjet 40XRs starts at $362,500.

Each owner and their guest will enjoy the Breeders' Cup races in the comfort of a finish-line owner's suite at the iconic Churchill Downs, one of the world's greatest racetracks and home of the Kentucky Derby, as well as an invitation to attend sun-up morning workouts. A one-on-one meeting with a renowned thoroughbred trainer and an insider's look at a famed horse farm are also in the offing. The Unbridled experience is available in limited quantities at no extra charge for Flexjet customers purchasing a new fractional share now through June 12, 2011; the all-inclusive experience takes place November 3 - 6.

Gallery: Flexjet Unbridled Experience

Tags: 21c Museum Hotel, Bombardier, bourbon, Breeders Cup, Buffalo Trace, Churchill Downs, distillery, equestrian, events, Flexjet, fractional ownership, horse breeding, horse farm, horse racing, horses, jets, Keeneland, Kentucky, Kentucky Derby, lear+jet45, Learjet, learjet45, Louisville, luxury travel, Private jet, private plane, spirits, sports, stables, the South, thoroughbred, whiskey

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Flexjet Partners with Abercrombie & Kent

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wings

Flexjet Partners With Abercrombie & Kent

Luxury travel enthusiasts will be pleased to hear about a new partnership between adventure travel company Abercrombie & Kent and jet share leader Flexjet. Flexjet customers will now have complimentary access to Abercrombie & Kent's travel experts to plan dream vacations, and Abercrombie & Kent's travelers will receive generous benefits when purchasing Flexjet options. Marco Polo Club members, Abercrombie & Kent's most frequent travelers, will receive benefits on Flexjet fractional purchases or jet cards, while Flexjet fractional customers will be treated to a three-year Marco Polo Club membership and customized itineraries to coincide with the use of their private jet.

"We continue to seek and pioneer new ways of exploring the globe and admire this same ambition in Flexjet," said Geoffrey Kent, Founder and Executive Chairman, Abercrombie & Kent. "We're pleased to be forging this relationship with a top aviation solutions provider that is also known for setting industry standards and look forward to introducing its customers to some of our favorite hidden corners of the world." Born as a safari outfitter in 1962, Abercrombie & Kent's unparalleled travel services now extend around the globe to more than 100 countries on all seven continents, bringing unexpected comforts and amenities to remote destinations.

Gallery: Flexjet x Abercrombie & Kent

Tags: Abercrombie Kent, Abercrombie and Kent, aviation, luxury travel, private jet, private plane, safari

Demi Moore Flies to Sundance in Style with JetSuite

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings, Celebrity Shopping, Luxury Shopping

Back in 2008 my colleague Deirdre Woollard first reported on the plans for JetSuite, a new private aviation company from the founders of JetBlue. Now the company has gotten off the ground in high style with help from the likes of Demi Moore, who just took a JetSuite flight to the Sundance Film Festival. JetSuite's fleet of 4-seat Embraer Phenom 100 jets are the best, most fuel-efficient aircraft in their class with speeds up to 450 miles per hour, an operating altitude of up to 41,000 ft, a stylish interior cabin designed by BMW and the largest baggage compartment in its category. The company provides service to major cities (AKA "SuiteSpots") throughout the Western United States, Canada and Mexico. They aim to make the luxury of flying private more accessible and affordable with prices starting at just $999 for a one-way flight – for the whole plane. Moore, who has flown JetSuite before, has praised its ease, convenience and privacy. "She loves that she can depart whenever she wants, not have to deal with long security lines, and leave her shoes, belts, and jewelry on," an insider tells us.

Gallery: JetSuite Takes Off with Demi Moore

Tags: BMW, Demi Moore, Embraer, JetBlue, JetSuite, private jet, Sundance

The $1.5 Million Macallan Ultimate Single Malt Experience

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

If you missed out on the world's most expensive bottle of whisky – the 64-year-old Macallan in Lalique Cire Perdue which was just auctioned off at Sotheby's for a record breaking $460,000 – not to worry: for $1.5 million you can make that look like a mere bagatelle. Glossy chronicle of the filthy rich Robb Report is offering the ultimate single malt experience in conjunction with The Macallan as part of this year's Ultimate Gifts offerings, featuring a journey to the the Macallan estate in Scotland to select eight extremely rare single malt Macallan whiskies barreled during each of the last eight decades for your personal collection. The experience begins with a first-class flight to Paris and a two-night stay in the Presidential Suite at the ultra-luxe Four Seasons George V, during which you'll take a chauffeured Bentley to meet with the crystal artisans at Lalique to create the custom decanters that will house the whiskies.

A private jet and helicopter will then take you to the Macallan estate for a two-day consultation to select the whiskies from barrels dating back to the 1930s. Once the decanters are completed they'll be filled with the precious elixir and delivered in a bespoke cabinet from royal furniture maker Viscount David Linley. David Cox, Macallan's director of fine and rare whiskies, calls it nothing short of "a liquid history of Macallan," noting, "You'll be drinking whiskies distilled by The Macallan before the Second World War, each with quite a distinctive style."

