March April 201211WATCHMAKER GEORGE DANIELS | SIHH TOP PICKSSHANGHAI VIVE COSMETICS | EVANTRA SUPERCARJAKARTAS TOP HOTEL SUITESJACKIE CHANS EMBRAER LEGACY 650GULFSTREAM ELITE CABIN DEER JET CHINAFLIGHT OVER EVEREST CHEFS ON BOARD@@@E

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ZnAUD15 BND10 RMB100 HKD80 INR500 IDR80,000 KRW10,000 KWD3 MYR20 NZD20 PESOS300 QAR40 SAR40 SGD8 TWD300 BAHT250 AED40 VND100,000 MAKINGNOISEFOR ASIA'S ELITE, BUYING A BUSINESS JET IS NOT PRIMARILY A MATTER OF JUSTIFICATION, BUT OF PERSONAL GRATIFICATIONNOTAMJETGALA 6am writing this from our booth at the 2012 Singapore Airshow, the events second edition. While mainly targeting commercial and military aviation, this years show also saw a very solid participation of business aviation names. Meeting all of them gave me a unique opportunity to compare the marketing style and promotional efforts the various aircraft makers are undertaking in Asia.The show stealer was Embraer, which brought in and displayed Jackie Chans new private jet an Embraer Legacy 650. With its unmistakeable Red Dragon livery, it attracted huge press coverage and long lines of visitors, curious to see how movie stars like to travel. Embraer also announced the sale of yet three more of its flagship Lineage 1000 jets to a Chinese leasing company, part of its all-out marketing and advertising blitz in Asia.Embraers PR and marketing approach is quite a contrast to what its American, French and Canadian competitors are doing. Probably as a result of several traumatic years in their home markets, and public opinion there turning against the wealthy and privileged, these manufacturers still tend to understate their business success and their elite products.Having myself lived extended periods of time in Europe, the US and Asia, I believe I have gained an understanding of the cultural differences. I therefore cannot help but wonder when the rest of our industry will, just like companies such as Embraer, catch on to the concept that for Asias elite, buying a business jet is not primarily a matter of justification, but of personal gratification an outward demonstration of their personal andprofessional success. Private aircraft, like sleek yachts and fast supercars, are luxury items, and no amount of spin-doctoring will change that in the mind of wealthy Asian buyers. On the contrary it is one of the primary reasons they want to buy them. The fact that a jet can be used extensively for business purposes a lot more than a yacht, for example is an added and welcome bonus, not the primary trigger.The race is on for leadership of the Asian private aviation market. Those who understand and address the unique cultural priorities of this region will reap huge rewards. Those who keep to their conservative and often defensive marketing concepts, or who keep preaching to the converted instead of reaching out to new potential buyers by all means possible, will be left behind. Rainer SigelPUBLISHERINofewerthanfourexceptionalmechanismsenhancetheprecisionofthe RI CHARDLANGETOURBI LLONPourleMrite:thetinyfuse-and-chain transmission, the delicate tourbillon, the ultra-thin Lange balance spring, and not least the patented stop-seconds device for the tourbillon which makes it possible to set the watch with one-second accuracy in the first place. Never before has an A. Lange & Shne watch been endowed with so many complications that simultaneously enhance its rate accuracy, settability, and readability. And so, this remarkable timepiece truly deserves the honorary attribute Pour le Mrite.We prefer not to be measured by dimensions.Unless its a new dimension of accuracy.Discover the RICHARD LANGE TOURBI LLON Pour le Mrite in:Sincere Fine Watches: |ar|ra 3a, Sards lc|: (6b} 6684 9782 la|as||ra,a S.C. |cc Arr C|t, lc|: (6b} 6788 O618 Surtcc C|t, lc|: (6b} 6887 b1bO Scott's Squarc lc|: (6b} 6686 O6OO Sincere Haute Horlogerie: l|c S|opp|r 0a||cr, at |||tor lc|: (6b} 6788 9971 The Hour Glass: |or 0rc|ard lc|: (6b} 6bO9 9268 |r||tsor|dc lc|: (6b} 6884 8484 Raff|cs |otc| Arcadc lc|: (6b} 6884 824134JETGALA 84NOTAM Making Noise12CREW14LOUNGENew & Exclusive22WINGS24 INSIDE EVOLUTIONGulfstreams Elite Interiors30 ON THE HORIZONDeer Jet Aims High In China34 FUSELAGE & FOLIAGEEdse Dorets Green Jet Interiors38 GO FASTER, FLY HIGHERChip Ganassis Need For Speed42 AIR DRAGONJackie Chans Embraer Legacy 65046 KOMRADE KONKORDSKI Russias Failed Attempt To Beat Concorde50 SHAPE SHIFTER An Architectural Take On Jet Interiors52 FLYING FOOD Fine Dining On Air56 MOUNTAIN HIGH Recreation Of An Epic Flight60 HIGHER PLANES A Fusion Of Aviation & Home Design62 FLY BY NIGHT A Memorable Night With Jetgalas ReadersCONTENT244211ontents50106112JETGALA 10CONTENT CONTENTontents1007266LUXE68LONE EXPLORERGeorge Daniels Life And Legacy72TITANS OF TIMESIHH Show Stealers76MADE FOR DREAMSSalvagni Architetti Yacht Interiors80A DIFFERENT SPINBespoke Styles & Avant-Garde Wheels84ETRUSCAN EXCLUSIVITYPowerful Machines From Italy88FIRST AND LEADINGAsian Yachting Great Expectations90FUTURE FASHIONBespoke Suits From Down Under94NEW IN SHANGHAIDeluxe Cosmetics From China98LIFE100SUITE JAKARTASuite Respite In A Fast-Growing City106MEDIAEVAL MAJESTYAn Irish Retreat Of Guinness Heritage112PREHISTORIC FEASTPalaeolithic Cuisine In Berlin114TRAVELLING LIGHTBeauty Shines On Sydney Harbour120CANVAS OF FREEDOMAircraft Graffiti Stories Of War127AIRBORNE130BRIEFINGBusiness Aviation In Brief138PLANE SPEAKAviation Glossary142AIR SHOW DIARY144TAILHOOKTop UpCONTENTMANAGING EDITOR Rebecca Morris DEPUTY EDITOR Katrina Balmaceda AVIATION EDITOR Rainer Sigel ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER Sylvia Weimer (Spacelab Design, Sydney)EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Sandy TanCONTRIBUTORSJack Carroll, Bernard Cheong, Gerald Chew, Jim Gregory,Jeff Heselwood, Kee Hua Chee, Jinesh Lalwani, Jeninne Lee-St John,Liz Moscrop, Nida Seah, Fawn Soon, Alvin WongCOMPANYPUBLISHER Rainer SigelMANAGING DIRECTOR Michelle TayCIRCULATION & PRODUCTION MANAGER Caroline RayneyOFFICE MANAGER Winnie LimMARKETING ASSISTANT Anne GohCONTACT 12 Prince Edward Road, #04-10B Bestway Building, Podium B, Singapore 079212T: +65 6222 1415F: +65 6222 1465EMAILSADVERTISING business@oriental-publishing.com EDITORIAL subeditor@oriental-publishing.comCIRCULATION circulation@oriental-publishing.com ADMINISTRATION ofce@oriental-publishing.comWEBSITES MAGAZINE www.jetgala.com | www.palacemagazine.asiaGROUP www.orientalmediagroup.comVIETNAM www.oriental-ltd.comSINGAPORE www.oriental-publishing.comDIGITAL EDITIONS & DOWNLOADS www.digital.jetgala.comFACEBOOK www.facebook.jetgala.com (Luxury News)LINKEDIN www.linkedin.jetgala.com (Aviation News)TWITTER www.twitter.jetgala.com (Aviation News)RSS www.rss.jetgala.com (Aviation News)JETGALA is published bi-monthly and circulated throughout the Asia-Pacic. Opinions expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily endorsed by the Publisher. COPYRIGHT NOTICE: All rights, including copyright, in the content of this publication are owned or controlled by Oriental Publishing Pte Ltd, Singapore. You are not permitted to copy, broadcast, download, store in any medium, transmit, show or play in public, adapt or change in any way the content of this publication for any other purpose whatsoever without the prior written permission of Oriental Publishing Pte Ltd, Singapore.TRADEMARKS NOTICE: The masthead logo JETGALA is a Registered Trademark of Oriental Publishing Pte Ltd, Singapore. All rights are cumulatively reserved by Oriental Publishing Pte Ltd, Singapore. Their protection will be pursued to the full extent of the law.Printed by KHL Printing Co, SingaporeMICA(P) 067/03/2012KDN PPS 1775/10/2012 (022810)PHOTO CREDITSCOVER Photography: Dean Moncho (www.deanmoncho.com) Model: Penny Bell (www.priscillas.com.au) Yacht: provided courtesy of Shared Boating, Sydney (www.sharedboating.com.au) Dress: Antonia Paris (www.antoniaparis.com) Stylist: Giarne Wedes (www.giarne.com) Hair and makeup: Liz Darlington Brown (www.lizdarlingtonbrown.com) Post production: White Noise RetouchingPhotographic Assistants: Josh Morris & Chris HarborneSECTION OPENER WINGS Image courtesy of NASASECTION OPENER LUXE Image courtesy of Mazzanti AutomobiliSECTION OPENER LIFE Image courtesy of Shutterstock Images LLC SECTION OPENER AIRBORNE Image courtesy of Gulfstream Aerospace Corp CREWJETGALA 12Dean Moncho grew up in Barcelona and was educated in London. He lived in a few countries, including Hong Kong, before settling in Sydney, Australia. He has always worked in visual communication, both on TV and in print, and is now focussed on luxury photography with subjects such as jewellery, still life, fashion and beauty.He doesnt believe in getting too precious about his own work, saying: After all, for a picture to work, it has to speak for itself.Jim Gregory is an aviation expert with international experience and is based in Wichita, Kansas. He has worked as a PR executive for companies such as Boeing, Raytheon Aircraft, and Learjet and has written articles on private aviation for newspapers and aviation magazines.Gerald Chew lives in Singapore and writes about art, culture, design, architecture, lifestyle and travel. He gets enjoyment and life force from encounters with inspiring personalities, beautiful places, spaces and objects that change our lives for the better. When he is not on assignment for a publication or book project, he works on lm, theatre and television as an award-winning actor and director.A passion for discovery drives Nida Seah in her writing career. She challenges herself with a wide range of topics, from food to travel, fashion to personalities. With more than 12 years of publishing experience, including seven years honing her skills at Asias leading jewellery and watch magazine, the luxury industry is her forte. She currently enjoys the freedom and variety that freelancing offers.Fawn Soon is constantly embarking on new adventures. She has travelled extensively, lived in several cities and speaks six languages. Fawn is intrigued by the human psyche and is currently pursuing a post-graduate degree in Psychology in Rome, Italy. Fawns writing is inspired by her inter-cultural experiences. She covers a wide range of topics and is particularly interested in sailing, health, design and the environment.www.orientalmediagroup.comImagine a home that celebrates your most fervent passions. One of Singapores most coveted addresses with only 56 exclusive units. Luxuriate and rejuvenate in the tallest car-porch residence in the world.Choice units available for sale.From the developer ofDeveloper: Sardina Properties Pte LtdCompany Registration No.: 200702750C Developers License No.: C0308Tenure: FreeholdLot/TS: 416N TS26BP No.: A1323-00702-2007-BP04 (07 May 2008)Expected Date of TOP: 30 June 2013Expected Date of Legal Completion: 30 June 2016A m e m b e r o f K O P P r o p e r t i e sFor Enquiries: (65) 6533 7337 or (65) 8481 49822 Shenton Way, #12-02 SGX Centre, Singapore 088804www.hamiltonscotts.com | info@haydenproperties.bizJETGALA 14Bugattis Diva espresso machine is packed with top-notch features to create irresistible aromas and tastes. It has a capacity tank of 0.8 L, a 15-bar pump, and the Bugatti Drop System (DBS), which ensures that fresh