helicopter

Eurocopter X4 Will Be the Next Must-Have Heli

Filed under: Wings

We all want one of Eurocopter's experimental Rolls-Royce powered X3s. But while that is several years away from production the company's new X4 model is reportedly going to be available a lot sooner. The X4, a next-generation medium twin billed as a replacement for the AS365 Dauphin / EC155, could be available by the end of the year, priced at several million dollars. Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling recently promised the X4 will be "a game changer" featuring "a new way of flying". Insiders speculate this means a five-blade design with fly-by-wire controls and a brand new cockpit with iPad-style interfaces. Compared with the Dauphin, the X4 will have an increased payload and enhanced performance and be safer and more environmentally friendly. We're holding out for the Hermes edition.

Tags: aircraft, Eurocopter, Eurocopter X3, Eurocopter X4, helicopter, Sikorsky X2

Celebrate a Sky High Valentine's Day on the St. Regis Mexico City's Helipad

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

How to rise above the ho-hum Valentine's Day celebrations taking place down on the ground? The St. Regis Mexico City has the answer in the form of their high altitude "True Love Has No Limits" experience, set 33 stories atop one of the tallest and most exclusive addresses in town. Ensconced on the hotel's helipad – 492 feet above the ground – which will be transformed into an intimate entertainment venue for the evening, couples will enjoy a candlelight four-course dinner and wine pairing personalized according to tastes, a bottle of champagne, live music and private security. The bespoke "True Love Has No Limits" experience begins at $1,500 for two including a one-night stay at the elegant St. Regis Mexico City (above), designed by legendary architect Cesar Pelli featuring 189 captivating guestrooms, including 35 suites and The St. Regis and Astor Suites, each with a gorgeous view of the bustling metropolis below.

Tags: helicopter, luxury hotels, Mexico, Mexico City, St. Regis, The St. Regis Mexico City, Valentines Day

Jet Meets Heli: Rolls-Royce Powered Eurocopter X3

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Wings

Eurocopter's ultra-cool X3 prototype (above), which combines the technology of a turboprop plane with traditional helicopter engineering, just attained an airspeed of 180 knots (207 mph) in level flight in testing in Istres, France. The X3, which was not operating at full power, is expected to break the official helicopter speed world record by the time testing is complete. Over the last few months of testing the X3 has performed such feats as reaching an altitude of 12,500 ft. and maneuvering with left and right turns at bank angles of up to 60°. Utilizing a Dauphin helicopter airframe, the X3 is equipped with two Rolls-Royce turboshaft engines that power a five-blade main rotor system, along with two propellers installed on short-span fixed wings. In terms of sheer speed it still may not top Sikorsky's experimental X2 which we wrote about last month, but its stylish looks and jet-like features should more than make up for it.

Tags: Eurocopter, eurocopter+x3, eurocopterx3, France, helicopter, rolls+royce, Rolls-Royce, rollsroyce, Sikorsky, sikorsky+x2, sikorskyx2

Sikorsky X2 Helicopter Sets World Speed Record

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Wings

Sikorsky has just revolutionized the world of aviation with their amazing X2 prototype (above), officially the world's fastest helicopter after clocking over 250 knots (287.69 mph) on a test run, setting a new world speed record in the process. The X2, which uses a pair of coaxial rotor systems rather than the single rotor found on most choppers, easily beat the current world record of 216.46 knots (249.1 mph) set by the British-built Westland Lynx ZB-500 in 1986. The X2 is roughly twice as fast as Sikorsky's famed Blackhawk, and its tail rotor faces backward like the propeller on a boat in order to provide thrust. Even with its unusual design the X2, which features fly-by-wire controls, can maintain superlative low speed handling, efficient hovering, autorotation safety, and a seamless and simple transition to high speed. It will likely be several more years before the aircraft is ready to go into production at a cost of several million dollars however.

[via JamesList]

Tags: aviation, helicopter, helicopters, Sikorsky, world record

Pussy Galore's Helicopter Joins Bond's DB5 in London

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wings, Auctions

Back in June we reported on the historic offering of the iconic 1964 Aston Martin DB5 driven by Sean Connery as James Bond in Goldfinger during RM Auctions' upcoming Automobiles of London sale on Oct. 27. Now another eye-catching Goldfinger vehicle has just joined the lineup: famed Bond Girl Pussy Galore's 1960 Hiller UH -12 E4 helicopter (above). Expected to fetch up to $650,000, the historic aircraft has been completely restored to the highest standards and is in full flying condition. Also up for sale is the 1998 Jaguar XKR driven in the famous ice hotel chase scene by the villain Zao in 2002's Die Another Day. The car, fitted out with some wicked "weapons systems", is currently the property of the Jaguar Heritage Trust and is estimated at up to $55,000.

Tags: 007, Aston Martin, Aston Martin DB5, auctions, celebrity cars, helicopter, Jaguar, James Bond, London, movie cars, movies, RM Auctions, Sean Connery, UK

The Classicist: UK's Elite Meet & Greet at High Net Worth Event

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wings, Events, Charity, Men's Style, The Classicist, Wealth, Architecture & Design

Some of the UK's wealthiest citizens met up recently at Cotswold Airport in the heart of bucolic Gloucestershire to rub elbows while eyeballing the latest in supercars and private jets. The ultra-exclusive Elite 2010 event was organized by Aeronautics Ltd. and the Fine English Company, dedicated to the best in bespoke British luxury. 200 high net worth VIPs were in attendance at the occasion hosted by British Royal Air Force Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy. The event benefited Fly2Help, a charity dedicated to helping those who have suffered disaster, difficulty or tragedy by allowing them to experience the fun and love of flying. We got an inside look at the proceedings thanks to Fine English Co. founder Benedict Wormald.

