Mercedes-Benz has been doing luxury transportation since Karl Benz created the first petrol-powered car back in 1886. Fans of the brand have become quite accustomed to leather interior, beautifully finished wood trim and a quiet, smooth ride. Who would have imagined that those features would find their way into a helicopter? The same helicopter used to transport soldiers into war zones?
Mercedes and Eurocopter make it happen!
A year ago the two companies announced a partnership to produce a chopper unlike any other. The aircraft made its debut at the 2011 European Business Aviation Convention a few weeks ago, sending Mercedes-Benz airborne – literally.
The Eurocopter EC145 chopper is a twin-engine aircraft capable of carrying up to nine passengers, along with two crew members, up to 170mph. After spending some time at Mercedes-Benz’s Advanced Design Studio in Como, Italy, the EC145 now offers business travelers the ultimate luxury helicopter experience.
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The exterior comes armoured in signature Mercedes-Benz silver with dark tinted windows to add to its stealth appeal. Inside the chopper, Mercedes delivers as expected with wood floors, trim throughout the cabin, ambient lighting and leather seats – which can be arranged allowing for more of less storage space. The chopper that appeared in Geneva also included a 15” touch screen HD monitor and a built-in fridge, of course.
The official price of the aircraft is unknown, but there have been reports that an undisclosed European buyer bought the EC145 for just under $9 million. That’s quite a bit more than the C-class sitting in your driveway.
