Air & Space

From airline attendant to underdog superhero, and seemingly overnight, Steven Slater has certainly made his point.  What he likely didn’t realize was the multitude of other issues that would be brought to the surface in the mix.  So what is up with commercial air travel?

To recap, Steven Slater was a JetBlue flight attendant and self-professed “Bag Nazi”.  Slater made a dramatic exit, and headlines, quitting his position by grabbing two beers and sliding down an emergency exit slide following an altercation with an unruly passenger.   (see photos at right, nice sleeves officer...)

The Terrafugia Transition is the closest thing to a flying car that has been created to date.  There is no end to the awesomeness of this idea, a vehicle that is equal parts plane and you know, car.  Seriously.

Terrafugia is a startup firm, and they have been developing and tweaking the Transition (fitting name) since 2006.  This startup was founded by a group of MIT engineers who seem to have an affinity for the aerial.  Basically, Transition is a light, single-engine plane capable of folding its wings, with a substantial four-wheeled undercarriage allowing it to be a car.  One word:  Beast.

The name Gulfstream certainly stands out among private jet and aircraft manufacturers, and the Gulfstream G550 is among their best models.  So let’s discuss what comes with the $59.9 million dollars buyers will shell out to own one.

The G550 Gulfstream features an oversized cabin, and is a long-range business jet charter that has been receiving its fair share of attention from its inception.  It accomplished this by flying non-stop from Seoul, South Korea to Orlando Florida just two weeks after it entered service, scaling the 7,301 nautical miles in just 14.5 hours.  This feat snagged the G550 a city pair record, and it established 40 more during its first 5 years of service (it has been in service since 2003).

You did not misread the headline, I did say “Restaurant” and “Toilet” in the same sentence.  This is a luxury concept restaurant that serves up edible excrement, that is, dinner served up in a decidedly dumpy way!

Diners at the Modern Toilet are seated on acrylic toilets, with the lid down of course.  The toilet seats are stenciled with images of seashells, roses or Renaissance paintings, to add a touch of class.

This week Imagine Lifestyles is highlighting our Cessna Citation CJ1, a private jet charter falling into the lightweight jet category.  This is an ideal private aircraft charter for smaller groups, going shorter distances.

Labeled as the “aircraft of choice” for short-range business and corporate jet charters, the CJ1 Citation charter delivers the ultimate in luxury while simultaneously providing seamless and stress-free trips. 

This private luxury air charter is ideal for short business trips, small family vacations and a variety of other needs.  This luxury jet seats five to seven passengers comfortably, and was designed and engineered with the passenger in mind, to deliver and exceed expectations.

You will not see a luxury helicopter like the EC145 parked alongside an available E-Class at your local dealer (conceal your disappointment), but you should be aware that luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz is expanding its talents into other arenas.  These arenas include luxury yacht and luxury helicopter interior designs.

Mercedes-Benz just got a little bit cooler…if that was possible.  The luxury company has joined forces with Eurocopter and presented upon the world a luxury helicopter of grand proportions!

This is truly exciting news for luxury fans worldwide.  It is the first product by Eurocopter in the new Mercedes-Benz style range.  The companies jointly unveiled the EC145 luxury helicopter May 4th at the European Business Aviation Convention in Geneva. 

After about seven years of development, the engineers of “Solar Impulse” can heave a collective sigh of relief as the solar-powered aircraft completed its maiden voyage on April 8th, 2010 successfully.

During the first launch, Solar Impulse departed from Switzerland and reached 5,500 feet in altitude, performing various test maneuvers.  Actual in-flight maneuvers went as seamlessly as the flight simulations had predicted, leaving the team pleased.  Takeoff and landing for the unique solar-powered plane also went off without a hitch.  The aircraft flew for approximately 87 minutes.  

This is a massive aircraft, with a prototype wingspan of around 197 feet.  According to Andre Borschberg, co-pilot, CEO and co-founder of the project,

 “Never has an airplane as large and light flown before!”

The wingspan is close in size to a Boeing 747, yet the aircraft weighs about as much as a compact car.  Outstanding! Technology is truly heading in a more sustainable direction, it would certainly seem.

The crew is gearing up for their planned flight around the world in 2012, during which they will attempt to fly the solar-powered plane both during the day and at night without fuel.  Before this attempt, they will test the Solar Impulse with a 36-hour night-flight.  Wise idea, team.  

Some specs for this solar-powered flying wonder include:

•    Crew of 1
•    Lithium batteries
•    Cruising speed of around 44 miles per hour
•    Altitude of 39,000 feet
•    11,628 photovoltaic cells on wing area
•    Powerplant:  4 electric motors, 10 hp each
•    71.7 feet long
•    21 feet tall

We are anxious to see how further development and testing turns out for this extraordinary and green aircraft.

For more on other luxury news bits, air & space stories and more, indulge in our luxury blog.

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There was the invention of the wheel, which led to a multitude of transportation methods for the masses, then the Wright Brothers caught onto something.  Today, commercial airlines serve us in ways people in the past could not have dreamed of.  Enter Virgin Galactic, the company who aims to make space travel possible for everyone.

Seem outrageous?  So did commercial airlines to our predecessors, so why not commercial spacelines?  We live in a world of possibilities, and this could extend out of the world. 

