Our century of high technology, the benefits of information and increased speed requires new ways to solve the problem of a fast and efficient way of transportation. And such transport in the conditions of megacities is increasingly becoming helicopters. Having certain advantages over land transport, these machines are still the most expensive in the world. Helicopters of heads of state and very wealthy people are comparable in value to five-star hotels. But they are worth it. The top of the most expensive helicopters and the best-selling, the cars on which the heads of state move, is the topic of this article.
The benefits of helicopter transport
Since the 400s of our era, the history of helicopter industry has been counting. Through failures and successes, this industry today has reached such a level that some helicopters seem to be simply the embodiment of a person’s desire for excellence.
The advantages of this vehicle are obvious. Only a helicopter is capable of vertical take-off from a limited area, and this may be the roof of a high-rise building in the city, or inaccessible places in the suburbs. Another advantage is the ability to work at low altitudes with direct visibility, which is an invaluable quality for protecting high-ranking officials. Their extreme maneuverability and the ability to move in different directions also explains why helicopters are so expensive.
Not without flaws. The main one is high fuel consumption. That is why only rich people and companies can own a helicopter.
Transport for VIPs
Persons for whom the “time-money” principle is important and senior government officials are the main users of expensive helicopters. When it is important that there is no restriction of movement in a city, when the time for a flight to the office of a neighboring city is significantly reduced during an air flight, and the registration of a flight plan is not required, then a helicopter will replace high-speed ground vehicles.
That is why the growth of the commercial corporate sector has recently been noted in the global helicopter industry. For such machines, completely different requirements come to the forefront - sound insulation, air conditioning, the number of seats, toilets, and, of course, beauty - internal and external.
Expensive helicopters: top 10
So, let's move on to the top ten corporate sector helicopters.
- The most expensive helicopter in the world, according to modern estimates, is the Airbus H225 Super Puma (in the main photo). Its price is 27 million dollars. Cruising speed - 275 km / h, range - 857 km, can carry up to 24 people and 3 crew members.
- AgustaWestland AW101 is recognized as the second most expensive helicopter in the world - the price of the car is 21 million dollars. Speed up to 278 km / h, flight range - 1360 km.
These two expensive helicopters (pictured) are nevertheless popular with the consumer. So, only in 2009, India bought 12 AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters.
Sikorsky S-92 - 17.7 million dollars. Flight range - up to 1 thousand km, cruising speed - 280 km / h. Like the military version, it can take on board 19 passengers. This is currently the only machine that meets the requirements of the US Federal Aviation Administration and the standards of the European Aviation Safety Agency.
Airbus AS332 L1e VIP Super Puma - the cost of the car is 15.5 million dollars. Speed - 252 km / h, range - 841 km. An improved and upgraded version of the Aerospatiale SA 330 Puma.
Bell 525 Relentless - the car of the American company Bell Helicopters, speed - 287 km / h, range - 926 km, price - $ 15 million. It is one of the most luxurious corporate helicopters on the market today. Two engines, electronic control system and the ability to carry up to 16 passengers.
Sikorsky S-76C - a mid-size car with extendable landing gears, a speed of 287 km / h and a flight range of 832 km. The price is 13 million dollars. It is this machine that is highly popular with senior management in the world.
AgustaWestland AW139 - the price of 12 million dollars. At a speed of 206 km / h, it has a flight range of 1250 km.
A little cheaper, but no worse
Other models of helicopters with characteristics no less impressive, but at a cost a little cheaper than the above aircraft:
- Airbus Helicopters H155 worth $ 10 million. It speeds up to 324 km / h, range - 857 km. Can take on board 13 passengers.
- Eurocopter EC175, or Airbus H175, - the price of the issue is 7.9 million dollars. Flight range - 1260 km, speed - up to 300 km / h, digital engine control system. In the family of these helicopters there are also worthy representatives, about which a little lower.
- AgustaWestland AW109 - a product of the work of British and Italian companies valued at 6.3 million dollars. Light twin-engine car with a cruising speed of 285 km / h and a range of 932 km.