water in the integrated tank produces the nest brew. Cups can be heated on top while the gold-plated chrome body also makes for a stylish kitchen accessory. Both ground coffee beans and easy-serving espresso pods are compatible with the machine. www.bugatticoffeemachines.comApart from a sleek body, the Jo-Mojo roadster sports a retractable cover packed with solar cells created by Sidrabe, a Soviet research and development company. Designed by Dartz and Gray Design, this electric car is bullet-proof, complemented by bullet wheels and custom interiors. With 80 hp and 122 Nm of torque,the Jo-Mojo accelerates from zero to 96.5 km/h in9.5 seconds and clinches a top speed of 201 km/h.Wide front wheel placement offers an irresistible ride. www.graydesign.seREV V I NGCOOL LOUNGEGOLD JAVALuxury fashion house Chanel has introduced from its spring/summer 2012 collection a monochromatic tennis racquet with tennis ball set, plus a quilted canvas case. The sleek black-and-white racquet has the emblematic double-C insignia patterned in white-on-black strings. If a perfect top spin or slice on the tennis court is not your forte, at least you could play in style. www.chanel.com UILTED PLAY QFranck Muller pushes the envelope once again with the Giga Tourbillon Round Skeleton, whose focal point is a 20-mm wide tourbillon. Like the Giga Tourbillon, the watch surpasses traditional standards by containing four instead of two 16-mm barrels to ensure a 10-day power reserve. An understated, round, white gold case frames the sophisticated skeletonised dial.www.franckmuller.comPRECI SELY R OUNDThe Andy Warhol 15 Minutes Eternal exhibition opens in Singapores ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands from 1712 August this year.It will then tour Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing throughout 2013 and Tokyo in 2014. This marks the 25th anniversary of the acclaimed American pop artists death. Featuring over300 Warhol pieces, the exhibit gives insight into inuential popular icons of the 20th century, such as Marilyn Monroe (1967) and Jackie (1964). It was curated by the Andy Warhol Museum inthe artists hometownof Pittsburgh. www.warhol.org LOUNGEJETGALA 16Designer Robert Majkut describes the Whaletone pianos aesthetics as a whale emerging from the water, slow with soft, dynamic lines and shining metallic edges. Whats stunning is its subtle form, enhanced by Super Natural Piano technology, engineered for the stage to suit professional musicians as well as intimate spaces. Based on the agship Roland stage piano, it has 500 built-in sound samples, an electronic lid, Ivory Feel keyboard surface and a four-channel noiseless amplier that directs pure sound. Red, purple and orange versions are also available. www.whaletone.comWATER P O P A R T I CONSTIME INTRICATE GRIEB & BENZINGERs Blue Ocean skeletonised monopusher chronograph timepiece makes an impression with a distinctive blue base plate and blue-platinum coating. It features a 26-jewel movement based on a watch movement from 1926, which had been dismantled, restored and then decorated. It is set in a solid 47-mm platinum case, while its hand-skeletonised sterling silver dial features overlapping displays decorated with original Breguet frosted nish. Its 34 steel screws are hand-polished and each bridge hand-guillochd and plated with either rose gold or rhodium.www.grieb-benzinger.com OPEN POCKET Cartiers Skeleton Pocket Watch is reminiscent of timepieces from the 1930s. It contains a perpetual calendar, a monopusher chronograph and a tourbillon visible from either sides of the 59-mm-diameter timepiece. It is powered by the hand-winding calibre 9436 MC Renaud et Papi movement. Users are able to start, stop and reset by a push of a single button. The pocket watch comes with a white gold chain, as well as a rock crystal and obsidian stand.www.cartier.com Andy Warhol, Self-Portrait, 1986, The Andy Warhol Foundation (AWF)LOUNGEJETGALA 18SMARTSCREENThe LG Prada 3.0 smartphone presents the right mix of fashion and technology, featuring a dual-core processor, a 4.3-inch LCD panel, 800-nit screen, 8 GB of user memory and an 8-megapixel camera. LGs signature Floating Mass Technology cuts a slim, 8.5 mm chassis and operates on Googles Android Gingerbread system. The phone offers a sophisticated black, grey and white user interface.www.lg.com There is good reason to fear and marvel at the Shayton Equilibrium supercar; its design and performance emulate the falcons aggressive nature. Its V12 engine revs up 1,084 hp and 930 Nm of torque at 5,000 rpm. Not for the weak-kneed, the car achieves a top speed of 402.32 km/h. Designed by Andrej Stanta, the Equilibrium also sports aluminium alloy suspension, carbon-titanium wheels and Bosch electronics, as well as leather and carbon-bre interiors. It is limited to 20 units.www.shayton.eu SWI FTGeneva Labs model XXL packs a rst-class home theatre system into a piano-lacquered wood cabinet, which also functions as an iPod/iPhone dock. It features Apple Airplay wireless music streaming, which allows you to stream 10,000 online radio stations, and provides HDMI connectivity to the television. Its 400-Watt digital ampliers seven channels power six speakers and an 8-inch subwoofer, engineered to keep your ears ringing. www.genevalab.com NEON HOURSAbstract mechanisms adorn this sporty timepiece, displaying time in a unique fashion. The HYT H1 watch features rhodium-plated micro pistons connected to uorescent liquid, framing a partially exposed tourbillon skeleton. As one of two reservoirs at 6 oclock expands, the other compresses to push the uids through the tube. The liquid advances as hours pass. HYT H1 features 35 jewels and a 65-hour power reserve, as well as a silver-toned opaline dial, small seconds counter and minute regulator. It comes in a 48.8 mm, 18-carat red gold case. www.hytwatches.com BEAT ADDICTALLOYWhats the twist? Its not the quietly luxurious interior or the state-of-the-art avionics suite, those are expected. Its not even the undeniable ramp appealand airstair door entrance, though certainly a bonus. Its the value. With a fuel burn of just 37 gph the Piper Meridian is the most fuel efcient six-place turboprop available today 30% more efcient to be exact. The cost of this value? About one million dollars less than its closest competitor. Ill take the turbine with the value twist, please.Turbine power with a twist.p|per.com[8.FLY.P|PEP 2011 P|per A|rcral| lrcWith the Morphosis watch-winder by Kudoe Schli Matz, a singletouch of a button reveals anelegant cabinet that can store up to 42 watches. Each watch holder can be individually programmed to recharge and rewind timepieces. Its stainless steel, cylindrical body is complemented by customisable fabric of either carbon bre, ray skin, fur, leather and more. Morphosis can also be used asa display cabinet or as an iPodor iPhone docking system.www.kudoeschlimatz.com CHANGEOF TIMEYou could hardly peel your eyes off Bulgaris Serpenti bracelet watch. It features a pink-gold double wrap-around structure, set in either jet-black or eggshell-white enamelling and adorned with between 245 (2.79 carats) and 385 (4.12 carats) brilliant-cut diamonds. The Serpentis head houses a Swiss quartz movement with a mother-of-pearl or black-sapphire dial containing 12 diamond-set hour makers. Single- and double-coil versions are available.www.bulgari.com COILS&CARATSShangri-La Hotels and Resorts worldwide has ceased serving sharks n in its restaurants and discontinued orders of bluen tuna and Chilean sea bass. This is in line with the hotel chains Sustainable Seafood Policy as well as its environmental and hospitality campaigns. Sharks n is a popular delicacy wrought with controversy, as it involves illegal nning of endangered sharks. www.shangri-la.comJAWS WINSORIENTAL RHYTHMScatola del Tempos Box of Time Dragon watch winder by Zannetti features an Oriental theme, with a silver dragon perched on top. It is accentuated by 18-carat gold and sterling silver detailing on the side. The watch winder operates on a 1RTM rotor, supported by a brass cylinder, leather base, and PVD polished custom gearing. It is designed to t one watch. Scatola del Tempo founder Sandro Colarieti, in collaboration with Patek Philippe, developed the rst winding rotor for automatic watches in the 1990s.www.scatoladeltempo.comLOUNGEJETGALA 20WINGSUNIQUE INTERIORS AND GROUND- BREAKING TECHNOLOGY MERGEby Jim GregoryGULFSTREAM ELITE INTERIORWINGSJETGALA 24I NSI DEEV OLUTI ONJETGALA 25At the very core of a business jet project lies its technical excellence alongside its inside design culture its DNA. It essentially consists of the fundamental values and philosophy that manufacturing artisans tap to craft an airplane, along with the vision and commitmentthat back it up.Design DNA is also the thread woven throughout the appearance and functionality of any passenger jet interior. Up to now, most business jet cabins tend to look the same. With an ever more knowledgeable and international clientele to satisfy, Gulfstream Aerospace undertook to design a new optional cabin, dubbed Elite Interior, for its large-cabin G450 and ultra long-range G550 jets. It was designed to be unlike any other and the team took heavy cues from its flagship ultra-large-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G650 and super mid-sized G280, both of which pioneered the Elite Interior concept to much applause from buyers.Jay Beever, Gulfstreams design manager of new product development, explains, We are having great success on>> OPPOSITE PAGE The Elite Interior, a huge success with the Gulfstream 650 and 280 business jets, is now available to owners of the G450 and G550THIS PAGE The Elite Interior offers a choice of premium leathers and upholstery fabrics for greater comfortJETGALA 26WINGS>>the new Gulfstream 650 and 280, which, design-wise, were a departure from previous Gulfstream interiors. Because of new G650 technology, it made sense to expand these features to our G450 and G550 cabins.A Gulfstream interior should be an extension of the home or office space. Its a social environment, a gathering place. It is unlike the automobile, which, while also social, is very much a command centre. You have a lot of controls and switches at your disposal, and youre fully engaged in operating the vehicle, Beever says. On a business jet, your pilots take care of all that. We wanted our interiors to achieve an open, collaborative environment, like an office or home space. So we designed the interior with that in mind.Where appropriate, Gulfstream incorporated automotive-like features into the Elite Interior, with attention to detail you may find in your Rolls-Royce or Bentley, says Beever. A GULFSTREAM INTERIOR SHOULD BE AN EXTENSION OF THE HOME OR OFFICE SPACE. ITS A SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT, A GATHERING PLACEJETGALA 27These enhance the contemporary look of the G650 and G280, which Gulfstream wanted to adapt to the G450 and G550 in order to cater to Asian and European tastes. Beever notes that this clean, simple aesthetic is seen in most high-rise lofts and expensive homes in Hong Kong, which are similar to those in London and Manhattan.So what is the Elite interiors DNA that differentiates it from other cabin designs? In an Elite interior, everyone feels like they are sitting in a designed piece of furniture with minimal exposure to hardware. Thats what we achieved with the 650, and it made logical sense that this separated-furniture-type feel would also be welcome to customers of the G450 and G550, says Beever.Gulfstream works closely with its suppliers in making cabin interior components, as opposed to using off-the-shelf parts. For example, the company developed a new fold-down work surface that creates an additional serving stage and seamless glassware stowage. The Gulfstream Cabin Management System touch screen enables full cabin adjustment and system updates.The console table, credenza and galley countertops are all tastefully accented with ambient lighting. Drawers and cabinets also benefit from automatic illumination when opened. In the two forward principal seat locations, Gulfstream offers many optional electric features. An all-new divan has an extra-comfort seating angle of 104 degrees and lowered seating surfaces that deploy with one-touch ease. A berthed bed can sleep two tall adults.For the optional Elite Interior, Gulfstream added stainless steel appliances with contrasting painted surfaces on the cabinetry or wood-veneered surfaces. Each drawer is latched with an improved striker mechanism that fastens at the bottom of the drawer for a smoother, uninterrupted storage volume.