Month: March 2023

Pandora Amoratis from UK’s Daily Mail – Reports

No heavy lifting, hassle or unreliable airlines. What’s the price you’d pay for this? ROAR AFRICA’s Wildest Safari on Earth aboard the Emirates Executive Private Jet costs $149,200/person

ROAR AFRICA’S Wildest Safari on Earth is a 14-day voyage across the untouched wilderness of Africa. Gliding on the ultimate magic carpet, the Emirates Executive Private Jet, from Zimbabwe and South Africa, to Tanzania and Rwanda. The trip-of-a-lifetime is devoted to preserving the continent’s last remaining wildlife and reviving the seamless elegance of what long-haul travel once was, with an itinerary that will leave you in wild awe!

Ten guests will experience the natural beauty of Sub-Saharan Africa, staying at Singita’s five-star luxury lodges. The Wildest Safari on Earth unites three top-tier brands renowned for their commitment to ultra-luxe experiences: Emirates, Singita, and ROAR AFRICA. Unsurprisingly, such access and hassle-free movement comes at the cost of $149,200.

And, while all 10 travelers fly together, it’s an entirely singular experience at each destination for each guest, with every individual want, need and desire catered to. The most lavish African adventure is under the impeccable orchestration of ROAR AFRICA’s CEO and founder, Deborah Calmeyer, and of Africa’s top guides. Deborah’s deeply-rooted lineage goes back 300 years to when her ancestors first arrived in Cape Town. While she currently splits her time between New York and Africa, she spent her childhood growing up on a farm in Zimbabwe, surrounded by wildlife.

With incredible insight and on-the-ground knowledge only a local can have, her safari offers clients unparalleled access to Africa’s finest treasures. This life-changing journey to four of Africa’s most pristine, untouched tracts of wilderness, brimming with wildlife and epic scenery, will ‘move you in ways you never imagine,’ said Deborah.

‘This trip is about turning explorers into restorers.’ The annual trip is only offered to 10 people and takes place in September — the very best time for exceptional wildlife viewing.

‘I promise you a life-changing journey of great passion and meaning. We travel not to move but to be moved,’ she told DailyMail.com. Deborah and her all-African team have designed an itinerary filled with spectacular activities that blend glamour, enchantment, culture, and surprise within an ethos entrenched in humanity and a commitment to sustainability and conservation.

‘This authentic experience sets a new paradigm in ultra-luxe adventure and sustainable travel and is also a robust catalyst for change,’ she said. The voyage begins on September 11th at the five-star Bvlgari hotel in Dubai. From there, guests board the Emirates Executive Private Jet, custom-created for travelers who want to go “beyond first class” and reflect the glamour of a bygone era when air travel was both exclusive and an integral aspect of luxury travel experiences.

It features 10 private flatbed suites with minibars, a spacious lounge, spa bathrooms, and a cabin crew committed to providing exceptional personal service alongside sumptuous fine dining, and a spectacular wine list. The first stop is Zimbabwe’s Singita’s Pamushana Lodge in Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve, famous for its colorful Masa trees, ancient rock art sites, and elusive black rhino population.

Next, Singita Ebony in the world-famous Sabi Sands, where adventures will include guided bush walks and glorious game drives across vast, untamed landscapes with the highest density of leopards in South Africa. To spend unhurried time so close to these majestic cats with all the expert insights and knowledge of a ROAR AFRICA guide is an experience that will stay with you forever.

Then, on to Singita Sasakwa in Tanzania and finally ending at Singita Kwitonda to see the last remaining mountain gorillas on earth in the lush rainforests of Rwanda.

With a belief that nature is our nurture, The Wildest Safari on Earth is more than an ultra-luxe adventure through Africa; it’s a journey within.

‘I live between Cape Town and New York City, and after living in Manhattan for more than 22 years, what has become painfully obvious to me is that the western world’s obsession with self-improvement, self-optimization, and self-indulgence sidesteps that most sacred and ancient connection — the one between all living things,’ said the founder of ROAR AFRICA.

