The Mercedes-Benz of Helicopters.

[Dan Reno]

The Mercedes-Benz of Helicopters

A European rotary-winged aircraft company has teamed up with Mercedes-Benz to outfit its twin-engine utility helicopter for business-luxury transport.

By Davey G. Johnson |


http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/iCtGljVe5ETsLotb__D8lQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/290/2011/05/26/Mercedes-Benz-eurocopter_202010.jpg
(http://autos.yahoo.com/mercedes-benz/)You can almost hear the call echoing through the Austrian Alps: “The top speed of mein SL65 AMG (http://autos.yahoo.com/mercedes-benz/sl-class/2011/) is too low! Get to ze choppah!” Assuming the angst-ridden Salzburg billionaire hadn’t removed the 155-mph limiter from his V-12-powered Mercedes-Benz (http://autos.yahoo.com/mercedes-benz/), he would be right — but just barely. The Eurocopter EC145 won't exceed 167 mph, but the point-to-point convenience a helicopter affords means never missing a last-minute lunch in Vienna. Until now, however, one couldn’t purchase an EC145 with an interior spec'd out by the lux-meisters in Stuttgart.

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/LxaEYVMQ1_2pQLohyiSQFA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTMxMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/290/2011/05/26/Mercedes-Benz-Eurocopter-interior_230411.jpg
(http://autos.yahoo.com/mercedes-benz/)The European rotary-winged aircraft consortium — and sister company of Airbus under the EADS umbrella — has teamed up with Mercedes-Benz to outfit its twin-engine utility helicopter for business-luxury transport. The lead on the project was undertaken by the company’s Advanced Design Studio in Como, Italy, which pulled design cues from the company’s designo roster of interior packages. Not to compare apples to oranges, the EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style is more akin to a S65 (http://autos.yahoo.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/2011/) than an SL (http://autos.yahoo.com/mercedes-benz/sl-class/2011/). Or, with its land-darn-near-anywhere capability, a G-Class SUV (http://autos.yahoo.com/mercedes-benz/g-class/2011/).

The rail-mounted seats can be configured for up to eight passengers (think capo, consigliere and six gorillas). The wood and ambient lighting draw influence from Benz’ up-level E-Class (http://autos.yahoo.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/2011/) and S-Class (http://autos.yahoo.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/2011/) sedans. Unfortunately, the SLS AMG (http://autos.yahoo.com/mercedes-benz/sls-class/2011/)’s gullwing doors aren’t an available option, as they interfere with the operation of the 145’s rotor. On the plus-side, Eurocopter can outfit the whirlybird with an infrared-suppression system, making it difficult for bad guys armed with Stinger missiles to get a lock on you as you and your lady of the evening snack on strudel and sip a nice riesling.

As for the price, Eurocopter EC145s start at $5.5 million, but the Mercedes-Benz version will reportedly go for closer to €6 million (or approximately $8.5 million).

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/bp7N64HmQzDZZETryeAJZA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/290/2011/05/26/Mercedes-Benz-Eurocopter-final_230829.jpg
(http://autos.yahoo.com/mercedes-benz/)

[ChopperFAN]

Nice interior :D

[sycamore]

Shame about the lino on the floor..

[9Aplus]

eight passengers (think capo, consigliere and six gorillas)
Shame about the lino on the floor..
Blood stains are one of the most difficult stain types to remove, from carpet :E

:ouch: yes, yes, not fair, but that was first on my twisted mind :}

[MikeNYC]

What separates this from the other designer interiors out there? I'm not all too impressed by the look of it. Plenty of other nice designer interiors: Hermes EC135, Pininfarina AW139, Versace AW109 Grand, etc.

Would be nice to see this Benz interior on a new EC145T2 though...sexy.

[SASless]

I guess the Italian version will have Marble flooring!

[strey]

Do any know if they make a stretched version? I have so many friends :p

[Droopy]

Not much privacy if you're using either of those two camping toilets...

[helihub]

I guess the Italian version will have Marble flooring!

SASless - The Mercedes 145 is the German version of posh. The Italian version is the Versace AW109, I would have thought??? Wonderful what wide-angle can do...

http://www.versacehome.co.kr/files/836749354_Ypa57m_AGUSTA.jpg

Just for good measure, French posh is the Hermes EC135 - it looks like this

http://www.yankodesign.com/images/design_news/2008/05/16/hermes_heli4.jpg

Is there a "posh" offering from Bell, MD or Sikorsky?

[rjsquirrel]

A nice marketing move, but if you talk top of the line executive transport, many of us have seen and flown S-76s that make this 145 seem like a nice VW Passat by comparison. Perhaps it is best stated that this 145 could be the Mercedes, but the many top shelf S76s are the Rolls Royces of the helicopter world. Drop by Cannes, or Palm Beach and see what is parked there.
As far as engineering detailed design goes, the 145/BK117 is not as redundant and fail safe as the 76, or the AW139. Once a 139 picks up the livery that has been the 76 standard for the last 2 decades, it would earn the Rolls standard. It would take an entire redesign of the 145 to get there, I think.