>> WHERE APPROPRIATE, GULFSTREAM INCORPORATED AUTOMOTIVE-LIKE FEATURES INTO THE ELITE INTERIORSThe wood-veneer laminated credenza includes spaces for magazine and wine storageJETGALA 28WINGSElite Interior features include electrically operated console tables and docks for wireless devices>>Most aircraft on the market today have a ledge that runs down the side of the cabin next to the seats, from front to back. That continuous ledge design device drives the seating furniture positioning. Each time the seating and galley configuration changes, the ledge and the entire side of the interior have to be retooled for the new seating group.In the Elite Interiors, all the furniture elements float independently for flexibility and modularity. So the credenza looks much like a hutch you might have in your dining room in your home up against the wall, and the divan looks much like a couch that you might have with the addition of end cabinets, Beever notes. The separated-furniture approach means that each zone is disconnected from the other and can be tailored to a customers personal wants and tastes. For those who want their jets to look and feel just like their office or their living room at home, this flexibility will prove most advantageous.JETGALA 29The seats are smart, giving a variety of options for configuration and electronic equipmentTECH-SAVVY SEATS Gulfstream has crammed a lot of invisible technology into its Elite Interior seats, which are made to resemble comfortable armchairs with flexible pop-up headrests. Available as an option, the two principal seats have full-powered leg rests and back rests that recline. Theres evena special button to berth the seat for sleeping or transformit upright for landing.Every passenger chair has power lumbar, heat and massage adjustments. Fold-flat seating with electric track and swivel features are standard. Throughout the cabin, passengers relax on wide seats with arm rests that deploy a 12.1-inch HD LCD monitor for easy access.IN THE ELITE INTERIORS, ALL THE FURNITURE ELEMENTS FLOAT INDEPENDENTLY FOR FLEXIBILITY AND MODULARITYQ: As one of the pioneering business jet charter operators in China, how was business in the very beginning? What were the main challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them?Deer Jet, a subsidiary to HNA Group, established in 1995, was the earliest professional business aviation operator in China. At the very beginning, we only had one small jet, the Learjet 55, which was chartered by a foreign venture for a whole year. The first flight we flew was an international one; it was also a first for a domestic operator. Back then, the lack of confidence in the security, comfort and technology of private jets was the main setback. Few understood that business jets are equipped with advanced air circulation system, cutting-edge designs and can fly above 10,000 metres, ensuring passengers a smooth and comfortable flight. The media and effective customer relations help to highlight the benefits of private air charter. Today, we operate 44 business jets. Q: In your view, how has Chinas business jet market changed over the past three years? Since 2009, Chinas business aviation industry has been developing rapidly, with business jets expected to reach 500 by 2015. Deer Jets fleet includes aircraft from Hawker Beechcraft, Bombardier Global Express XRS, Gulfstreams 450 and 550 as well as Dassault Falcon 7X. Weve just taken on board the new Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) and ACJ319.Over the past three years, China has established the DEER JET CO LTDCHARTER COMPANY DEER JET IS PURSUING AN AMBITIOUS PROGRAMME FOR LEADERSHIP IN CHINAS BUSINESS AVIATION. CEO DAVID LIU KAI HONG SPEAKS TO JETGALA ABOUT OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES ON THE WAY TO THE TOPJETGALA 30WINGSON THEHORIZON JETGALA 31 JETGALAOPPOSITE PAGE Deer Jet began as the charter arm of Deer Jet Airlines, which is now known as Beijing Capital AirlinesTHIS PAGE The 28-seater ACJ319 features a private office with ensuite bathroom and fully equipped conference roomcountrys first private jet facilities. The first fixed-based operation in southern China is run by Deer Jet. Chinas business aviation enterprises are gradually integrating their services into the global industry, while creating a world-class brand of their own. We joined NBAA and EBAA, and have since become the first domestic operator to receive the IS-BAO and platinum rating from leading audit organisation ARGUS, which certifies excellent performance in safety, service and equipment.Q: In your opinion, how is Chinas business jet market different from that of South-east Asian countries? Chinese consumers have a greater understanding of private air charter now, and they have increasing purchasing power. China has risen to become the worlds second largest economy behind America, and Chinas business aviation industry is growing just as fast. In China, there are many airports in high-altitude regions, hence more advanced aircraft are required to traverse these mountainous areas. In 2011, we were the first business aviation corporation to achieve the RNP-AR operating qualification for Gulfstreams 550 at Linzhi Airport in Tibet. Q: What are the main motivations for Chinese consumers in choosing private air charter instead of commercial first-class travel or jet ownership? Exclusivity, prestige and efficiency are qualities that you find in private air charter.You are in control of your time, destination and itinerary. In-flight amenities are personalised and marked with your name. Other customised services include a 24-hour concierge service, which takes care of your meal, flight bookings and transport with five-star assistance to ensure comfort and convenience. Q: What do Chinese consumers typically look forin an aircraft?Some customers would prefer small to medium-sized jets while group clients prefer larger business jets such as the new BBJ and ACJ319. Q: What motivated Deer Jet to take on Airbus and Boeing jets?We introduced the ACJ319 in 2010 and the new BBJin 2011. We find that there are more group clients whotravel domestically and abroad. Gulfstreams 550>> SINCE 2009, CHINAS BUSINESS AVIATION INDUSTRY HAS BEEN DEVELOPING RAPIDLY, WITH BUSINESS JETS EXPECTED TO REACH 500 BY 2015JETGALA 78 JETGALA 32WINGSThe new Boeing Business Jet is ideal for short- and long-haul flights, and is able to operate on shorter runways>>could only take 12 to 14 passengers, which means clients need to charter two jets or more. The BBJ and ACJ319 are hence more spacious, cost-effective and flexible. Q: How is Deer Jet looking to expand its fleet further in 2012 and beyond?Deer Jets fleet includes 26 company-owned jets and 18 managed aircraft. In the future, Deer Jets fleet will continue to go from strength to strength. Older aircraft will be eliminated to introduce more large and medium-sized business jets. We hope to expand our fleet to 55 aircraft by the end of the year. Q: Industry analysts have pointed out that business jet demand has outstripped supply. Is Deer Jet experiencing this problem, and if so, how are you dealing with it?Currently the business aviation market is able to meet demand. However, there are cases where customers begin to grab aircraft when supply is low. Business jets in China are permitted to operate for less than two hours, far below the rate of developed countries. Medium-sized and larger aircraft are gaining popularity, as they provide greater efficiency and flexibility. Hence operators in China are expanding their fleet, capitalising on these aircraft to reduce costs and meet demand.Q: What additional special services do you provide for your clients?Apart from charter flights, management, rescue and fixed-based operations, Deer Jet is converging its services with airports, hotels, yachts and other holiday resorts to create bespoke travel programmes. Together with Earl Mansion and Artemis Yacht, we have launched the Hainan Island Tourism package, targeted at high-net-worth customers in China and tailored to individual requirements.Q: We have statistics that indicate Chinas business jet market to be worth about USD11 billion by 2018. What is your own forecast?The outlook of Chinas business aviation industry is bound by its economy, which ranks second in the world. On the other hand, the turbulent economy in Europe will inevitably affect China, therefore more globalised and open policies, acquisition of large and medium-sized jets as well as setting up more facilities will help to accelerate development. Q: What do you think are the three main factors that have contributed to its growth, and what is your strategy for meeting this surge in demand?Chinas strong economic outlook has contributed to a surge in demand for private air charter and so have more open policies and more hangars, FBOs and MROs established. Optimising every aspect of our service chain ranging from operation, customer service to maintenance will also help meet greater demand for private air charter in China. Deer Jet aims to continue upgrading its facilities. Q: Tight regulations, insufficient facilities and lack of flexibility in air traffic control have been cited as challenges for the growth of business aviation in China. What priorities do you have in addressing some of these issues and why?Establishing more facilities will help counter these issues. Recently, Deer Jet has established FBO in Shenzhen and a hangar in Beijing. We have also signed an agreement with Gulfstream Aerospace to establish an MRO in mainland China. By 2015, we hope to set up 10 facilities, further establishing Deer Jet as a world-class company in private air charter. Q: How does Deer Jet hope to position itself in the international market over the next five years? We strive to implement our development strategies to become a world-class business jet corporation specialised