French competitors
The following rather expensive helicopters of the world are very popular:
- Eurocopter EC155 B1 Dauphin - today Dauphin is the most popular commercial helicopter - since 1999, more than a thousand such aircraft have been sold to 28 countries. Its price is relatively low - from 5 million dollars. The machine has a speed of up to 324 km / h, flight range up to 783 km. Holds 13 passengers.
- Another hot model in the corporate market is the Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma MK II. Price and specifications are comparable to the previous helicopter. This ultra-luxury car takes on board 19 passengers and is equipped in accordance with the most modern technologies.
- Eurocopter EC145 - the price of the aircraft is 5.5 million dollars. A multi-purpose machine with two engines has a speed of 268 km / h, range - up to 680 km. Sound insulation and reduced vibration create comfortable conditions for 9 passengers.
- The Eurocopter EC135 is an Airbus machine priced at $ 4.2 million. Two-cylinder handsome man speeds up to 259 km / h with a flight range of up to 620 km. The interior from the French high fashion house Hermes is simply amazing. Start from the price of 5.6 million dollars.
These machines are created on the basis of composite materials that give them lightness, and the unique design of the external and internal finishes makes them truly the pearls of the helicopter industry.
On what does the president of Russia fly
Even after purchasing AgustaWestland for Russian officials for Vladimir Putin, the Mi-8 remained the most expensive helicopter in the world. This machine developed by the Mil Design Bureau for the first time left the assembly line in 1960 and has not lost its relevance since then. The cruising speed of the presidential helicopter is 250 km / h, it is the most popular twin-engine model in the world - today more than 12 thousand copies have been produced. A helicopter can take on board 24 passengers and 3 crew members. For the Putin helicopter, the Kremlin even equipped a special site.
Dmitry Medvedev flies on an AgustaWestland AW139 with a passenger capacity of up to 15 people.
But US President Donald Trump flies on the Sikorsky S-61 Sea King, one of two presidential helicopters. This white-green car has a cruising speed of 267 km / h and carries up to 10 passengers and 4 crew members. The cost of the helicopter is 6.4 million dollars. But he also has several personal turntables: the Sikorsky S-76B, which participated in the reality show “Apprentice, ” and two Boeing CH-47 Chinook cars.
Other cars of the heads of state
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko flies on the Mi-8, like the president of Russia.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has at her disposal an Airbus AS332 L1e VIP Super Puma helicopter. In 2011, this car almost crashed. The reason is engine failure. Management was restored at a height of just over 100 meters. Fortunately, the Chancellor was not on board.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain flies on a Sikorsky S-76C, which costs $ 7.9 million. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has the same car.
Celebrity Helicopters
In addition to yachts, factories, airplanes, Roman Abramovich has three helicopters - Eurocopter EC145, Eurocopter EC135T1, Eurocopter EC155B.
Billionaire Oleg Deripaska uses a personal Sikorsky S-76V helicopter.
But the Brazilian model Gisele Bündchen personally operates a Robinson R44 helicopter. And not only uses it for personal purposes, but also carries out environmental campaigns to control illegal deforestation.
Clint Eastwood feels himself a skilled pilot at the helm of the Airbus H125. But James Cameron uses his Bell 206 JetRanger helicopter as a simulator. According to him, rolling out a bird weighing 900 kilograms from the hangar is a great workout.
Hollywood star, beauty Angelina Jolie acquired AgustaWestland AW109, but she does not plan to sit at his helm.
And former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has several helicopters, one of which - AgustaWestland AW109SP - costs $ 7 million. He independently controls the machines.
But the most expensive is Apache
McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache - the main attack helicopter in service with the US Army. This is a military vehicle designed to destroy ground targets at any time and in any weather. It develops speeds of up to 300 km / h with full arms and remains the most expensive helicopter industry machine, however, in the military sector. It has been in service since 1980 and has successfully passed a combat test. Its cost ranges from 52 to 61 million dollars.
