It is not new for the mega-rich to go to great lengths to customize their private planes to fit their lifestyles.
And we’re not just talking about your average business jet. For decades, world leaders, royalty and billionaires have outfitted the types of aircraft made by companies like Airbus and Boeing that many of us fly commercially.
But the options on the table are becoming more and more daring.
Among the leaders in the customization game is Germany’s Lufthansa Technik, which has developed a cabin concept inspired by another must-have item for the wealthy superyacht.
According to the company, the wide-body VIP EXPLORER cabin concept fulfills the two wishes of aircraft owners: to take their plane almost anywhere at any time, and to serve as a base while traveling – a place to both sleep and sleep. place to sleep. enjoy leisure activities and excursions. Just like a superyacht.
The Lufthansa Technik team chose the Airbus A330 to showcase the concept and published a series of drawings showing the possibilities.
These include the usual must-haves like bedrooms, bathrooms, bars and dining areas. But the highlight is undoubtedly the retractable balcony – a floor in the front fuselage area that can extend when the aircraft is parked, about four meters above the apron.
The second is a large-scale integrated projection system for virtual content. It extends from the window arch to the ceiling. Customers can choose their own lighting and images, using a high-tech projection system to create scenes such as green forests and starry skies.
The EXPLORER concept was first launched in November 2021, and the company recently unveiled a new addition – the BRABUS Adventure Lounge – at an aviation convention in Geneva in May.
The concept places the saloon behind the A330’s lower deck, which is visible through a glass floor from the main deck.
With its huge garage, the superyacht was once again a source of inspiration. Various vehicles can be stored in the Adventure Lounge for use after landing.
The concept features a limited edition BRABUS 1300 R, created in collaboration with Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM.
Wieland Timm, head of VIP and special-mission aircraft sales at Lufthansa Technik, told CNN in an email that the lounge offers “a striking example of what this aspect of exploration can look like” in flight alone.
“Luxury bikes are only displayed on the accessible lower deck,” he explains. “They can be unloaded after disembarking, giving passengers the freedom to explore their current destination in greater detail.”
As for why Lufthansa Technik chose the A330 for the EXPLORER concept, Timm says this classic wide-body aircraft “offers ample room for a number of new cabin ideas and enough range to meet the group’s specific wishes.” -target ROIER”.
However, he states that an EXPLORER-type interior can also be fitted to other wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777.
Who is interested?
Timm says that the target group for the EXPLORER concept is “very ‘classic’ ultra-rich individuals who travel and explore the world with the highest level of luxury and above all privacy, but also charter operators of this type of luxury. 14-day world tours, for example, in the price range of $100,000 to $200,000 per week. ”
He also says he hopes some owners will take a hybrid approach.
“For example, a wealthy person who owns an EXPLORER plane but only uses it one month of the year. For the rest of the year, this person will also lease it to other operators/users. ”
He says the response so far has been overwhelmingly positive, noting that they have already received inquiries from customers who want to apply one or more of EXPLORER’s technical devices to their current or future cabinet completion projects.
He notes that it’s unlikely an aircraft owner will consider the entire concept as a whole, but since it’s technically possible, the cabin could be fabricated as shown. Instead, customers are likely to tailor certain design elements to suit their needs.
“The simple reason is that the VIP Completion job, especially for wide-body aircraft, is highly individualized to meet the personal needs of the owner… The vast majority of aircraft we complete for our clients are therefore truly unique.”
How close are you to the superyacht experience?
Given that superyachts have much more freedom in terms of mooring and freedom of movement, we asked Timm how common it was for airplane owners to spend the night on their planes with their planes on the ground.
He says several airports will allow them to park their planes and virtually “live” there for a period of time.
“Some of our customers are already using it,” he adds. “There are several reasons for this, and it has to do with the fact that customers often use the aircraft as their office so they can greet their customers on-site.
“Others prefer to stay on board overnight for safety reasons. But in the EXPLORER use case described, the airport serves as a base and starting point for later adventures/explorations.”
Source: CNN Brazil
Source: Breitbart
