Luxury that feels effortless.

Author: Gabriela Alina

Elfly Group, developers of the all-electric seaplane programme ‘Noemi’, (No Emissions) is pleased to announce a partnering with the government of Gotland, Sweden, to pursue its goal of zero-emission commercial flights to the island by 2027.

Both parties recently signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to explore deeper collaboration.

Located in the Baltic Sea off Sweden’s east coast, Gotland is the largest of Sweden’s islands, some 90 km east of the mainland. Region Gotland is passionate about securing more sustainable solutions like ‘Noemi’ and would like to have at least one commercial operator flying electric aircraft from the island in the future.

“We are excited to partner with Region Gotland in this groundbreaking initiative as we move towards a greener future,” said Eric Lithun, CEO of Elfly Group.  “Our electric seaplane Noemi can create new opportunities for Gotland and showcase the potential of zero-emission solutions in many markets worldwide.   We will contribute to Gotland so that it reaches its goal to start commercial zero-emission flights by 2030.”

Meit Fohlin, Chairman of the Regional Board, Gotland, said: “One of our biggest regional development requirements is securing good communications to and from the island. We are working actively to get electric flights to Gotland. We are, accordingly, pleased and proud to be able to announce today that with this Letter of Intent we are initiating a deeper collaboration with Elfly Group.”

Maria Fiskerud, project manager at Science Park Gotland, added: “We have the right environment to prepare for electric aviation together, which in turn can contribute to the development of eco travel, both in the Nordics and beyond. Everything is already in place within the ecosystem – from the airport and its electricity capacity to interested aircraft manufacturers like Elfly, aircraft operators and customers.”

Gotland Sweden backs ‘Noemi’ electric seaplane for zero-emission flights

September 30, 2024 No Comments

“Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Leeds has been an important part of our trusted dealer network ever since JCT joined the Rolls-Royce family in 2018. The opening of this new space is a momentous occasion – it illustrates a bold and exciting step for the brand, bringing the essence of Goodwood to Yorkshire. This new expansive and contemporary space – with its wealth of digital technologies, and sophisticated, elegant design – is the perfect embodiment of the brand. It is the ideal space for the highly professional team to offer patrons a hyper-personalised client experience characterised by luxurious encounters. It really captures the spirit of the marque and brings our visual identity to life, reaffirming our position as a leading House of Luxury.”
Boris Weletzky, Regional Director, United Kingdom, Europe and Central Asia

“After adding Rolls-Royce to our stable of luxury car marques in 2018, we were keen to create a new home for it which would do justice to this world-leading brand. Bringing a touch of Goodwood to Yorkshire and the North East, the Leeds showroom is simply stunning. From a multi-media curtain of ‘dancing’ kinetic lighting to a unique ‘cabinet of curiosities’ showcasing our Yorkshire heritage, a visit here is designed to be an engaging experience for customers where they can see the very best of the Rolls-Royce brand.”

Kristian Keighley, Head of Business for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Leeds, JCT600 Brooklands.

Rolls-Royce has a profound understanding of its clients, their expectations, their needs and their wishes. This is an essential element in the marque’s ongoing success as a renowned House of Luxury. The new Rolls-Royce showroom in the heart of Yorkshire is the perfect place for clients to learn more about the marque and experience the elegance of the world of Rolls-Royce.

Located in a prominent location in Leeds, this space showcases the marque’s exquisite products and provides clients with an unparalleled experience, in line with Rolls-Royce’s position as a true global luxury goods brand. The new showroom, with the front doors modelled on Rolls-Royce’s famous Pantheon grille, offers clients a fully immersive brand experience from the moment they enter the building.

Inside, the new showroom exudes cool modern luxury, yet still recognises the importance of heritage for the marque, with citations from the founding fathers of the brand throughout the showroom. The Cabinet of Curiosities, an eclectic mix of intriguing, timeless and legendary design objects, sparks the imagination and client conversations as part of the commission process. It also celebrates the local area with unique objects and books which reflect the legends that hail from Yorkshire.