Tags: Bentley, David Linley, Four Seasons George V, gifts, Holiday 2010, Lalique, Macallan, Paris, private jet, Robb Report, Scotland, single malt, The Macallan, whisky

$44 Million Yacht Tops Robb Report's 'Ultimate Gifts'

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Yachts & Sailing, Luxury Cars & Autos, Wings, Holiday Guides, Wealth

It seems that Robb Report, the glossy chronicle of the filthy rich, has come back down to Earth a bit after last year's offering of the world's most expensive Christmas present, a matching custom private jet and megayacht set costing $500 million. Each year the profligate publication features an Ultimate Gift Guide, a seasonal offering of over-the-top exclusives. This year's sybaritic selections top out at a measly $44 million, which gets the recipient Aquos Yachts' 164-ft. expedition superyacht Star Fish to be delivered in 2012 and a luxurious three-week, 10-person charter trip aboard her sister ship, the 148-ft. Big Fish, while you're waiting. Among the other big ticket items for the price-is-no-object set:

Tags: Bahamas, Bugatti, Bugatti Veyron, diamonds, fighter jet, gifts, Holiday 2010, magazines, Parmigiani, private jet, Robb Report, safari, submersible, supercar, superyacht, theme park, wealth, yacht

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Hone Your Photography Skills on a Private Jet Tour of Central & South America

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wings

Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Jay Dickman (above) is leading an incredible 16-day private jet tour of Central and South America, part of the National Geographic Expeditions program, set to take place from Mar 26 - Apr 10, 2011. Dickman, a National Geographic Expert who has covered events as diverse as the war in El Salvador to the Olympics for numerous publications including National Geographic magazine, is part of the Olympus Visionary Program, a group of prestigious professional photographers who all use Olympus cameras like the brilliant new PEN E-PL1 for professional and personal assignments. The luxe trip via a custom Boeing 757 takes you through lush rain forests, magnificent mountain ranges, lively cities, and the legacies of mighty civilizations.

Destinations include Guatemala, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and Costa Rica, from "the soaring pyramid temples of the ancient Mayans to the alluring grace of Argentina's tango, and from the awe-inspiring rush of Iguazú Falls to the serene rain forests of the Amazon", with luxury hotel stays in between. As the excursion is priced at $46,950 per person, you'll obviously want to make sure you get great photos – which Dickman helps ensure, leading photographic expeditions and discussing technical as well as aesthetic issues that make for great photography and photographs. Book your seats now as space is limited.

Tags: Brazil, camera, Costa Rica, digital camera, Jay Dickman, luxury travel, National Geographic, Olympus, Olympus PEN E-PL1, Peru, photographer, photography, private jet, South America

New Bombardiers Will Be World's Most Expensive Business Jets

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings, Wealth

Canadian aviation company Bombardier is aiming to displace Gulfstream as the world's most expensive business jet with the introduction of two new models. The Global 7000 and 8000, which will cost about $65 million apiece, will beat the high-speed range of the $58.5 million Gulfstream G650. Both new private jets will have a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.90; the 7000 will have a range of 7,300 nmi at Mach 0.85, while the 8000's range will top out at 7,900 nmi at Mach 0.85. Both will borrow elements from the existing Global Express XRS and 5000.

New wings, new tech and luxe amenities added to increased fuel efficiency will be the hallmarks of the new craft, aimed to appeal to ultra-wealthy customers in India, Asia and the UAE. The 7000 will have the largest cabin in business aviation while the 8,000 will boast the longest range. The 7000 will be able to fly from London to Singapore, New York to Dubai or Beijing to Washington non-stop with 10 passengers, while the 8000 can do Sydney to Los Angeles, Hong Kong to New York and Mumbai to New York non-stop with eight. Unfortunately the first one won't be ready for delivery until 2016.

Tags: aviation, Bombardier, Gulfstream, jet, most expensive, private jet, worlds most expensive

Air Partner's JetCard Special: Buy 25 hrs Get Two Free

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Getting free stuff is always awesome so if you're in the habit of chartering private jets for travel you'll probably be interested in Air Partner's new JetCard special. Their JetCard program allows you access to a fleet of private jets whenever you need it without all the hassle and expense of owning one yourself -- you let them know when and where you need to go and they make it happen. The JetCard program makes it really easy by working kind of like a pre-paid phone card but instead of buying minutes you're buying hours and instead of making long distance calls you're booking long distance air travel. There are no hidden fees or unexpected charges and for a limited time when you buy 25 hours you can get two hours free. That's enough to get you from New York to Bermuda. Or from Washington D.C. to Palm Beach. Or from San Francisco to Sun Valley.

The "ski and sun JetCard special" is available through the end of November and can be accessed directly through any Air Partner broker.

Update: The terms and availability of this JetCard special are subject to change and have been adjusted twice since this post was first published. For the most current information please speak with your Air Partner broker.

Source

Tags: air partner, air travel, jetcard, private jet

Sentient Jets Partners With The Boston Celtics

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Wings

The Boston Celtics and private jet company Sentient Jet have announced a new partnership today. Sentient is now the Official Private Jet Partner of the Boston Celtics.