Aeronautics Ltd. are the UK Sales Representative for Hawker Beechcraft and specialize in the sales, acquisition, management and charter brokerage of private jets. Other participating organizations at Elite 2010 included Aston Martin Racing, the famed British marque's motorsports division; Coutts, the legendary private bankers to the Queen of England and the British Royal Family as well as famed figures from the Duke of Wellington, Charles Dickens and Lord Nelson to The Beatles; Von Essen Hotels, the private collection of individual country house hotels in the UK and France which includes the famous Cliveden, once home to an Earl, two Dukes, a Prince of Wales and the Viscounts Astor; London's The Nth Degree Club Concierge, whose services include event management, private dining, exclusive chef's tables at top London restaurants and personal shopping; PremiAir Aviation; and Affinity Marketing Group.

Gallery: Elite 2010 UK

Tags: Aston Martin, aviation, Benedict Wormald, bespoke, BMW, British Royal Family, charity, Cliveden, England, events, Ferrari 458 Italia, Fine English Company, Fly2Help, furniture, Gloucestershire, Hawker Beechcraft, helicopter, London, Porsche, private jets, Queen of England, Spitfire, UK, Von Essen Hotels, wealth

Continue reading “The Classicist: UK's Elite Meet & Greet at High Net Worth Event”

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

German Newspaper Scores Sneak Peek Inside Abramovich's Eclipse

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Wealth

German newspaper Bild has scored an exclusive sneak peak inside Roman Abramovich's new 557-ft. Eclipse (above), the world's largest and most expensive privately owned yacht which was recently completed by Hamburg shipyard Blohm + Voss at a cost estimated to be near $1 billion. The gigayacht boasts every luxury finish imaginable in its nearly 20,000-sq-.ft. interior, including a master suite upholstered in shagreen (stingray skin) on the topmost sixth deck with a retractable moon roof. On Deck 4 there are two VIP suites and eight guest cabins, while accommodations for the 80 crew members needed to man the massive vessel are located in the bow. The décor however is fairly understated with earth tones predominating, we note. One of the three helicopter landing pads disappears under the deck with the push of a button, and the yacht also features the world's largest onboard swimming pool which converts into a dancefloor, in addition to a wellness center including a fitness studio, hairdresser, massage parlor, sauna, steambath and whirlpool. Bild notes the Eclipse will cost about $100,000 per day, or $36.5 million per year, to operate. Check out some exclusive interior images here.

Tags: Blohm + Voss, Eclipse, Germany, gigayacht, helicopter, megayacht, oligarch, Roman Abramovich, Russia, Russian billionaires, shagreen, swimming pool, yacht

Mercedes-Benz Helicopter Unveiled in Geneva

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wings

A special edition EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style helicopter designed by Mercedes and Eurocopter was just unveiled at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition 2010 in Geneva. The luxurious EC145 is equipped with comfortable seats made of exclusive materials coupled with sumptuous wood fittings for the floors and ceiling. The project, conceived by the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Como, Italy, is the only helicopter in its class that can seat up to eight passengers. For the cabin layout, Mercedes-Benz opted for a modular approach inspired by its new R-Class crossover. All seats are mounted on rails and can be quickly and easily reconfigured or removed to make room for luggage including golf bags and bicycles (also designed by Mercedes, of course). There are also three multi-function boxes with features such as a cooler, cup holder, table, 15-inch monitor and DVD player. Time to trade in that Hermes helicopter, perhaps?

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz Helicopter

Tags: aviation, Eurocopter, Geneva, helicopter, Mercedes, Mercedes-Benz, private aviation

EXCLUSIVE: Blue Star Jets President Todd Rome's Ten Essential Luxuries

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wings, 10 Luxuries

Click above to see Todd Rome's 10 Luxuries

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.

Gallery: Blue Star Jets President Todd Rome's 10 Luxuries

Tags: aircraft, Blue Star Jets, BlueStarJets, Hamptons, helicopter, polo, private jet, PrivateJet, ShareAJet, Todd Rome, ToddRome

Eurocopter EC155 B1 Dauphin Concept for Superyachts

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Wings

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]

Tags: Edmiston, Eurocopter, helicopter, Monaco, Monaco Yacht Show, MonacoYachtShow, superyacht, yacht

U.S. Helicopter Stops Helicopter Shuttle Service

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

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.

Source

Tags: helicopter, new york city, NewYorkCity, shuttle service, ShuttleService, u.s. helicopter, U.s.Helicopter

First $6 Million Hermes Helicopter Goes to Abu Dhabi

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings, Wealth

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."

Tags: Abu Dhabi, AbuDhabi, Eurocopter, helicopter, Hermes, UAE

"Give It Up to Live It Up" with New Zealand Luxury

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Auctions

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!

Tags: auction, auctions, chauffeur, ebay, helicopter, helicopters, luxury travel, LuxuryTravel, new zealand, NewZealand, private jet, PrivateJet, yacht, yachts

New Presidential Helicopter Fleet May Be Scrapped

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

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.

Source

Tags: helicopter, lockheed martin, LockheedMartin, vh-71

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