The pièce de résistance, the Atelier, is the place where, with the help of the marque’s highly skilled and professional team, clients can envisage their dream commission coming to life. Housing some of the marque’s most exquisite examples of craftsmanship, including wood veneers, leathers, embroidery threads and lambswool samples, in a variety of vivacious hues, the Atelier is a sensory-inspired room; it showcases the marque’s fluency in Bespoke and luxury. The surface-finish samples are presented in the familiar Rolls-Royce speedform shape, making it easy to imagine the almost endless two-tone colour combinations; the leathers are rolled on wands with handles from Rolls-Royce’s famous umbrellas, while the veneers are shaped like the cross-section of an aerofoil, recalling the aviation exploits of the marque’s founding father, The Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls.

The remarkable space that is the Leeds showroom is a further sign of the dealership’s commitment to excellence and extraordinary journey since joining the marque in 2018. In 2020, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Leeds was honoured to receive the title of ‘Global Whispers Dealer’. Whisper’s is the marque highly exclusive members only club.

A Rolls-Royce is unapologetically luxurious, it is unmistakable, synonymous with beauty and elegance, a true design icon, and so, in the new Leeds showroom, each model rightfully enjoys its own dedicated space, framed, and is presented according to its distinctive personality and characteristics.

PJE

ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS LEEDS UNVEILS NEW LUXURIOUS SHOWROOM

September 25, 2024 No Comments

With more than $4.6 billion in originations, Global Jet Capital provides comprehensive financing solutions for the business aircraft market. The Global Jet Capital management team has served the business aircraft industry for a combined 325-plus years. The Company has the expertise, financial strength, industry relationships and infrastructure necessary to offer a variety of flexible financing solutions at the speed the market requires. Visit www.globaljetcapital.com to learn more.

Danbury, CT – September 17, 2024 – Global Jet Capital, a global leader in financial solutions for business aircraft, announced today the closing of its BJETS 2024-2 securitization, raising approximately $617 million.

BJETS 2024-2 is Global Jet Capital’s eighth asset-backed security (ABS) offering, bringing total assets securitized to approximately $5.8 billion and bonds issued to approximately $4.8 billion.

The BJETS 2024-2 offering contained three tranches of notes: a $490.4 million Class A tranche, a $79.4 million Class B tranche, and a $47.3 million Class C tranche. S&P Global Ratings and Kroll Bond Rating Agency LLC assigned BJETS 2024-2 ratings of A/A, BBB+/BBB and BB/BB on the Class A, B and C tranches, respectively. The transaction attracted 37 unique investors, 8 of which were new to the BJETS program.

As with previous BJETS issuances, BJETS 2024-2 securitizes the cash flows from business aircraft loans and leases representing a diverse group of obligors and assets. BJETS 2024-2 includes 29 leases and loans to corporations and global business leaders representing 18 unique industries. Twelve different aircraft models – primarily mid- to large-cabin business aircraft – are represented in the transaction.

BofA Securities was the lead structuring agent and lead bookrunner and Deutsche Bank Securities, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, KKR Capital Markets and Carlyle were joint structuring agents and joint bookrunners for the BJETS 2024-2 transaction. In addition, Citizens Capital Markets was a co-manager. Global Jet Capital will continue to service the securitized assets.

Vivek Kaushal, CEO of Global Jet Capital, stated:

“We are pleased with the success of our latest issuance, which underscores the strength of the BJETS securitization program and the strong performance of our previous ABS transactions. As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of our founding, our growing investor base reflects the capabilities of our platform. We’re also thankful for the ongoing support of our existing lenders and their continued commitment and confidence in our business. This achievement is the direct result of the dedication and hard work of the Global Jet Capital team, and I am grateful for their contributions.”

Global Jet Capital Completes Securitization, Raising $617M

September 18, 2024 No Comments

THE 1940s THE ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER DAWN

September 16, 2024 No Comments

MODELS OF THE MARQUE: THE 1940s THE ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER DAWN

The latest in the ‘Models of the Marque’ series showcases the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn. Launched in 1949, it marked a profound change for Rolls-Royce, reflecting the realities of the post-war market.