‘I call this ancient connectedness ecological intelligence, and I’ve witnessed Africa’s vast, untamed spaces awaken the discovery of peace, purpose, and a deep sense of self. ‘By encountering the wild with intention and purpose, I’ve come to understand how nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive, and spiritual integrity.’ Here’s to a true safari in the wild…a journey back to self. Perfectly curated and utterly transformative.

Images courtesy of Emirates Executive Private Jet, Singita Pamushana Lodge, Roar Africa.

Based Wasef from the Robb Report – Reports

Will Supersonic Flying Ever Take Off?

These companies think they can silence the naysayers. From Boom Supersonic to Spike Aerospace, a handful of disruptors are trying to resuscitate the genre.

Courtesy of Boom Supersonic

At its height in the early 1970s, the Concorde was the Champagne-and-caviar incarnation of supersonic travel, and it remained so until noise and emissions restrictions sunsetted the quixotic aircraft in 2003. Two decades after the Concorde’s final flight, Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, is again extolling the potential of flying faster than the speed of sound.

Other ventures attempting to resuscitate the genre include Spike Aerospace, which is developing a supersonic corporate jet, and Lockheed Martin, which is contracted to build NASA’s X-59 for possible civilian use. Upping the ante are outfits such as Destinus and Hermeus, which aim to leave the competition behind with hypersonic velocities that quintuple the speed of sound. Yet numerous efforts have fallen back to earth, among them Aerion, once considered the supersonic industry leader, which abruptly closed its doors in 2021 after nearly 20 years of revving everyone’s hopes.

Courtesy of Spike Aerospace

Boom is also encountering headwinds, not least of which is its name. Since 1973, supersonic travel over the U.S. and Europe has been banned due to the disruptive effects of the audible blast that occurs when the sound barrier is broken. Scholl says Boom’s first aircraft, Overture, will reach Mach 1.7 on overwater flights, but over land it will fly at the subsonic speed of Mach 0.94, within existing noise regulations. Unlike the Concorde and its afterburner-capable thrusters, Boom plans to use a medium-bypass turbofan engine, dubbed Symphony, that will be outfitted with extensive noise-mitigation features.

“Now they’ve announced this unbelievable pairing of companies to develop an engine,” says aviation industry analyst Brian Foley, about the trio of Florida Turbine Technologies, GE Additive and StandardAero that Boom says will provide its propulsion solution. “That seems like a deliberate—and desperate—move to have an answer,” he adds. “Designing an engine is no easy task, especially from scratch, and it’s potentially a multibillion-dollar exercise beyond designing the plane.”

The engineering challenges of meeting 21st-century regulations for such aircraft are formidable. One industry expert, who asked to remain anonymous, described it as being “like a Rubik’s Cube—you get the yellow side, but then the blue and green go to shit”. Then there’s the most important issue: funding. Boom says it has raised only $600 million (£499) so far. “Much of the public, and even some in our industry, don’t appreciate the substantial dollars that will be required to get this thing over the top,” Foley says.

Some are quite outspoken about the chasm between the current reality and a finished aircraft. “This is nothing but a set of interesting concept drawings,” says Richard Aboulafia, a managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory, of Boom. “I just don’t see anything there, except an effort to attract money. They’ve gotten some, but by aerospace standards it’s an amusingly small amount.”

Scholl acknowledges that fundraising efforts are nowhere near his estimated need of £5 billion to £6.7 billion to bring Overture to market. But he pushes back against the naysayers: “We’ve already done things that the experts said we couldn’t do. The technology and supply chain exist. There’s no fundamental new science—every key technology in this aeroplane has already flown before.”

Even as Boom partners such as United Airlines ramp up marketing efforts around supersonic travel, industry insiders remain aware of its very daunting challenges—though they also acknowledge the allure. “Maybe that’s part of the problem,” Aboulafia says. “It’s so charismatic, it’s going to attract just enough money to linger on for a long time.”

Ayushi Kushwaha from CEO World – Reports

Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs), or simply the super-wealthy, have a large chunk of resources at their disposal. It wasn’t easy to gain what they have now, and it took years for these individuals to be where they are. Whether they are self-made or heirs to the super-wealthy, there is no simple way to keep the money in place. Strategies are in place, tested from time to time, and lessons are gleaned from the results. But do you think it is always a success? Of course, not.

