Rotorcraft Report: AW, Eurocopter Sell Luxury Birds

PRODUCTS | AIRFRAMES

The very rich — or at least very fashion-conscious — apparently like AgustaWestland’s and Eurocopter’s haute couture helicopter interiors.

Working with the famed Italian design house Versace, AW has come up with a high-fashion interior. A private customer in Russia has ordered a single-engine AW119Ke with it. Configured with a six-seat cabin, the aircraft is to be flown in VIP/corporate operations. The Italian operator Elimarca has ordered a Versace-decorated AW109 Power.

Eurocopter teamed with the French designer Hermès on an interior for its aircraft, starting with the EC135.

The Abu Dhabi-based operator Falcon Aviation Services has signed the first firm order for the EC135 light twin in that luxury version. Eurocopter said it expects to sell at least six examples this year of the €5.8 million ($9 million) l’Hélicoptère par Hermès.

The Hermès EC135 features an exclusive cabin layout with the signature French firm’s canvas used to cover surfaces from floor to ceiling. It has a sliding glass partition between the passenger cabin and the cockpit.