“For the first 40 years of its existence, Rolls-Royce built only rolling chassis, onto which independent coachbuilders installed bodywork specified by the client. It wasn’t until the late 1940s that the marque produced its first complete motor car – the Silver Dawn. Launched in 1949, it marked a profound change for Rolls-Royce, reflecting the realities of the post-war market while giving the marque more control than it had ever enjoyed over the exterior design of its products. It was also the second model to be built on a single, variable underlying structure, foreshadowing the Architecture of Luxury upon which all Rolls-Royce motor cars of the modern era are built.”
Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations and Heritage, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Although Rolls-Royce suspended motor car production between 1939 and 1945 to focus on building aero engines, design work on a new model continued in the background.

During the 1930s, Rolls-Royce offered three models, each of which included numerous parts that were unique to it and could not be shared between them. This significantly increased the manufacturing costs per car, which quickly became unsustainable during the austerity of the post-war years.

Rolls-Royce therefore faced the problem of reducing production costs without compromising quality or performance. The solution was new models that could share common parts, a new engine that could be offered in straight-four, six or eight-cylinder variants, and a single chassis that could be configured in variable dimensions. The latter can be seen as a precursor of the proprietary aluminium spaceframe, known as the Architecture of Luxury, that underpins every motor car built at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood today.

These ideas came together in a development programme for what would be known as the ‘Rationalised Range’. In 1946, Rolls-Royce launched the first such model: the Silver Wraith. This was a direct replacement for Phantom III, introduced in 1936. Like its predecessor, and indeed all the pre-war models, Silver Wraith was a rolling chassis designed to be fitted with third-party, coach-built bodywork.

Rolls-Royce knew that to be commercially successful in these more challenging times, it needed a model that was less expensive and could be produced in greater numbers than was possible with traditional coachbuilding. So, for the first time in its history, Rolls-Royce decided to produce a complete motor car, with coachwork assembled in-house. In the same way that Silver Wraith replaced Phantom III, this new model would assume the mantle of the small-horsepower cars the marque had built in previous decades.

The second model in the ‘Rationalised Range’, the Silver Dawn, was launched in 1949, initially only as an export car mainly for the North American and Australian markets; it became available to UK clients in 1952. Of the 761 Silver Dawns produced, most were supplied with the ‘Standard Steel’ four-door saloon bodies produced in-house. But in deference to clients’ requirements, Rolls-Royce also offered the Silver Dawn as a rolling chassis, with some 64 coach-built examples completed in a production run that lasted until 1955.

As further proof of the Rationalised Range approach, by 1952, clients could specify both the smaller, complete Silver Dawn and larger Silver Wraith rolling chassis with automatic gear selection. Indeed, Silver Dawn would be among the very last Rolls-Royce models to be offered with a manual transmission. It would be more than half a century before the advent of the satellite-aided, eight-speed ZF automatic transmission fitted to all of today’s V12 Rolls-Royce motor cars – but the die had been cast.

Towards the end of its lifespan, Silver Dawn’s rear section was reworked by the then newly hired John Blatchley, who had learned his craft with renowned London coachbuilder Gurney Nutting before joining Rolls-Royce. His deft eye for detail not only allowed for greater luggage capacity, but also enhanced the motor car’s looks considerably; perhaps not surprisingly, he would go on to become the marque’s Chief Styling Engineer. In 2015, the nameplate was revived with Dawn, which was the best-selling drophead in Rolls-Royce’s history by the time production ended in 2023.

The ‘youngest’ Silver Dawn is now almost 70 years old. Yet even now, it offers an exhilarating experience for the driver and a restful ride for passengers over long distances in modern traffic conditions. It was and is, in every sense, entirely a Rolls-Royce.

PJE

A rare example of a coachbuilt Silver Cloud will form the centrepiece of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ annual presence at the world-famous Goodwood Revival, which takes place from 6-8 September.

“Goodwood Revival is a wonderfully eccentric, nostalgic and glamorous celebration of the cars, fashions and culture of the 1940s, 50s and 60s. During this period, Rolls-Royce produced some of the most memorable models in its long history, including the Silver Cloud III we are displaying in the March Motor Works this year. It’s a rare and beautiful example of the coachbuilder’s art from a time when Rolls-Royce offered its clients a Coachbuild option alongside its standard models – a service that’s enjoyed its own revival at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood in the modern era. We’re delighted to be part of this remarkable event once again, particularly in our 120th anniversary year.”
Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations & Heritage, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

For its 120th anniversary year, the marque has designed the March Motor Works, located at the infield end of the main circuit tunnel, as a faithful replica of Berkeley Square and the Rolls‑Royce showroom on nearby Conduit Street in London’s Mayfair in 1964.

