Helicopter

As reports burst in regarding the yachting industry this year, it certainly seems there is a bright outlook, and who isn’t up for some optimism these days?

Figures are up for luxury yacht charter volume, production and sales over this time frame last year, outlining and indicating that a perhaps progressive recovery is underway on the heels of the economic downfall.

The second largest yacht in the world goes by the name “Dubai”, which is fitting, as it is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who happens to be the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai.  This luxury mega yacht stretches to an incredible 557 feet, and took an outlandish 10 years to build!

Mega yacht Dubai was built by German construction company Blohm & Voss and finished by Lurssen Company.  I wonder if Blohm & Voss dropped the ball, or if after 10 years they forgot what they were doing.

This year we at Imagine Lifestyles have put together a list of ideas to assist our fans and readers with the annual event of deciding on the perfect Father’s Day gift.  So without further ado, here are this year’s top 5 luxury gifts for Father’s Day:

1.    3-D, LCD, LED, HD TV by Samsung
2.    Gift certificate to an exotic restaurant
3.    Luxury rental car
4.    ipad
5.    Helicopter charter

This weekend Sunny Isles beach, a few miles north of South Beach, became the arena for the Offshore Powerboat Challenge, hosted by Offshore Events.  So I walked across the street from my condo to watch the races!

The event was held June 10th-13th to celebrate the history of Miami as the birthplace for open ocean racing and high performance manufacturing.  Sunny Isles was selected to serve as the venue because we have a plethora of luxury condos, hotels, restaurants, beaches and parks to accommodate the crowds.  Sunny Isles is also centrally located, a quick trip to both Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

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. 

 In the area of amazing vehicles, the military has access to the best vehicle options.  Some of the military vehicles can actually make a Ferrari pale in comparison…which is relatively challenging, so we are going to tell you why.  Here is our top 5 list of US Military vehicles we wish we could own:

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.

A flying version of the Ferrari’s 599 GTB called the Autovolantor is, kind of, in development. The bananas concept is being developed by Moller International, the same Moller International that has been promising to turn out a flying car since 2000, in existence since the 1980's with no production yet. Targeted towards the affluent, obviously, the Autovolantor would be a desirable sports car that could sometimes fly.

Designer Bruce Calkins has fitted the flying Ferrari supercar with a specially designed hybrid fuel and electric power system to run the eight thrusters that would give lift to the car, a system that Calkins believes would give the futuristic machine 800 horsepower. Translating to a top speed of 150 miles per hour in the air and altitudes of up to 5000 feet, for an air travel distance of about 75 miles.  Why a Ferrari you ask?  Well, apparently, the 599 chassis was picked by Calkins because of its distinctive shape and natural born aerodynamics. The airworthy Ferrari 599 GTB will conceptually have Back To The Future-like hovering capabilities for vertical take-off and landings, as well as wings and stabilizers for forward flight. Once airborne the car maneuvers like a helicopter, rolling to turn and changing pitch to move forward or backward, ummm we almost have a heartattack just thinking about some joe shmoe flying a helicopter.

Rumors suggest that Moller is hurting and needs new investment backing to take the Autovolanter to the next stage of development. Unless you feel like donating upwards of $5 million, don't expect to see a fleet of flying Ferrari's anytime soon.A production version of the Autovolantor, as unlikely as it may be, will cost something like $800,000 per vehicle. Worth the price of flying over bumper to bumper traffic, yes, but not worth the price of a crash, blow-up or crash landing.  We applaud the green efforts of a hybrid engine but are hoping this air-born vehicle never takes to the skies, leave flying to the professionals.