"We are proud to partner with Sentient Jet to provide our fans with unique and convenient access to best in class private aviation services," Boston Celtics Team President Rich Gotham said. "Their support of the Shamrock Foundation through this partnership will help the Celtics to better serve children in need throughout New England."

As part of the partnership, Sentient Jet will team with the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting children's causes across the Boston area. Sentient Jet will also sponsor the Concierge Desk within the Boston Celtics Courtside Club, allowing VIP guests to book a private jet flight while enjoying a game at the Boston Garden.

Sentient is a Boston-based company which offers the Sentient Jet Membership Plus Card. Clients can choose from the Hawker 400XP, Citation Excel or Citation X or from four size categories for each trip. Through the 25-Hour Jet Card, individuals may purchase 25 hours of flight time on their choice of jet size and category at significant savings.

Sentient's CEO Marty Guinoo said. "We always appreciate the opportunity to be a part of a winning team and as a Boston-based company, without question this partnership has special meaning because it allows us to support the local community and fans. Go Celtics!"

Sentient has a variety of partners including Saks Fifth Avenue, the Breeder's Cup, the Leading Hotels of the World, the PGA Tour and American Express.

[via the Boston Globe]

Tags: boston celtics, nba, private jet, private jets, Sentient, sentient jets, SentientJets

Sky Hummer: The AVX Flying SUV

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wings

The Hummer may be going the way of the dinosaurs but a new, improved version is on the way – and it flies.The AVX Aircraft Company's new airborne SUV, a sort of Hummer with retractable wings, or a helicopter with wheels if you prefer, was originally designed for the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The AVX (above) does everything a Hummer can do with the addition of Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) capability. The four-person all-terrain vehicle converts from road to flight mode in a mere 60 seconds, has a cruising speed equivalent to a light aircraft and features automated takeoff / landing flight control. With a payload of 1,040 lbs., it has a range of 250 nautical miles on one tank of fuel and can cruise at an altitude of 10,000 ft. fully laden. The AVX can do an impressive 80 mph on the ground and hits 140 mph in the air. We're holding out for the luxury version with a full leather and wood interior.

[via JamesList]

Tags: aircraft, airplane, ATV, AVX, helicopter, Hummer, private jet, SUV

Tequila Avion, New for the Private Jet Set

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Ken Austin, Executive Vice Chairman of Marquis Jet, is launching a new ultra premium spirit called Tequila Avion for the private jet set. Austin attracted several million dollars in funding from investors including notables from the worlds of art and culture, business, technology, sports, lifestyle and luxury goods to get the new venture off the ground. Produced by fifth generation agave growers from among the finest Blue Weber agave found in the highest regions of Jalisco, Mexico, the tequila's distinct flavors are achieved through a combination of slow-roasting at lower temperatures to protect the natural flavors of the agave and an ultra-slow filtration process which creates an ultra-smooth taste profile. It's available in Silver, Reposado and Anejo varietals.

"I've always experimented and searched for a tequila that is smooth and has great character, whether I drink it neat or in a cocktail," Austin notes. "Over the years, close friends and business associates who were also passionate about tequila have joined me in this pursuit. We came to realize that if we wanted the ideal tequila – balancing exceptional taste, character and smoothness - we would have to create it ourselves. With the help of experts that understood our quest, that is exactly what we have achieved in Tequila Avion, a distinctive and defining new standard of quality and taste in tequila, or 'Taste Elevated' as we refer to it." Tequila Avion is now available at select locations including New York's Park Avenue Liquor Shop.

Tags: agave, Marquis Jet, Mexico, Park Avenue Liquor Shop, private aviation, private jet, spirits, tequila, Tequila Avion

The Classicist: The Golden Age of Globe-Trotting

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Books, The Classicist

In these days of full-body scans, machine gun-toting security forces and endless departure delays it can be difficult to recall a time when travel was more enjoyable than onerous. Unless you happen to own a private jet or yacht, however alluring your destination the business of actually getting there these days can seem like more trouble than it's worth at times. A beautiful new book from Taschen reminds us that wasn't always the case. A compendium of 100 years of travel advertisements, 20th Century Travel is a lush visual history of the golden age of globe-trotting, a look back at the era of sexy air hostesses, smoking lounges on planes and bars on private club cars. With a decade-by-decade analysis and an illustrated timeline, the book highlights the cultural and technological developments that "transformed travel from a cushioned journey of the elite into a convenient leisure pastime for the general public".

Advertising is of course one of the best ways of looking at the transformation of travel, in particular the ways in which companies attempted to make it alluring to all strata of society. "At the start of the 20th century, only people with extensive disposable income and time to spare could enjoy leisure travel," the authors note. "By the century's end, journeys took hours, not days, and mass travel - especially brief air flights - became the new normal. Along the way, ocean liners broke speed records, aerodynamic trains roared down the tracks, stylish boat-plane clippers evolved into jumbo jets. Whether aboard high-speed locomotives or ships, jets, or Greyhound buses - or when setting their own schedule on the open road - Americans demanded ever greater mobility and wider choice of destinations, thereby setting a new standard for travelers around the world."

Gallery: 20th Century Travel