On display will be a magnificently maintained Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III; this sleek, elegant motor car is understood to be one of only around 100 examples of a fixed-head coupé (FHC) design ever built on the Silver Cloud III chassis by the legendary coachbuilder Mulliner Park Ward. It is finished in a handsome Brewster Green, with a Claret Red leather-trimmed interior. Under the bonnet is a hand-built, 6.2-litre, naturally aspirated V8 engine, delivering around 210bhp to the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission.

The Silver Cloud III is historically important as the last predominantly owner-driven Rolls‑Royce to be offered as a rolling chassis, upon which clients could commission fully bespoke bodywork from Mulliner Park Ward or other specialist coachbuilders, as well as a complete motor car.  (To be strictly accurate, Phantom VI remained in production as a separate chassis, albeit in small numbers, until 1993, with coachwork predominantly supplied by Mulliner Park Ward, which was by then a Rolls-Royce subsidiary. However, these were all limousines designed to be driven by a chauffeur.)

Berkeley Square and its environs were home to several luxury car showrooms at that time, including Jack Barclay. Charles Rolls was born a stone’s throw away in Hill Street, Mayfair, and would go on to establish his showroom in nearby Conduit Street, shortly after forming the partnership with Henry Royce in 1904: the March Motor Works showcases the premises as they would have appeared 60 years later.

PJE

RARE SILVER CLOUD FORMS THE CENTREPIECE OF ROLLS-ROYCE’S PRESENCE AT GOODWOOD REVIVAL 2024

September 9, 2024 No Comments

Volocopter Completes Inaugural eVTOL Flight at the Palace of Versailles

Volocopter, a pioneer in sustainable air mobility, has successfully executed the world’s first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flight test at the World Heritage site of the Palace of Versailles. This significant flight marks the culmination of this summer’s comprehensive operational validation test campaign at the Aerodrome of Saint-Cyr-l’Ecole and Versailles. Volocopter and its partners plan to return to Paris later this year to conduct a pilot of our eVTOL aircraft over the heart of Paris.

At the break of dawn in Versailles, the Volocopter aircraft ascended against the historic panorama of the Grand Trianon and its gardens. This momentous flight was commemorated with the company’s enduring Parisian collaborators, Groupe ADP and the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC), who tirelessly coordinated the event. The flight’s success serves as a profound endorsement of confidence in the aircraft’s safety and the Volocopter brand by the French and European aviation authorities, partners, and spectators of our numerous global flights.

“I am elated with the dedication and professionalism of the Volocopter team who spent months to get where we are today. Every new location and flight take tremendous effort from us, our partners, and authorities. The sustainable air mobility community is still at the start line, but today’s flight in this exceptional environment was the perfect closing ceremony to our summer, as we look forward to returning to Paris very soon.” Dirk Hoke – CEO Volocopter

PJE

Volocopter Completes Inaugural eVTOL Flight at the Palace of Versailles

August 28, 2024 No Comments

For more than a century, the Spirit of Ecstasy has symbolised elegance and human achievement, inspiring countless works of art, from music to photography and moving image. In 2024, the year the marque celebrates its 120th anniversary, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars pays homage to its timeless muse in a unique Private Collection, named Phantom Scintilla.

“Speed with silence, the absence of vibration, the mysterious harnessing of great energy, and a beautiful living organism of superb grace.”
Claude Johnson, Managing Director, Rolls-Royce Limited – Original brief for a Rolls‑Royce figurine (1910)

“The unveiling of a Private Collection is always a landmark moment. These rare and collectable motor cars, limited to just a handful of examples worldwide, are true masterpieces. They illustrate the boundless ingenuity and skill of the creatives and craftspeople at the Home of Rolls-Royce and stimulate ideas among our clients for their own commissions. They also affirm Rolls-Royce’s status as an authentic luxury house. We do not simply build motor cars — we create rare, complex and exquisitely crafted super-luxury products that are highly prized by collectors today and will be cherished long into the future.