Roman Abramovich ranked number 15 on the World's Billionaires list for 2008. This year, Abramovich bought Britain's leading football club, Chelsea, for more then $300 million. Along with the British soccer team, the billionaire recently added a six-story house in London's Eaton Square, part of the estate of the Duke of Westminster, which is said to be worth more than $46 million.  His portfolio of property also contains homes in West Sussex, Moscow and St. Tropez on the French Riviera. Abramovich's custom-made 300-foot yacht, Le Grand Bleu, which is worth $90 million, features a helicopter and two hovercraft launch pads. Le Grand Bleu was christened in Rio de Janeiro and has its home port in Bermuda. 

Now Abramovich is leading a  syndicate of Russian tycoons to buy Tassignano airport in northern Italy, for investment purposes.  The airport which is worth more than 4 million GBP is near encampment of exclusive villas and vacation homes. Maybe Tassignano airport will make a nice investment but more likely it will make for a very exclusive get-a-way destination for Roman Abramovich and his friends.

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A romantic dinner for two will soon be offered in the sky. First class passengers on Swiss International flights will now be able to enjoy an in-flight table for two. According to the airline, all new A330 airplanes will boast the new "architechtural" design.  Just another perk for the jet setting, millionaire to luxuriate in. First class flyers can now mingle more easily, in their echelon; a new kind of mile high club.

Donald Trump claims “now” is the time to buy property, if only it were that easy.  Many who still have the money to buy “now” can’t find financing. If financing isn’t stopping you, consider yourself lucky and look to South Beach. Right now in South Beach properties are being sold for way less than asking price.  Take, for instance, luxury building Murano at Portofino, located at 1000 S Pointe Drive in the South Beach area of Miami Beach. Where a penthouse unit with an asking price of $12,000,000 just sold for $7,600,000. The spacious three bedrooms, five and a half bath unit is just one example of what’s going on in South Beach, there are lots more just like this. The question is, when will the real estate market finally hit bottom? The question is tough to answer but it seems like buyers are moving towards the beach. Activity is gradually picking up, more inquiries, and more viewings, will sooner or later translate into more sales.

The world's most exclusive department store is Harrods of London and just in case that was up for dispute, check it out. Harrods has just added a private aviation program to services offered. To offer the firm's ultra rich clientele air support via helicopter and corporate jet, Harrods has teamed up with the UK based Watkins Yacht Management company. The two firms will offer a "streamlined luxury travel experience" for the wealthy at sea. Harrods will fly you in from sea to shop and back out to your yacht with bags in tote, luxury all the way is to be expected.  Next time you're on the mega-yacht and get sea sick, take a break, call Air Harrods and spend the day shopping  in London. Yachts, jets and Harrods, life doesn't get much better.

The premium coffee caffeine buzz is wearing off. For the last three months Starbucks has taken a beating in what was the companies worst quarter yet, but they still bought their third corporate jet. Starbucks' shares have plummeted 56% in the last year and last month they had a $45 million private jet delivered. What was Starbucks thinking? Obviously they weren't thinking  because this month Starbucks is trying to sell its new Gulfstream, 550. Starbucks' new private jet has made only 15 flights, several of which were in Honolulu and Kona, Hawaii. Where Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz was taking a a two-week vacation. Schultz went on vacation while Starbucks announced the closing of 300 additional stores in January. Its ok because Starbucks has resolved to only keep one of its three jets as part of a new savings plan. Chief Financial Officer Troy Alstead said that Starbucks' is aiming to save $500 million this year, well, good luck with that.

Apparently Starbucks' ordered the 19-seat plane three years ago when yuppie America was all about premium Frappucinnos.  As for the new Starbucks' Gulfstream 550, “the interior is tastefully completed in neutral tones of gray leather and gray cashmere. The Australian Walnut woodwork is high gloss finish and is enhanced with satin nickel plating throughout the aircraft.”  If you're in the market for a basically brand new Gulfstream then buy Starbucks's at a deal. The private plane that cost the coffee company about $45 million may be worth as little as $30 million, thanks to plunging market demand.

Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C is based in Doha and among only six airlines to be awarded a 5-star rating by Skytrax. For those of you unaccustomed to five star flying status, we feel bad. You are missing out on a whole mess of luxury in the sky, like rich comfort, fine dining and now, even, in-flight exercise at 35,000 feet.

Qatar Airways is taking steps to help their clients stay fit in-flight this New Years with the introductions of an onboard yoga and wellbeing guide. Customized for long-distance fliers, the new four-page "Fly Healthy, Fly Fit" guide will help you feel more balanced, healthy and relaxed mid-flight. Qatar worked in association with "The Chopra Center for Wellbeing" designing an exercise routine for passengers. Deepak Chopra's famed holistic approach fuses West with East ideologies. The growing trend of combining modern medical knowledge with the ancient science of Ayurveda, plus, the art of yoga is in Qatars regimen. Ayurveda, a Sanskrit word means ‘science of life’, it was founded onthe principle that health is more than the absence of disease butrather an integrated system of balance in mind, body and spirit.Deepak Chopra includes pre-travel tips, meditative practices and flying health advice, plus ways to combat onboard ailments. 

With over 80 international destinations, the choice is simple. If you don't fly private than choose the next best thing, a five-star commercial firm like Qatar. Maybe on your next trip you will walk off the flight feeling better than when you got on, anything is possible right?