in private jet management, charter and fixed-based operations in order to secure a stronger Chinese business aviation industry while extending our services globally. WINGSJETGALA 34AN INNOVATIVE NEW JET INTERIORLETS THE OUTDOORS INF USE L A GE & F OL I A GEby Rebecca MorrisEDSE DORET DREAMLINER INTERIORSJETGALA 35INTERIOR DESIGNERS FOR LUXURY AIRCRAFT are ever more challenged to devise new, inventive and unique ways of providing a home from home in the sky. Passengers prefer not to feel they arein an alien environment, tens of thousands of feet in the air; the trend is to create the illusion that they could simply walk through the door and into the garden. So why not offer them just that? That was the idea and brainchild of New York City based designer Edse Doret, who has invented what must be the worlds first flying garden. Dorets design takes the interior space of a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and covers it with plant life growing from bulkheads in the entryway, master bedroom, master lavatory and office. The variegated evergreens have been carefully selected to be non-allergenic and insect free, and they wont shed. Inspiration can be found in the most unexpected place and Doret has a young child to thank for this left-field horticultural project. In June 2011, I spoke to a group of elementary students at a public school in New York City. One child asked me what my dream plane would look like. This question birthed the design choosing Boeings 787-9 Dreamliner and my imagination, says Doret. More than 1,400 different plants were used in the aircraft, including ferns, mosses and epiphytes. And they provide an important plus: the foliage will act as an air scrubber, improving>> DORETS DESIGN TAKES A BOEING 787-9 DREAMLINER INTERIOR AND COVERS IT WITH PLANT LIFE Truly a dream for interior designers, the spacious layout of the 787-9 allows unique configurations, such as for an office (opposite page) and lounge area (above)JETGALA 36WINGS WINGSThe aircraft is decked with what Doret calls living walls panels of plants for fresh air around the bedroom, lavatory and office>>higher quality air inside the plane. The plants will need minimum maintenance by a specialist and, manipulated by a system of mirrors, daylight in the craft both natural and artificial will provide photosynthesis to the wall. Two engineering firms and a designated engineering representative were consulted to ensure that the living wall complies with current FAA regulations and a patent has now been filed for this unique feature.Doret chose Boeings new carbon fibre jet to create this private interior, considering it the perfect platform for his new design. The aim is to provide a tranquil ambience JETGALA 37Designer Edse Doret was born in Port-Au-Prince Haiti and moved to the US with his family in 1970. Interested in art from an early age, he attended the High School of Art & Design and went on to study Industrial Design at Pratt Institute. While at Pratt, he worked for different design firms in New York City in particular, one specialising in the interior design of private jets piqued his interest. He founded Edse Doret Industrial Design in 1991, undertaking product and interior design, and began to focus on aircraft interior design in 1998. Designs for one Middle Eastern royal included an aircraft interior with wooden flooring, Khaima lounge and a Jacuzzi while another for a fellow royal contained an elevator that rose from the tarmac to the main deck of the aircraft. Doret was also behind the first flying casino, created in a Lockheed L1011-500, which included VIP seating areas, gaming rooms and a massage room.UPPINGTHE ANTEIn the 14-seat dining room, Doret uses LED ceiling lighting and teak flooring, as well as polycarbonate material in place of glass for the passengers that lessens the constricted feeling that limited space inevitably brings. Typical design boundaries are removed in rooms, which aims to invite adventure and an unlimited supply of imagery. Doret says the aviation communitys reaction has been overwhelming and brought forth the following comment from one of itsclients: Its not that you guys thought outside the box;the box was never in the room! Other firms involved in the interior are Aeristo, Aerospace Technologies Group, AeroQuest, Air Cabin Engineering, Air Cabin Trading, Atlantic Aviation, B/E Aerospace, Custom Control Concepts, EMTEQ, Kydex,STG Aerospace, Tai Ping and Tapic. Techno Coating will supply various components, such as lighting, carpets and leather to the interior. L3-Com Platform Integration has been selected as the medication centre to apply the final touches to the aircraft. Boeing will deliver its first VIP-designated Dreamliner in 2015; Doret estimates that its modifications will take 24 months.WINGSJETGALA 38F L Y HI GHERAERONAUTICS, AUTOMOBILES AND CHIP GANASSIS NEED FOR SPEEDby Jim GregoryCHIP GANASSIGOF ASTE R,Image by Jonathan Ferrey, courtesy of Target Chip Ganassi RacingJETGALA 39LIKE MANY YOUNGSTERS, CHIP GANASSI WAS ENTHRALLED WITH ANYTHING THAT HAD A MOTOR ON IT go-karts, dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles. In his teens, he moved on to racing cars in local amateur races and found he was actually rather good at it. By the time he graduated from Duquesne University with a degree in finance, he was racing on the professional circuit, with one of his first outings in the all-American classic, the Indianapolis 500.In 1982, I was classed as rookie and I finished 15th. Ten days out of college, and I had USD65,000 in the bank, says Ganassi. By the following year, he had advanced to an eighth-place finish, and his racing career was accelerating. But the fast life was not without risks.>>IN 1982, I WAS CLASSED AS ROOKIE AND I FINISHED 15TH. TEN DAYS OUT OF COLLEGE, AND I HAD USD65,000 IN THE BANKFROM TOP Juan Pablo Montoya, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, sits in his car during practiceImage by Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesGanassi likes his jet fast and flies in it 40 weekends a yearImage by Junebug Clark/Cessna VMGJETGALA 40WINGSRacecar team owner Chip Ganassi likes his jet extra fast. The addition of elliptical winglets on his Cessna Citation X coincides with his focus on the aerodynamics of car racing. Of the similarities between automobiles and aeroplanes, he says: These Indy cars, and NASCAR stock cars and sports cars, are all just a wing between the bumpers. Its how you manage the angle of attack of that wing to get its best performance. All the track knows is that you have these four little patches of rubber that are touching it. At the end of the day, who manages those four patches of rubber the best is going to win the race. Lets just say that we employ a healthy number of aerodynamicists, and we do quite a bit of aerodynamic testing.BUMPERTO BUMPER>>At a race in 1984, one of his tyres ruptured. His racecar went airborne, disintegrating in mid-air and crashing top-first into the guardrail. Ganassis injuries were severe. This led him to set his sights on something a bit less hazardous instead owning a racing team. He purchased an interest in the now-defunct Patrick Racing team in 1988 before forming his own team in 1990 with giant US retailer, Target Stores, as the principal sponsor. Today, Target Chip Ganassi Racing is arguably one of the most successful race teams in history. His teams compete under different banners in all three of the top American echelons of racing IZOD Indy Cars Series, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. Ganassi is the only race team owner to compete across the board in all three categories. He relies on Honda for his IndyCar engines, Chevrolet for NASCAR, and BMW for road racing. Exceptional enginesare critical. Each one costs about USD100,000 to rebuild and then lasts only about 500 miles (roughly 805 km) and at speeds that can well exceed 200 mph (321 km/h), you can see why. His luxuriously appointed Cessna Citation X business jet ties the business ends of his speedy empire together. Ganassi is in his jet 40 weekends a year to cover 50 or so races because he thinks it is important for the teams owner to be seen at as many races as possible. For fun and relaxation on board, the 53-year-old plays competitive and fast-paced video games on his PDA.Reed Sorenson, driver of the #41 Target Dodge, drives during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LENOX Industrial Tools 301Image by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCARJETGALA 41GANASSI IS THE ONLY RACE TEAM OWNER TO COMPETE ACROSS THE BOARD IN ALL THREE CATEGORIES Recently, Ganassi had Cessna install a set of elliptical winglets on his jet, boosting its speed, range and climb rate. But even without the winglets, the Citation X is capable of .92 Mach, just shy of the sound barrier. Its range lets Ganassi reach almost any city pair on the North American continent, and allows for safe, timely and efficient business travel in general.We went to a BMW awards banquet in Munich one Saturday night out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Got up Sunday, flew to London, and had a black-tie dinner there Sunday night, Ganassi says. Took off Sunday night out of London; flew back to Pittsburgh. I got up Monday like it was nothing.Theres an old saying in racing, If you win races, everything takes care of itself. So, we just try to win. This may well explain Ganassis choice of the fast-paced Citation X, stating: Im faster than all of them. And I remind them of it all the time. CLOCKWISE FROM TOPMontoya drives the #42 Target Chevrolet at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kobalt Tools 500Image by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCARMontoya celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Heluva Good! Sour Cream DipsImage by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCARAerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford with driver Dario FranchittiImage by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCARGanassi with NASCAR legend Richard Petty, known as The Kingin the circuitImage by Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesJETGALA 42AN ICONIC AIRCRAFT FROM BRAZILTAKES TO CHINESE SKIESDRAGONby Jeff HeselwoodJACKIE CHANS LEGACY 650WINGSa i rA RED AND GOLD, DRAGON-THEMED AEROPLANE WITH THE WORDS JC JET PAINTED ON THE BODY FLEW INTO SINGAPORE THIS FEBRUARY. It was the newly delivered Embraer Legacy 650 of action film star Jackie Chan, making its first public appearance at the Singapore Airshow. The kung fu stars big bird, the first Legacy 650 to be delivered in China, has been highly publicised over the past few months. While the Hollywood superstar is universally known, Embraers deal with a Hong Kong-born Chinese movie icon is no doubt aimedat wrestling with Asias own rising dragon China.By turning to Chan as its brand ambassador, Embraer is translating his charisma and celebrity status into a high profile and sales, of course for the sleek Brazilian-made jets. The company said Chan will assist in promoting its entire line of executive aircraft, not only in the rapidly growing China market, but globally.Launched in 2009 and first entered into service in 2010, the large Legacy 650 is an extended-range version of the Legacy 600. It first visited China at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in 2010 and gained type certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China 13 months later. This certification allows local owners to register and operate the Legacy 650 in the country. Aside from Chan, another Chinese customer has chosen the jet. Minsheng Financial Leasing Co Ltd ordered 13 Legacy 650s in October last year, to be delivered within five years.