Crafting exquisite Bespoke products and shaping extraordinary experiences directly responds to the requirements of today’s super-luxury consumers. This approach will continue to shape our business. We will grow our global network of VIP-only Private Office outposts, where our designers collaborate directly with our clients to co-create the most extraordinary motor cars, wherever they are in the world. We will expand our home in Goodwood to grow the scale of our Bespoke offering, and we will continue to craft the most intricate and sophisticated experiences and Bespoke luxury goods in the world. Phantom Scintilla, which honours our enduring muse, the Spirit of Ecstasy, is the perfect expression of these principles.”
Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

For more than a century, the Spirit of Ecstasy has symbolised elegance and human achievement, inspiring countless works of art, from music to photography and moving image. In 2024, the year the marque celebrates its 120th anniversary, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars pays homage to its timeless muse in a unique Private Collection, named Phantom Scintilla. Based on Phantom Extended – the ultimate canvas for personalisation – this magnificent collection celebrates the ethereal beauty, grace and legacy of the Spirit of Ecstasy.

Limited to just ten examples worldwide, Rolls-Royce Phantom Scintilla’s design evokes the wonder of the Spirit of Ecstasy’s fleeting presence: its exquisite interior features were inspired by the apparent movement of her robes, as the motor car glides by.

Graceful Bespoke embroidery flowing throughout the interior captures the Spirit of Ecstasy’s elegant dynamism, culminating in a complex Gallery artwork. Carefully curated design features allude to the figurine’s origins with their references to Parian Marble: it was in this famed material that, more than 2,000 years ago, an unknown genius of Classical Greece sculpted The Winged Victory of Samothrace, the statue that inspired Claude Johnson’s original idea for a Rolls‑Royce mascot.

Phantom Scintilla derives its name from the Latin word for ‘spark’ – a bright flash, witnessed only for an instant. This refers to Claude Johnson’s first flash of inspiration for a mascot, the aforementioned Greek statue, and captures the Spirit of Ecstasy’s ethereal grace – something glimpsed only for a moment as the motor car passes by, but which leaves a lasting impression.

A NEW CHAPTER TO AN OLD STORY

In 1910, Rolls-Royce Managing Director Claude Johnson commissioned sculptor and illustrator Charles Sykes to create a Rolls-Royce mascot. Johnson already had an inspiration in mind: on a trip to Paris, he had visited the Louvre and been greatly impressed by the Greek marble statue of a deity descending from the heavens – The Winged Victory of Samothrace, which dates from 190 BCE.

Sykes, however, felt the statue was too domineering to be a suitable subject. Having often travelled in Silver Ghosts, he believed a more delicate, ethereal figure would better express the marque’s grace, silence and subtle power. It is now generally accepted that he took his inspiration for what would become the Spirit of Ecstasy from Eleanor Thornton, Lord Montagu’s secretary and paramour. In creating Phantom Scintilla, the Bespoke Collective has reclaimed some of Johnson’s original inspiration, by introducing new materials and subtle references to the captivating vision of The Winged Victory of Samothrace.

MATERIAL MAGIC

The famed statue is sculpted in Parian marble, a fine-grained white marble quarried during the classical era on the Greek island of Paros. Known for its purity and radiance, this material allows light to penetrate to a depth of several centimetres, giving it a lustre that appears to come from within.

For Phantom Scintilla, the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine has been given a ceramic finish that skilfully alludes to the texture of Parian marble, while retaining its familiar femininity and ethereality – a Rolls-Royce icon that finally unites the visions of both Johnson and Sykes.

“We were fascinated with the qualities of Parian marble, and this material became the subject of our research for many months. To create a clear and elegant connection to the famed statue, we developed a ceramic finish that captures the translucence and purity of this unique stone, and perfectly embraces the ethereal nature of our icon”.
Celina Mettang, Bespoke Colour and Material Designer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

EXTERIOR: GREEK INSPIRATION

Phantom Scintilla’s exterior is presented in a two-tone Bespoke finish. The upper body is in Andalusian White, with the lower body in Thracian Blue, inspired by the colours of the sea around the island of Samothrace, whence the statue of The Winged Victory of Samothrace originates. A subtle metallic flake mimics the sparkle of sunlight on the water. The hand-painted double Coachline and Wheel Pinstripes in Spirit Blue complete the graceful exterior.

