When you’re one of the world’s wealthiest, with a bunch of offshore accounts and lawyers closer than family, traffic cannot be an excuse. That’s for the peasants. What you need is a personal helicopter. It’s loud, reeks of power, people waiting to bow down anyway and it’s fast! While the rest of the country is stuck breathing fumes, you get to fly higher than its GDP. So if you are in the market for a fancy dakadak, look no further. Here’s the essential guide to some of the world’s most expensive helicopters.
Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma - Rs 185 crore
Top of the list is the massive, extremely reliable Super Puma. It’s equipped with the latest in collision avoidance and warning systems and is also capable of flying in extremely cold conditions. Forget the golf game, you can fly out all your buddies and their plus ones in this 24-seater help, along with two crew and a cabin attendant! And you have stunning space to play with. Depending on customer configuration, this helo can be turned into an absolutely luxurious suite in the sky. Engine-wise, the Super Puma is powered by two powerful 2,382shp Makila 2A1 turbo engines and packs an automatic flight control system.
Kazan Mi-171A2: Rs 113 crore
It started life as a Russian military helicopter that flew over Afghanistan in the 1980s. After the Cold War business dwindled, it found favour in corporate, civil and charter markets. The Kazan is noted for its high service ceiling (13,000 feet), large passenger capacity and acres of space within.
Kazan Mi-171A2
Bell 525 Relentless - Rs 90 crore
When released, the Relentless will be one of the world’s most advanced helicopters. It will also ferry 16 passengers using twin 1,800shp GE CT7-2F1 engines. The Relentless will be the biggest commercial helo in Bell’s history. It will also have advanced avionics and will feature a state-of-the-art Garmin G5000H avionics system with voice command ability. It first flew in 2015 but permit delays will see it debut in market only by late 2017.
Bell 525 Relentless
AgustaWestland AW109 - Rs 42 crore
Formally introduced in 1976, the AW109 is currently in service with the Italian army, the Swiss Air Rescue and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It can seat eight people and has an impressive range of 932 km, which it can cover as fast as 280 kilometres per hour. It also has cool retractable wheels and looks quite sleek while in air.
AgustaWestland AW109
The Eurocopter EC135 - Rs 28 crore
The bird’s quite stylish. The Eurocopter EC135 has a curvy body which can accommodate five people, besides the pilot. It has interiors designed by Hermes and it’s powered by two Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 turbine engines and two Pratt & Whitney PW206B2 turbine engines. With this machine, your golfing buddies and you can fly a range of 600 kilometres at a speed of 254 kilometres per hour.
The Eurocopter EC135
Sikorsky S-76C - Rs 86 crore
The personal favourite of the British royal family and Donald Trump. Known for its luxurious interiors, the Sikorsky has comfortable interiors, twin turboshaft engines, a four-bladed main and tail rotors and retractable landing gear.