>>JETGALA 43CHAN IS KNOWN FOR HIS DEVOTION TO THE PROMOTION OF CHINESE CULTURE AND COMMITMENT TO PHILANTHROPIC CAUSESThe Legacy 650 has a dropped centre aisle to increase headroom Elegant tableware complements the cabins plush interiorsJETGALA 44WINGS WINGSTOP The aircraft features a spacious galley and optional folding shelves in the aft baggage compartment ABOVE The Legacy 650 can seat 13 to14 passengers>>But its more than buying power that makes Embraer want to woo the Chinese. In April last year, the company announced a framework agreement with the Aviation Industry Corporationof China (AVIC) which, if finalised and approved, would createa Legacy 600/650 production line in the country. This would bedone through a joint venture with Harbin Aircraft Industry(Group) Co Ltd, an AVIC subsidiary.Chan, who not only demonstrated his martial arts skills in a long range of movie hits, is also respected for his devotion to the promotion of Chinese culture and his ongoing commitment to philanthropic causes. The heart of Chans charity work lies in The Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation, founded in 1988, and the Dragons Heart Foundation, founded in 2004. The former offers scholarships and active help to Hong Kongs young people. Over the years, the foundation has broadened its scope to include provision of medical services, aid to victims of natural disaster or illness, and projects where the major beneficiaries are Hong Kong residents or organisations. The Dragons Heart Foundation helps needy children and elderly in remote areas of China. It builds schools and provides books, tuition fees and uniforms.The actors jet will be managed by Sino Jet Management Ltd.It is not yet known how Chan intends to use it, be it for film-related activities, personal itineraries or philanthropic missions. With its range, he is assured of efficient travel to appointments or holidays beyond China or Hollywood. The Legacy 650 has a range of 3,900 nautical miles (7,223 km) and can fly four passengers non-stop from Beijing to Dubai or from Hong Kong to Adelaide. It can also achieve non-stop flights from Shanghai to Delhi or Singapore to Sydney. A demo flight, with 10 passengers, from Dubai to Londons Farnborough Airport covered an equivalent still-air distance of 3,500 nautical miles (6,482 km) in eight hours. The Legacy 650 also demonstrated a round trip between So Paulo and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, covering the Miami-bound legin eight hours and 48 minutes and the return flight in eight hours and 43 minutes.JACKIES JET CAN FLY NON-STOP FROM BEIJING TO DUBAI, HONG KONG TO ADELAIDE OR SHANGHAI TO DELHIJETGALA 45Jackie Chan is known to have a personal interest in flying. His website shows images of him taking flight lessons, first on a simulator and then on a real helicopter. When the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) aircraft carrier visited Hong Kong, Chan grabbed the opportunity to tour the flight deck and view its various aircraft, including F/A-18C Hornet and F-14A Tomcat fighter jets. Chan also visited the ready room the room where wing pilots are briefed before and after flight operations and tried on night vision goggles to view the room in the dark.AIRBORNE KUNG FUSPECIFICATION IMPERIAL METRICLENGTH (EXTERNAL) 86 FT 5 IN 26.33 MWINGSPAN (WINGLET TIP TO TIP)69 FT 5 IN 21.17 MHEIGHT (EXTERNAL) 21 FT 9 IN 6.64 MCABIN LENGTH49 FT 10 IN15.18 MCABIN WIDTH 6 FT 11 IN 2.10 MCABIN HEIGHT 6 FT 1.82 MMAXIMUM RANGE (1) WITH IFR RESERVES 3,800 NM (4 PAX) 7,223 KM (4 PAX)MAXIMUM PASSENGER SEATING 14 PAXMAXIMUM CRUISE SPEED MAX OPERATING SPEED = M 0.80 NORMAL CRUISE SPEED = M 0.78 CERTIFIED CEILING 41,000 FT 12, 497 MTAKE-OFF DISTANCE 5,741 FT 1,750 MMAXIMUM TAKE-OFF WEIGHT 53,572 LB24,300 KG The interiors were also a deciding factor for Chan, who said: I chose the Legacy 650 because of its large three-zone cabin, offering incredibly quiet performance and luxury. The Legacy 650 can comfortably fit 13 or 14 passengers, depending on the owners preferences for seating, divans, conference layouts and credenzas. Its spacious, fully equipped galley and large, in-flight accessible baggage compartment are ideal for long-haul trips. An avionics package from Honeywell allows improved cockpit functionality.At the recent Singapore Airshow, Embraer also announced major improvements to the Legacy 650s interiors. These enhance the furniture veneers, cabin management system, connectivity and operational productivity. The improved interiors will be shown in a worldwide demonstration tour to be launched in March, and will be available for standard aircraft produced in 2012.LEFT The three-cabin aircraft has Inmarsat SwiftBroadband connectivity, voice over IP and secure data VPN functionalityBELOW With a passion for flying as well as for making movies, Jackie Chan went aboard the USS Kitty Hawk aircraftin 2002US Navy photo by Photographers Mate 3rd ClassLee M McCaskillPLANS CAN EITHER WORK OUT OR GO WRONG. Grandiose plans too, except that when they fail, they usually do so spectacularly. One such plan was the Soviet Unions project to upstage its Western adversaries by launching the worlds first ever supersonic airliner. What ensued was a classic Cold War espionage saga, which culminated in an epic crash and the unnecessary death of several great aviators and civilians.Sometime around 1960, KGB Chairman Alexander Shelepin informed then Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev that an Anglo-French aerospace consortium had started a programme to launch a supersonic airliner, dubbed Concorde. It was the height of the nuclear arms race, and Khrushchev decided that beating the West to this was of strategic importance for the Soviet Union. The problem was that the Concorde team was already two to three years ahead in its research and efforts, and time was running dangerously short.Russias iconic aerospace engineer Andrei Tupolev was put in charge and was given the complex task of creating a supersonic passenger aircraft in even less time than the West had. At the time, aviation experts delighted in making market forecasts for a supersonic aircraft worth billions, which added further urgency. Aside from scant supersonic research for by Rainer SigelTUPOLEV TU-144WINGSJETGALA 46K O M R A D E K O N K O R D S K ITHE AIRCRAFT THAT ALMOST WON THE SUPERSONIC AIRLINER RACE. ALMOSTJETGALA 47FROM TOP The cockpit of a Tu-144Image by GerolDisplayed beside each other, Concorde (left)and the Tu-144 look almost like twin jetsImage courtesy of Auto & Technik MUSEUM SINSHEIM, GermanyThe Tu-144LL deploys a trio of drag chutes asit touches down at Zhukovsky Air DevelopmentCenter in July 1997Image courtesy of NASA OPPOSITE PAGE The Tupolev was Russias attempt to beat theAmericans to creating a supersonic aircraftImage courtesy of Auto & Technik MUSEUM SINSHEIM, GermanyBELOW The Tu-144LL flying laboratory touches down at Zhukovsky Air Development Center near Moscow Russia after a test flight in 1997Image courtesy of NASAlarger airframes, Tupolevs main problem was the lack of suitable engines. So, in true Cold War fashion, the Soviets legendary spy network was roped in to help fill the gaps, and an unprecedented effort was launched in 1963 to obtain blueprints and research material for Concorde.The spies sent by the KGB were among its very best, and they soon delivered reams of material about Concordes airframe and engines. Information was recorded on microfilm, and transported in towel dispensers, bins, cigar tins and toothpaste tubes. Everything was examined, down to tyre scrapings from Concordes test runway in France. It took the Concorde team a full year to comprehend the magnitude of the Soviet espionage effort, at which point they sprung a classic counter-espionage tactic by feeding false information to the Soviets. A sense of humour was obviously part of it, as one chemical formula channelled to the Russians, meant to be used for making aircraft tyres, was actually that of chewing gum. Imagine a full team of engineers and spies desperately trying to turn chewing gum into supersonic aircraft tyres.In 1965, the Soviets suffered another setback when their lead spy was captured and deported. In his place, the KGB installed Sergei Fabiew, Aeroflots station manager in Paris at the time, until he too was arrested in 1977. However, it was all too late as by 1968, Tupolev and his team had a prototype of their supersonic aircraft ready to fly. On 31 December 1968, the Russian supersonic aircraft took to the winter skies near Moscow, a full two months before Concorde ever flew. Tupolev and his sons, along with a full line-up of the Soviet leadership, watched the aircraft take off and make three passes over the airfield before landing. Soon after, the Tu-144, as it was called by then, broke the sound barrier in June 1969. One month later, it became the first commercial transport to exceed Mach Two.Furore in the West was extensive, as the Russian aircrafts shape was an unmistakable copy of Concorde, and therefore it was soon nicknamed Konkordski. On closer look, though, it was not a blow-by-blow copy, as the Soviets did not at the>>THE SPIES SENT BY THE KGB WERE AMONG ITS VERY BEST, AND THEY SOON DELIVERED REAMS OF MATERIAL ABOUT CONCORDES AIRFRAME AND ENGINESWINGSJETGALA 48EAST-WEST RESURRECTIONIn the early 1990s, IBP Aerospace signed an agreement with Tupolev, NASA, Rockwell and later Boeing, offering a refurbished Tu-144 as a flying test bed for NASAs High Speed Commercial Research programme. Intended to formulate designs for a second-generation supersonic jet, the programme in 1995 started using a Tu-144D taken out of storage and extensively refurbished at a cost of USD350 million. The aircraft, named Tu-144LL, made a total of 27 flights during 1996 and 1997, and although regarded as a technical success, the project was cancelled for lack of funding in 1999. FURORE IN THE WEST WAS EXTENSIVE, AS THE RUSSIAN AIRCRAFTS SHAPE WAS AN UNMISTAKABLE COPY OF CONCORDEThe Tu-144LL, with its drooped nose and extended canards,lifts off from Zhukovsky Air Development Center in 1997Image courtesy of NASA Like Concorde, the Tu-144 had a conical camber added to its wing to reduce drag at lift-off>>time have the same technology as their rivals, and used different measurements, screws and bolts. But more important was what would become the aircrafts Achilles heel its wing design. Possibly as a result of the counter-espionage efforts, the Tu-144s wing was unable to create sufficient lift and stability through various speed ranges. This is why the Russian designers added a new feature in 1973 called Canard Foreplanes, which were attached to the fuselage just aft of the cockpit.Although by then, the Tu-144 was rumoured to be cleaner and faster and certainly bigger than Concorde, 