INTERIOR: EXPRESSIVE MOVEMENT

The interior is filled with design elements, textures and a continuous graphic inspired by the Spirit of Ecstasy’s expressive, dynamic form – the result of an intense collaboration between Bespoke designers and artisans. The graphic moves through the cabin, embracing the occupants in an uninterrupted flow of energy.

“We wanted to create a single graphic that almost appears as a watercolour artwork – we call it ‘painting with thread’. To create a luminescent effect, we used four different colours, thread thicknesses and stitch orientations. In doing so, we covered areas never explored in a Rolls-Royce before, achieving the most extensive density of embroidery ever seen in a Rolls-Royce motor car.”
Katrin Lehmann, Bespoke Colour and Material Designer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

The lead artisan tasked with bringing this idea to life, Brienny Dudley, experimented with a variety of stitches and hues before selecting the tatami stitch, which was applied over six layers, interlacing in varying degrees of density and complexity. The full interior composition comprises 869,500 stitches and takes over 40 hours to complete.

“Translating this design into a three-dimensional form was a wonderful creative challenge, requiring more than two and a half years of close collaboration with our Bespoke design team to achieve the right level of detail, texture and tactility in the embroidery. Having two canvases – leather and fabric – added another level of complexity, as these materials respond to stitching in different ways. 36 individually embroidered panels had to be carefully curated so that they aligned perfectly, creating a seamless, flowing motif through the interior suite.”
Brienny Dudley, Bespoke Craft Specialist, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

The embroidered motif on the doors – the most complex door design ever seen on a Rolls-Royce – is made of 633,000 stitches combining Blue Grey, Arctic White, Spirit Blue, Powder Blue and Pastel Yellow thread, complemented by illuminated perforations. By night, the embroidery takes on a mesmerising, luminescent sparkle and appears to glow from within. The seats are upholstered in a twill fabric with a subtle reflective sheen, providing an additional complexity to the material interplay within the interior. 236,500 stitches applied in Blue Grey, Arctic White and Spirit Blue thread continue the complex graphic spanning across the four doors.

‘CELESTIAL PULSE’ GALLERY ARTWORK

The centrepiece of Phantom Scintilla is a Bespoke artwork in the Gallery which runs the full width of the front fascia. Entitled Celestial Pulse, the work consists of seven ribbons, each individually milled from solid aluminium, before being adorned with the same finely-grained ceramic finish as the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine. The edges are polished to a mirror shine so that they catch the light, creating a sense of movement and fluidity.

Claude Johnson’s original brief for a Rolls-Royce mascot is displayed on an embossed plate concealed in the glove compartment. These words, written in 1910, wonderfully capture the essence of the Phantom Scintilla Private Collection: ‘Speed with silence, the absence of vibration, the mysterious harnessing of great energy, and a beautiful living organism of superb grace’.

‘FLEETING MOMENT’ STARLIGHT HEADLINER

Phantom Scintilla’s Bespoke Starlight Headliner features an animation inspired by the Spirit of Ecstasy’s flowing gown. 1,500 fibre-optic ‘stars’, all placed and fitted by hand in a unique pattern, illuminate in sequence, adding to the sense of motion. The design is completed with a further 4,450 perforations deliberately made larger than usual to reveal glimpses of a metallic silver fabric beneath, creating a subtle interplay of light.

GRACEFUL DETAILS

The sense of movement continues on the rear picnic tables, with a delicate graphic capturing the Spirit of Ecstasy’s fluidity of motion. The motif is applied with the masking technique on top of the glossy iridescent surface, then hand-sanded and coated with a matte finish, creating the illusion of two subtle, shifting colours. The full wood set is rendered in Arctic White and finished with a lacquer mixed with iridescent metallic particles. To achieve the effect, craftspeople apply up to 19 coats of lacquer – a process that takes more than 190 hours per motor car.

The Private Collection name is engraved on the polished stainless-steel treadplates. As a finishing touch, each commission is supplied with a Bespoke car cover.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom Scintilla Private Collection is available exclusively through the marque’s international Private Office network.

CO2 EMISSIONS & CONSUMPTION.

