Benz-inspired Luxury Helicopter - Coming to a Superyacht Near You - GOOD TIMES

Charter yacht with Mercedes Benz-inspired helicopter on board

In the rarified air of multimillion dollar superyachts and gigayachts, helipads on luxury mega yacht charter vessels like motor yacht AIR and motor yacht MOONLIGHT II are commonplace, perhaps even de rigueur.

While an ondeck helipad may no longer turn heads at the quay in Monaco, the type of helicopter adorning the pad can still garner the envious gaze of fellow yachties.

Just one year after unveiling the EC145 Benz concept airship at last year's European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Eurocopter has premiered the first finished aircraft at this month's EBACE 2011.

Inspired by the German car builder's new R-class high-end vehicles, the twin-engine Mercedes Benz-style helicopter features a versatile interior enabled by a modular approach that allows the aircraft to be tailored to suit a range of travel needs for the well-heeled – be it taking the family for a weekend getaway in the Alps, or ferrying celebrity clients to and from a St Barts yacht charter vessel in style.

Mercedez Benz-inspired helicopter for yacht charter motoryachts

The EC145 interior showcases Mercedes' knowledge of luxury materials and lighting to offer both luxury ambiance and German practicality. It's all the work of the newly formed Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Como, Italy.

Cockpit and cabin upholstery is available in a range of the usual top-shelf Benz materials and colors, plus a choice of elegant woods to provide luxury underfoot and paneling on the ceiling. Ambient lighting is also available in various colors to complement the decor – a technique borrowed from the automaker's E and S-Class cars.

The EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style aircraft is not just about luxury but the effective and flexible use of space. It is the only he-lo in its class that can seat up to eight passengers. For the cabin layout, all seats are mounted on rails and can be quickly and easily reconfigured/removed for additional room for luggage. There are also multi-function boxes with features such as a mini-frig, cup holder and table, and 15-inch TV monitor and DVD player.

EC145 Luxury Mercedes Benz-inspired Helicopter with configurable seating

The aft-cabin features a high-capacity luggage compartment with room for baggage, golf clubs, even bicycles.

Like the R-Class models that inspired it, the Eurocopter EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style is the most versatile and spacious helicopter in its class. Available from the fourth quarter of 2011, expect to see this model onboard Virgin Island yacht charter vessels in November and December.

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Rugby World Cup 2011 New Zealand starts this September. Contact our destination experts HERE to charter a yacht for this special event.