1973 was to be its year of reckoning. During a demo flight at the Paris Airshow on 3 June that year, the Tu-144S on display crashed spectacularly in front of a worldwide audience. While in the air, the aircraft suddenly went into a violent downwards manoeuvre. When its commander, test pilot Mikhail Koslov, tried to pull out of the dive, the Tu-144 broke apart at 1,500 feet and crashed, destroying 15 houses, killing its entire crew and eight more bystanders on the ground. The accident remains controversial to this day. The Russian version is that the Tu-144 tried to avoid a French Mirage chase plane attempting to photograph its canards. The West maintains that the pilot pushed the envelope beyond the aircrafts capabilities and was at fault. In any case, the crash was the beginning of the end for the Konkordski. Introduced into domestic-only service in December 1975, the aircraft first flew mail and freight between Moscow and Alma-Ata, in preparation for passenger services. Those commenced in November 1977 and ran on a semi-scheduled service, until another crash landing in May 1978 with two crew fatalities further delayed deployment. In the end, the Konkordski flew only 55 scheduled passenger flights, and after only 102 commercial flights in total, the aircraft flew quietly into the pages of history.Watch a short video of Tu-144s Paris Airshowcrash in 1973 Know More.800.553.8638 +1.315.797.4420JETNET.COMWorldwide leader in aviation market intelligence.Above The Clouds:Aviation Business Index Know more about aircraft ownership at your single best source: aviationbusinessindex.comJETGALA 50WINGSFOR SOME, A BEAUTIFUL VIP AIRCRAFT INTERIOR is a solid impressive structure fixed to the cabin walls. For architects Fox Lin, however, an interior is a moveable feast adaptable to many environments and missions. In 2001, Domus magazine ran a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) design competition, requesting entrants to explore the massive space on board. Fox Lin rose to the challenge and netted second prize for its concept for a shifting cabin. The North American architecture, design and consulting firm had already worked on numerous projects ranging from urban-scale interactive installations to sustainable housing community developments. Consequently, the company created a Boeing BBJ interior concept that was flexible and adaptive to changing contexts, and which could be configured as requested by the users before a specific flight and even partially reconfigured in-flight.Partner Michael Fox was instrumental in bringing the Interlocking Transformations project to life. He said: We wanted to offer several options on the same plane. There may be eight people going on vacation, followed by a business meeting the next day. The next flight could be 20 people going off to shoot. We thought about how we could change the aircraft quickly and easily.The Fox Lin team felt that changes in conventional thinking could ultimately redefine established aircraft design. The partnership combined the sustainable expertise of Juintow Lin with the technological expertise of Fox. The ensuing concepts integrate technology and architecture to meet the changing needs of users and their activities, and also allow for comfort and optimum spatial efficiency. The design offers three mobile zones that completely transform the aircraft depending on where they are placed. The first sector features a lounge on one side, with a conference room on the other; the second affords extra seating in the front by Liz MoscropFOX LIN INTERIORSAN ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS GROUND-BREAKING CONCEPT FOR FLEXIBLE JET INTERIORSSHAPESHIFTERSHAPE SHAPEJETGALA 51FOX LINS CONCEPT INCLUDES INTERIORS WHICH COULD BE CONFIGURED AS REQUESTED BY THE USERS BEFORE A SPECIFIC FLIGHT OPPOSITE PAGE, FROM TOP In Fox Lins three-zone BBJ concept, one section contains a group lounge backed by a rail system that helps it slide and lock into any place The second section reveals a bathroom and partial bedroom THIS PAGE A conference room, connected to the group lounge, features AV equipment and foldable cabinets to slide in mobile seatsSTANDARD CHANGES Boeing Business Jets does not make interiors for its aircraft. The buyer has to choose a designer and completions house to outfit his purchase. Anything on an aeroplane can be changed or modified as long as there is enough money and engineering expertise to design, test and certify it. Realistically, however, customers will probably not change engines, power generators, the primary structure or the avionics. The things that typically get changed are in the interior (including replacement of windows with plugs) and the communications systems (wiring, antennae, etc), plus standard conversions for major systems like for the winglets and extended range fuel tanks.The colour scheme chosen was blue and cool grey. Fox explained: We needed to have colours that reflected the adaptability of the aircraft. Our aircraft was like a chameleon with several personalities. He pointed out that individual users could also control their personal environment when on board with lighting or zone changes. Each passenger would be able to control his or her lighting from the seat. There would also be controlled lighting for the central cabin space.Another option would be for users to call ahead before a flight and ask for the exact configuration they desired. This would offer the opportunity for large companies, for example, to select the large conference room configuration, which would allow seating for 12. However, should the next user require a smaller space and privacy, he could ask for smaller zones, which could be created very easily. To date, the project remains at the concept stage only, as it is difficult to certify its individual elements. However, Fox is keen to develop his ideas further. He said: We would be very interested in pursuing the project. Boeing might possibly help.and an office area at the back; and the third features a small lounge with a bar and a bedroom. The system works thanks to in-built rails attached to the ceiling, which mean that the sectors are fluid and easy to move. The zones can operate independently, or as a complete system. Fox continued: You can move the sectors closer or further away from each other, expanding and contracting the interiors according to the different settings required. We worked with Boeing on the design. Indeed the Fox Lin team flew to Greece and spent a week with the manufacturers engineers, along with other industrial parties. Fox said: We all threw ideas into the pot. We came up with several areas that would be useful from an economic standpoint. For many firms, a custom jet tailor-made to each trip would be very valuable. WINGSJETGALA 52FROM CANAPS TO FULL FEASTS, SPECIALISED CATERERS AND CHEFS ELEVATE DINING IN THE AIRF LY I N G by Katrina BalmacedaIN-FLIGHT DININGFOODJETGALA 53RUSSIA-BASED CATERER SUMOSAN SERVES a wide range of Japanese and European food on private jets. But if you ask its manager, Tatiana Mishina, shell tell you the most difficult dish to prepare for a flight is the ubiquitous tempura. Easy to pronounce and deceivingly simple compared to, say, special tuna and truffle roll (a hit on Sumosans menu), harusame glass noodle salad, the Russian Muraveinik cake or the more filling barbary duck, tempura presents a test when you take it on board. It needs to be served at the exact temperature with just the right crunch, else it will not be tasty at all. And how do you do that when you cant fry on a plane?This is but one challenge chefs and caterers face when preparing fine food on air a service that has long existed in mature business jet markets like the US, Europe and Middle East. Meals can range from appetisers to eight-course meals, depending on the flight time, duration and, of course, the clients whims. One stewardess says that her clients typically order simple snacks right after take-off and get down to work for the rest of the flight. However, other passengers on hectic business trips find that being on air is the only time when they relax, hence they prefer fine dining on board. Packed meals are also ideal for short flights, and British caterer Absolute Taste has responded to this demand by creating a contemporary tray meal concept suitable for private jets (see box).Where elaborate dishes are needed, some companies offer chef service on board. Alison Price On Air, a renowned London-based in-flight caterer, has recently launched such a programme. Its director of in-flight services, Daniel Hulme, explains the clientele it has in mind: We anticipate that Chef in the Sky will appeal to corporations, private owners of the heavy jet airliners such as the BBJs and ACJs, and VIP charter companies.Charter operator Royal Jet has its own group of chefs to accompany clients on short- and long-haul flightsLEFTSquairmeals by Absolute Taste gives the traditional tray meal a contemporary, upscale spinSOME PASSENGERS ON HECTIC BUSINESS TRIPS FIND THAT BEING ON AIR IS THE ONLY TIME WHEN THEY RELAX, HENCE THEY PREFER FINE DINING ON BOARDA jet needs a well-equipped galley for chefs to be able to prepare dishes on board. The more space, the better. You are very limited in space. You have to be patient, adaptable and learn to work in small places, says Benjamin Teague, an in-flight chef for Royal Jet, a charter company based in Abu Dhabi that has its own group of chefs. The difficulty is compounded by the need to prepare dishes quietly lest sleeping clients are disturbed. Clients napping and eating times may also vary. And when passengers get fickle with their dining wishes, chefs must improvise.Where an on-board chef is not available, the flight attendant is given specific instructions for preparing, heating and plating dishes. Where possible, we par-cook the product and then blast chill it to halt the cooking process. This prevents the food from being overcooked or dry when reheated on board, says Katie Fryer, head of the in-flight department of Absolute Taste. This requires special freezers or containers, too. Fryer adds: We have a range of packaging that we have developed to ensure a minimal amount of oxygen reaches the product, meaning it will stay fresher for longer.Royal Jet chefs have sometimes accompanied passengers on multiple-destination journeys that last up to 30 days. On such trips, clients like to sample local cuisine, and the>>JETGALA 54WINGS WINGSABOVE Alison Price On Airs Chef in the Sky programme targets, among others, private owners of heavy jet airlinersLEFT In-flight caterers like Absolute Taste serve a variety of food, from appetisers to dessertRIGHT It is important to ensure the freshness of the ingredients, especially for caterers like Sumosan, which serves seafood and sushi>>best way to ensure freshness and authenticity is to source local produce. (The exception is for government flights such as on Air Force One, where all ingredients and food come from the departure city in the US no matter the trip duration for safety reasons. Its two food preparation galleys can hold enough to feed 100 passengers at a time.) Caterers may work with local restaurants on trips with multiple stops.Even with completely bespoke menus, are there requests that