Source: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars PressClub

PJE

ROLLS-ROYCE PRESENTS PHANTOM SCINTILLA PRIVATE COLLECTION: A TRIBUTE TO THE SPIRIT OF ECSTASY

August 22, 2024 No Comments

EBAA to Produce Future Editions of EBACE

 

Brussels, Belgium & Washington, DC, 19 August 2024 – Today, the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) announced that EBAA has purchased NBAA’s interest in the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE). With the purchase, EBAA has become the sole producer of all future editions of EBACE, including EBACE2025. Financial terms of the purchase agreement were not disclosed.

“EBACE is well recognised as the premier business aviation event in Europe, bringing together the latest aircraft, newest technologies, industry visionaries and innovators, policymakers and key decision-makers,” said EBAA Secretary General Holger Krahmer. “EBAA is looking forward to building upon this amazing platform, establishing the new EBACE as the leading hub for Europe’s business aviation professionals in ways that reflect the unique nature of business aviation in Europe.”

“NBAA and EBAA enjoy a very strong relationship, forged over decades of working together to promote business aviation in Europe, the United States and around the world,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We look forward to continuing that relationship as we work together in all aspects of business aviation, including safety, sustainability, innovation, workforce development and security.”

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About EBAA
The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) is the leading organization for operators of business aircraft in Europe. Our mission is to enable responsible, sustainable growth for business aviation, enhance connectivity and create opportunities. EBAA works to improve safety standards and share knowledge, to further positive regulation and to ease all aspects of closely tailored, flexible, point to point air transportation for individuals, governments, businesses and local communities in the most time-efficient way possible. Founded in 1977 and based in Brussels, EBAA represents +700 members companies, corporate operators, commercial operators, manufacturers, airports, fixed-based operators, and more, with a total fleet of +1,000 aircraft.  Learn more about EBAA.

About NBAA
Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive, and successful. The association represents more than 10,000 company and professional members and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA.

EBAA to Produce Future Editions of EBACE

August 19, 2024 No Comments

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveils Spectre Semaphore, a Bespoke one-of-one commission that will make its global debut at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, on 16 August, during the 2024 Monterey Car Week in California. This highly Bespoke expression of Rolls-Royce Spectre captures the bold new codes of luxury being established by the marque’s confident, youthful client base.

 

The exterior coachwork is finished in Bespoke Semaphore Yellow – the colour from which this commission takes its name. This solid hue is further elevated with a unique artwork on the bonnet, inspired by the informal elegance of coastal California. Named ‘Marbled Paint Spill’, the graphic is an abstract tribute to the Golden State and its diverse environment. From the sunshine of Southern California to the eastern silver mountain tops, the Bespoke artisans have brought this inspiration to reality.

To create this motif, Rolls-Royce craftspeople applied silver lacquer and multiple layers of clearcoat for a seamless finish. The bonnet alone is the product of over 160 hours of design, development and production. The bright yellow colourway extends into the motor car’s interior. A combination of Bespoke Lemon Yellow and Citrine Yellow is used across the seats, Starlight doors and above the instrument panel. It blends into the contrasting Grace White and Slate Grey hues with Lemon Yellow stitching. The marque’s designers also leveraged the digital Bespoke potential offered by the SPIRIT operating system by complementing the dials to the motor car’s yellow colourway.

Spectre Semaphore maximises the interior suite’s contemporary design with a clean, high-polish Bespoke painted wood set. Coloured to match the grey material accents, the Cashmere Grey paint is infused with silver mica flakes, which creates a vivacious sparkle under direct light. Only one Rolls-Royce Spectre Semaphore will be built. It will be displayed on 16 August at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, as part of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ presence at Monterey Car Week 2024.

CO2 EMISSIONS & CONSUMPTION. Spectre: WLTP: Power consumption: 2.6-2.8 mi/kWh / 23.6-22.2 kWh/100km. Electric range 329 mi / 530 km. NEDC: CO2 emissions 0 g/km.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveils Spectre Semaphore

August 9, 2024 No Comments

It is both surprising and unfortunate that in the business aviation sector, approximately 44% of private jets fly completely empty, carrying neither passengers nor cargo. An empty-leg flight is when a private jet flies without passengers or cargo. This happens when the plane must return to its home base or move to another location for its next charter. Theoretically, this offers travellers a chance to experience the luxury of private flying for less money.

Numerous operators and charter brokers concentrate their marketing strategies on filling empty legs to ‘democratize’ private aviation, thereby making it more accessible. While there are advantages from financial and environmental standpoints, the service may be unsatisfactory if clients are not fully informed before booking. Logistically and from a service standpoint, numerous complications can arise, making the process more challenging than it appears. So, what is the reality of empty legs, and what can actually occur?

While empty leg flights can provide significant savings, it’s crucial to be aware of their limitations. Such flights may have strict restrictions on changes, cancellations, or may require adherence to fixed itineraries.

Make sure you understand the terms and conditions of booking an empty leg flight to prevent unexpected issues. Keep in mind that a “discount” does not imply “inexpensive” – booking an economy seat on a commercial airline will always be more cost-effective. Even with a 75% discount, a 90-minute empty leg flight can still cost several thousand dollars off the original charter price.

Below are the top tips to ensure you are well-informed before inquiring about an empty leg flight.

  • When considering booking an empty leg flight, it’s crucial to understand that the schedule is determined by the aircraft’s repositioning requirements. Therefore, the dates, routes, and times may vary more than those of standard commercial flights. Hence, booking empty leg flights could offer better opportunities if you have flexible travel dates. Openness to various options can enhance your likelihood of securing an appropriate empty leg that matches your itinerary. If you’re open to arranging your plans around an unconfirmed flight to enjoy the benefits of private flying at a lower cost, then opting for an empty leg flight could be an excellent choice. However, when travelling for an important event, the desired flights may not always be available on your preferred travel dates.
  • Securing the best deals on empty leg flights requires both good timing and flexibility. However, planning ahead can also provide an edge. Due to their popularity, empty leg flights are frequently snapped up quickly.
  • Explore dedicated platforms or specialized providers that focus on empty leg flights;
  • Familiarise yourself with the seating capacities of private jets to better suit your needs. If you have a group ready to travel and willing to pay for their seats, be aware that operators may require booking the entire jet, unlike semi-private flights. Therefore, maximising the number of passengers can help ensure you enjoy the lowest cost per seat.
  • As a niche segment of the air travel market, there may be only one flight available between your chosen departure and arrival cities in the month you plan to travel. There’s no guarantee that the return flight will be on an empty leg, so it’s essential to have a backup plan.
  • Make sure the advertised empty legs are actually real and updated, sometimes they are not always accurate and sometimes don’t even exist.
  • Without agreed permits and a secured crew, there is no absolute guarantee that an empty leg flight will proceed. It’s also important to remember that empty legs rely on the primary charter proceeding without any alterations to the aircraft’s scheduled itinerary. Consequently, there is always a risk of last-minute delays or cancellations, even just a few hours before departure.
  • Be mindful of the final price, as hidden costs may be added to the flight by some providers. Many brokers often fail to disclose additional taxes, fuel surcharges, landing fees, and other expenses necessary for the flight’s operation. When flying in winter, it’s also advisable to check if the operator reveals their de-icing costs before booking. Additionally, Wi-Fi is typically billed after the flight based on the amount of bandwidth consumed.
  • Always review the terms and conditions prior to flying. Operators may not provide any protection in the event of an AOG (Aircraft on Ground) situation due to maintenance issues. If you have strict travel plans and need to be at a specific location for an event, it’s advisable to consider booking a traditional charter, even if an empty leg flight seems to align with your schedule.

A proficient broker will always recommend a contingency plan and strive to secure availability for an urgent flight departing from the same or a nearby airport. It’s important to remember that empty leg flights, from an operator’s viewpoint, are merely incidental to their core business of passenger transport. Consequently, they are bound by the same limitations as any private jet charter.

Typically, the availability of empty leg flights increases during the peak travel seasons and significant holidays, as jets are frequently repositioning. By remaining adaptable and keeping an eye on available flights, you can take advantage of outstanding deals for luxury travel at substantially reduced prices.

In conclusion, empty leg flights are ideally suited for those with flexible schedules who enjoy spontaneous trips. However, it’s wise to have a backup plan to avoid any potential disruption to your vacation.

Understanding Empty Leg Flights

August 6, 2024 No Comments