cannot be met? Apparently so. I think the most difficult situation is when a client requests a dish they tried in a restaurant abroad and wants us to re-create it for them. Of course we can prepare the dish, but it may not be exactly how they remember it, shares Fryer. In these cases, we suggest that they try something similar from our menu that we know will be just perfect.You never know when the client decides to fly, adds Mishina from Sumosan. Sometimes we have meal orders WHEN PASSENGERS GET FICKLE WITH THEIR DINING WISHES, CHEFS MUST IMPROVISEJETGALA 55London-based in-flight caterer Absolute Taste has found a way to serve packed meals with a contemporary look suitable for private and business jets. Owing to to client demand, it introduced Squairmeals in September 2009. On smaller aircraft or for a short leg flight, the only option is often to have a plated meal ready to serve. On the market, the only option was the tray meal, similar to that received on a commercial flight. We wanted to provide something more contemporary, in line with the rest of our menu, says Katie Fryer, the companys in-flight department head. The practical design comes with discreetly packaged cutlery and is also served at corporate or sporting events. Absolute Taste is the official caterer for Formula One team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.CHIC DISHWith chefs on board, Royal Jets clients enjoy exquisitely plated dishesfor the late flight, night flight and even earlier morning flight. And we cant allow ourselves to serve dishes prepared yesterday. Everything should be very fresh and hot. For these urgent cases, we have chefs who stay at night in the restaurant to prepare the meal exactly for the time of departure of the jet.With these services on air, no eyebrow is raised when one takes breakfast at midnight or supper at sunrise. But as chartered flight operations and private jet ownership pick up pace in Asia, in-flight caterers and chefs need to broaden their sights. Diversity will be key to cater to Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai and Chinese taste buds, as well as various religious and cultural dietary requirements. While Asian charter companies typically work with local hotels to prepare food for clients Hong Kong-based MetroJet, for example, has been known to work with The Peninsula Hong Kong it will be good to see more independent, specialised in-flight catering and chef services coming from the region itself.Images courtesy of Absolute TasteIN MANS ADDICTIVE FLIRTATION WITH DANGER, few landscapes have been as tempting as Mount Everest. Situated in rugged, often impassable territory, Everest is isolated and unpredictable. At its 29,029-foot-high summit, the winds are known to shift from benign to blizzard conditions in a matter of seconds.No wonder that in 1933, in an era buzzing with aviation firsts, pilots became determined to answer Everests siren call and conquer it. It was a mission that involved a fair amount of guesswork. What was known of the mountain consisted of strong winds, severe downdrafts and a 70-mph spew of ice and snow known as the Everest Plume.A British expedition team assembled, but even with the best pilots, the exploit would not have happened if not for one Lady Houston, DBE. Born Fanny Lucy Radmall, Houston had an interest in aviation, sheer patriotism for all things British, and millions of pounds to dispose of as she wished. She thought the quest brilliant and sponsored it. It was soon renamed the Houston-Everest Expedition, and one of the aircraft was dubbed Lucy.by Jack Carroll WINGS OVER EVERESTWINGSJETGALA 56A pre-war Westland PV-3 without a closed cabin compartment, which was later fitted for altitude flightsImage courtesy of the Nico Braas aeronautical collectionTHE FIRST AVIATION CONQUEST OF EVEREST AND EIGHT DECADES LATER, ITS RECREATIONreassembled at a British air force facility and flown directly to Lalbalu, the airfield from which they would depart. The team was ready; everything now depended on the weather conditions at Everest.The Moths made frequent reconnaissance flights around Everest starting in late March. On 3 April, Fellowes, taking one of the Moths to 17,000 feet on an early morning flight, returned to report that the mountain was clear; no clouds, no treacherous plume at the summit. He quickly decided that the time was right. Trucks sped the crew and ground handlers to Lalbalu, where final checks were carefully made; and, with clearance given, the Pegasus engines were started in a crescendo of noise as the massive 20-foot props churned clouds of brownish dust into the air. Lucy led the way, followed by Akbar.They turned in formation towards Everest and as they quickly gained altitude, the dust haze over the plain dropped away. It was clear, near-perfect weather for the region; a rare day indeed. But things changed as they drew closer. They found themselves in a tremendous down-rush of air...>> Nothing was left to chance in the flight and logistics planning stages. The aircraft oxygen systems were tested and re-tested, as were the wired, heated flight suits. There were endless lists for just about any contingency including spare parts for the aircraft, repair equipment, fuel and oil formulated for high altitudes, and emergency kits in the event of a forced landing. Not to forget the back-up cameras and plenty of film for the expeditions mapping and surveying missions.The Westland Wallace and Westland PV-3 biplanes chosen for the flight were the largest single-engine aircraft at the time. The wings were wide and long for maximum lift and constructed from the strongest alloy available, but could flex in rough winds. Both had a well-proven, supercharged, 650-hp Bristol Pegasus engine, expected to maintain maximum power in the thin air at 30,000 feet the planned altitude to clear the summit of Everest by a fairly comfortable margin. Each aircraft carried a pilot and one observer, mainly to take photographs. SR Bonnett, who took video footage for Gaumont British Pictures which would later form part of an Oscar award-winning documentary, was the observer in the Westland Wallace named Akbar. It was piloted by Flight Lt David McIntyre. The lead aircraft, Lucy, was piloted by Squadron Leader the Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale simply Lord Clydesdale to his team members with Lt Col LV Stewart Blacker as observer.When expedition leader Air Commodore P F M Fellowes deemed all preparations satisfactory, the team set off. Supplies, equipment and the disassembled aircraft were crated and loaded on a ship bound for Karachi on Indias East Coast. Fellowes and a few others flew three two-seat de Havilland Moth biplanes from England to their base in Purnea, India, about 160 miles from Mount Everest. After arriving in Karachi, the two Westlands were JETGALA 57Sir Kameshwar Singh, maharaja of the large Indian district of Darbhanga, supported Lord Clydesdale and the expedition teamImage courtesy of the Maharajadhiraja Sir Kameshwar Singh Kalyani Foundation, Darbhanga, Bihar, India>>We were in a serious position. The great bulk of Everest was towering above us to the left, Makalu down-wind to the right and the connecting range dead ahead, with a hurricane wind doing its best to carry us overand dash us on the knife-edge side of Makalu, Clydesdale later wrote inThe Pilots Book of Everest.As Blacker later recalled: Somewhat to my dismay, Everest bore that immense snow plume, which means a mighty wind tearing across the summit, lifting clouds of powdered snow and driving it with blizzard force eastward. Up went our machine into a sky of indescribable blue till we came on a level with the great peak itself. This astonishing picture of Everest, its plume now gradually lessening, its tremendous southern cliffs flanked by Makalu, was a sight which must remain in the mind all the years of ones life. In short, he was impressed. The well-built Westlands withstood it all, wings intact and all wires taut. Passing over the summit, the estimates of the aircrafts clearance ranged from 100 to 500 feet. According to The Times, the flight was completed in exactly three hours.So here we are in 2012, when an intrepid Englishman named George Almond has begun a project called Wings Over Everest, which will recreate the 1933 expedition. As he tells it: Many years ago as a teenager in London, I was lucky to meet the famed Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay, and to shake the hand that had lifted flags of triumph over Everest. Some months later,John Hunt, the expedition leader, told me how his climbers had referredto aerial photographs in order to reach the summit. And so Almond learned of the first flight over Mount Everest. He now plans to build an exact replica of the Westland biplane used in the Houston expedition. He says the replica aircraft is about 40 per cent complete and an engine has been acquired. His team will recreate that epic flight over Everest by using a purpose-built but externally identical open-cockpit, single engine biplane, still one of the largest machines of its type in the world.The real problems will come with logistics as the plane will not be shipped in a box to India. It will be flown along an ambitious routefrom London, making stops in Paris, Nice, Rome, Athens, Malta, Cairo, Jeddah, Riyadh and Delhi then on to Purnea for final preparations.On the positive side, Almond sees the many stops en route as public relations opportunities and if he is lucky, he will find a Lady Houston. He also hopes to produce an Imax and/or a feature film of the expedition. Like the 1997 recreation of Amelia Earharts world flight sponsored by Pratt & Whitney which reported 30 million visits to its website as a result Almond anticipates his teams flight to draw worldwide interest.We hope Everest will be kind to it, too. Chomolungma, the name the Sherpas give to the mountain, loosely translates to Goddess Mother of the World or Holy Mother. But with Everest, as weve seen over the years, one can never be sure. She can be very moody.www.wingsovereverest.comWINGSJETGALA 58LUCY IN THE SKYThe Schneider Trophy air race, held 11 times between 1913 and 1931, recognised the country that could produce the fastest seaplane over a set course. The aeronautical engineer R J Mitchell, chief designer at Supermarine, had worked on the British seaplane racers that won in 1927 and 1929. When the British government withdrew its financial support of the Schneider Trophy racing team for the 1931 event, Lady Lucy Houston went to the aid of the Royal Aero Club with a donation of GBP100,000. This allowed Mitchell to work on a new engine and tweak the existing airframe; and on 13 September, 1931, the British team won the Schneider Trophy. This experience helped Mitchell develop technology for what would become the Supermarine Spitfire fighter, one of the two aircraft that helped seal English victory in the Battle of Britain. Houston died on December 1936, just a few months after the Spitfires first flight. The expedition is met with a procession of gifts from His Highness Sir Kameshwar SinghImage courtesy of the Maharajadhiraja Sir Kameshwar Singh Kalyani Foundation, Darbhanga, Bihar, IndiaHERE WE ARREE IN 20122, WWHEN AAN INNTREPIDD ENNGGLLISHMAANN HAS BBBEGUNN AA PROOJEECT CCALLED WWWINGS OOOVER EVEREEST, WWHHICCH WILLLL RRECREEEATE THE 199333 EXPPEEDDITIONFree advertisement.Progressandongoingdevelopmentareafeatureofourtimes.Weliveinan era of visionary thinking. The recent history of humankind is strewn with new milestones of technical and medical achievements.For the longest time, it was thought impossible to repair the injured spinal cord. But damaged neural cells have been regenerated in laboratory experiments. So new medical and scientic evidence shows that progress is possible even in this complex eld. Doctors and scientists now agree that it will one day be possible to cure spinal cord injuries.This is what the Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation is aiming for. By selecting and supporting research projects of the highest quality, Wings for Lifeinvestinprogressforafutureinwhichspinalparalysiscanbecured.Nothing is as relative as the impossible.Felix Baumgartner.BASE jumper, helicopter pilot and Wings for Life Supporter.Your contribution makes a difference. Donate on www.wingsforlife.comWINGS60ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. A passion for travel has fuelled a project to transform obsolete aeroplane parts into gleaming objects of modern art. Who would think of relaunching fuselages as Art Deco home accents? Or turn the nose cowling of a Boeing 747 into an edgy kitchen bar counter? In 2010, Tiziano Rutilo and Rosario Gallina co-founded Relicta Design, which merges aeronautics and interior design to produce contemporary desks, coffee tables, sofas and decorative art that tease our imagination.Relicta Design buys aircraft components from different bone yards across the world and ships them to its warehouse and workshop in Brussels, Belgium. Weve spent literally thousands of hours in the air with those airplanes andwe were wondering what happens to them when theyve become obsolete, says Rutilo. The first place Rutilo and Gallina looked was in California in a questthat started out as personal decoration of their homes. This passion got amplified when we saw the potential of old aircraft and what we could createout of it. We just got excited and decided to jump on this crazy project.Adding to their interest in interior furniture and architecture, environmental sustainability plays an important part in the companys brand. Recycling aircraft metals to produce furniture is in line with their values as designers RELICTA DESIGNbySandyTanAVIATION AND HOME DESIGN HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN ONE MIGHT THINK HI GHER PLA NESDuring a visit to Dubai, Rosario Gallina (L) and Tiziano Rutila (R) were asked to design and producea 3D, round kitchen bar counter usinga Boeing 747snose cowling(see left image)JETGALAand entrepreneurs not to mention creating an out-of-this-world ambience. But obtaining materials is not always smooth sailing. First you need to have the right connections; you cant go into the desert by yourself and start asking for airplanes, says Rutilo. To know which aircraft can be dismantled and whether pieces are available, good relationships need to be established. One also needs to know the right time and place to obtain them. A lot of airplanes standing in the desert are just parked on stand-by; they will fly again eventually some day.One of Relicta Designs more intriguing pieces is a 3D project for a client in Dubai. The request was to make a piece of electrical kitchen furniture cut from a quarter of a Boeing 747s nose cowling, a larger circular part of the airplanes exterior. The end product was a round kitchen bar counter, fitted with details made of wood. This was totally irrational to realise but extremely fulfilling to produce, say the designers. The challenge often lies in the fact that materials are far from conventional; the type 61FIRST YOU NEED TO HAVETHE RIGHT CONNECTIONS;YOU CANT GO INTO THE DESERT BY YOURSELF AND START ASKING FOR AIRPLANESof metal used is aluminium, which requires heavy cutting work, meticulous shaping and careful sanding, polishing and finishing plus consulting the expertise of engineers. Given that the materials are unique, not every artistic direction can be fulfilled, which then demands constant improvisation and creativity. While Relicta was formed only two years ago, it has rapidly developed a reputation in Europe. Another upcoming project is a seven-metre-long table suitable for rooftops, made from an entire Douglas DC-9 tail stabiliser commonly seen at the aircrafts rear engine. This year, the designers will be returning to California to scout for greater pieces. They hope to expand into Middle Eastern and Asian markets, as well as exhibit works only in selected art galleries to maintain a level of exclusivity. Rutilo says, The market is very simple everyone who loves modern and contemporary interior design. Down the road, we have realised that you dont necessarily have to be an airplane fan. What seemed like a crazy idea at first has turnedout to be a highly workable one. FROM TOP One of Relicta Designs signature desks is created from the wings, flap and stabiliser of a DC-9 Aero CaliforniaA Boeing 737s nose cowling was usedto create the P&W Twin SeatsA unique coffeetable made fromthe wings, flap and engine componentsof a Boeing 737JETGALAJETGALA 62WINGSJETGALA 62Jetgala and Palace magazines friends and supporters from the business aviation, property and luxury industries enjoyed a wonderful night of networking, drinks and fun on 16 February. Held on the third day of the 2012 Singapore Airshow, the event took place at the exclusive Pangaea Ultra Lounge, located at the Marina Bay Sands Casino complex. Owned by internationally renowned nightclub entrepreneur Michael Ault, the team at Pangaea co-hosted the party with Jetgala and Palace. The events sponsors Daum, Embraer Executive Jets, Raffles Quay Asset Management and Stefano Ricci by Uomo Collezioni were the key to making this wonderful night happen. We hope its the event our friends will remember best about the Singapore Airshow, and we all look forward to the next time. You have two years to go find that bomber jacket... JETGALA FLY BY NIGHT PARTY@ SINGAPORE AIRSHOW 2012JETGALA 63JETGALA 64 JETGALA 64WINGSJETGALA 65JETGALA 65LUXEONE OF THE GREATEST MASTERWATCHMAKERS OF MODERN TIMESJETGALA 68LUXE

EXPLORERby Dr Bernard CheongGEORGE DANIELSIT IS EASY TO FORGET THAT THERE WAS A TIME in the 20th century when collecting wristwatches was as interesting as gathering ants nests. The emergence of internet forums and the curiosity of technological innovators fundamentally changed this.One such game changer was George Daniels (1926-2011). Daniels correctly believed that people desired unique, handmade, labour-intensive and even eccentric mechanical watches in 1969, when mechanical watchmaking was at its most uninspiring. It was an era where the popularity of quartz watches had depleted interest in mechanical designs and engineering. Then, the trend was to use shared components and modules, and mix and match hands, dials and cases. a task that entailed mastering more than 30 separate skills, including the crafting of the tools, case, hands and dial. Between 1997 and 2010, all 37 watches would prove to be fabulous investments, even when bought late and after the prices had risen hundredfold.Living on the Isle of Man, a British island off the west coast of England, Daniels cultivated his passions for cars and timepieces. He spent six decades of his 85 years making watches, working for the most part alone. He made watches entirely according to his own design and satisfaction. He would sell them if a suitable client materialised. He had no intention of coming up with a structured business model, and it was a challenge for him to work inside the corporate world.This isolation was highlighted when Daniels invented what is now considered one of the greatest horological achievements in the past 250 years the co-axial escapement. To his surprise, he found no enthusiasm>>JETGALA 33 JETGALA 69Master watchmaker George Daniels created watches from scratchAll images courtesy of Sothebys unless otherwise statedBut Daniels understood that watches represent both the metaphorical and intellectual worlds of artists and traders, and have the potential to become assets and status objects. He first discovered this when he prised open a watch he found on the street at the age of five, and felt as though he had peered into the centre of the universe. It was this early fascination that led him on the path to becoming the worlds best, albeit often loneliest, horologist of his time.At 14, he worked for a mattress manufacturer and moved on to serve in the army. What spare time he had, he devoted to reading about watches and repairing timepieces. After military service, he worked with a watchmaker in Edgware, London, and attended a watchmaking school at night. Daniels also developed a passion for sports cars from the mechanical era, which like his watches have no electronics or computerised parts. This interest in vintage cars got him acquainted with watch collector Sam Clutton.It was a fortunate meeting, for Clutton introduced him to the works of the late horologist Abraham-Louis Breguet, which became influential in Daniels craft.Daniels sold the first watch that he made for USD4,500 in 1970. In a recent auction, the very same watch changed hands for USD285,000. His is an example of a significant work becoming a credible investment. In his entire lifetime, he made only 37 watches, and was playful enough to name one Space Traveller. He created all these from raw materials HE SPENT SIX DECADESOF HIS 85 YEARS MAKING WATCHES, WORKING FORTHE MOST PART ALONE>>from the big brands to produce it and use it in their watches. It was the solution to a dilemma that had boggled watchmakers for centuries how to improve timekeeping precision by reducing friction between the levers of the traditional escapement. Traditionally, this was achieved with an oil lubricant which tended to thicken over time, thus defeating its purpose. The co-axial system did away with the need for a lubricant and also lessened the need for watch servicing. And yet, large watch brands many of which have histories steeped in mechanical tradition and innovation resisted the concept when Daniels revealed it in 1976. It was only in the late 1980s when the late Nicolas Hayek, then the Chairman of the Swatch Group, agreed to produce the escapement commercially, but only in limited editions.I had a chance to know Daniels personally. It was our common belief, forme in 1999 as for him in 1969, that an independent watchmaker could make some exceptional pieces that would challenge conventional investments.His love for his watches, coupled with his belief that no two components are interchangeable, was a huge hurdle for industrialised watchmaking companies. Even today, the mightiest of independent makers dare make only a series of10 or 50 with this individual philosophy.Daniels won numerous awards. He wrote books and lectured on his methodology. The co-axial escapement won him a place in history as a master watchmaker. His lifes work fulfils what he said in 2004: My belief is in being historic, technical, intellectual, aesthetic, useful and even amusing. These properties have sustained the p