From a spectator’s point of view, the grass is greener on the other side. And honestly, it isn’t entirely wrong, but it isn’t entirely true either. These UHNWIs have to shoulder the burden of sustaining their juggernaut entrepreneurial projects. You will most likely find a list of don’ts that are almost biblical to their daily decision-making activities from their playbook. One domain within the same is investment strategies. UHNWs are picky about their investment projects and avoid a slew of missteps every time they pick one up. What are those investment mistakes these persons avoid? Let us read along.

1/ Limiting to the European Union and the United States
I don’t have to explain why these two are specifically mentioned. They house many of the world’s biggest and most voluminous stock markets. These stock markets are known for their robust institutional and regulatory measures, security, and competitiveness. Profit margins can turn into magical numbers if strategized right. But, these two regions do not represent the global stock market. In fact, there are emerging markets as gainful as these two. India, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines are witnessing a rampant increase in trade volumes, and investors are reaping benefits remarkably. UHNWIs know that these markets are full of possibilities–many of which can end up being celebratory.

2/ Never Plan For The Future
Many people will tell you that UHNWIs are risk-takers or gamblers. They throw out in the market every coin from their coffers. No. UHNWIs are not mindless investment junkies; they know the risks and how far they can take them. They understand the unpredictability of the markets and prepare for the worst beforehand. Before they start investing aggressively, they plan for the future. With clear short-term and long-term plans, they devise their investment strategies, invest a certain share of their money in the market, and set aside the rest for safekeeping. They have signed up for sensible YOLOs.

3/ Invest Only In Stocks and Bonds
We get fascinated by the grand stories of success in the stock market. Greed is a sin for a reason, and money is just the right food. Yes, stocks and bonds make money, in fact, lots. But, they are vulnerable to market variations. The fluctuations can go to extremes. Stock investment is not always an extravaganza. UHNWIs know this very well and invest considerably in tangible assets. Real estate, for instance, is an excellent investment choice. Many super-wealthy individuals have humongous properties at their disposal; they live off those properties and even commercialize them from time to time. Always have in your portfolio assets that are more resilient to market changes.

4/ Avoid Diversification
I guess the point is already made clear through the preceding pointers. But I will elaborate more on this. UHNWIs have massive portfolios of assets at their discretion, but they maintain their diversity. You can’t put all your money into one project and expect it to always perform up to your expectations. You need to have several diverse investment projects spread across assets so that other assets can cushion price fluctuations. Losses incurred in one can be compensated/balanced by gains in another.

5/ Not Seeking Professional Help
This hesitation to not seek professional help can turn things upside. Financial counsel is essential, especially when there are vast resources and little time in your hands. As your investments grow, your credentials grow. You may be flooded with too many investment options that can confuse you into making wrong decisions. UHNWIs always maintain an army of financial experts to guide them from time to time and ensure optimal utilization of their resources. Yes, they don’t come cheap but end up helping you make a good load of money.

Basem Wasef of Robb Report – Reports

Owned by the aviator when she vanished, the cabriolet was inducted into the US National Historic Vehicle Register on International Women’s Day.

Extraordinary lives are often marked by artefacts of accomplishment. Whether it’s a culture-shifting image, an inspired body of work or a Nobel prize, revered objects can come to represent exceptional achievements.

On 8 March, aka International Women’s Day, Earhart’s Cord became the 33rd car to enter the non-profit Hagerty Drivers Foundation’s National Historic Vehicle Register in the US, and the Palm Beach Tan convertible is as much a representation of her persona as the shimmering metal aircraft she piloted to immortality.

Earhart had custom-ordered a gleaming example of one of the finest automobiles in the world at the time when she took delivery of the car on 20 September 1936. The Cord had enough technological innovations to impress one of the most iconoclastic women in modern history. The 812 Phaeton model incorporates hidden headlamps and a front-wheel-drive architecture inspired by another famous front-drive car: the Citroën Traction Avant. Powered by a 289 cubic-inch (4.7-litre) Lycoming V-8 engine, the square-nosed and heavily louvered machine projected an image of prosperity while incorporating numerous aviation-derived features.

Jason Stoller of LaVine Restorations reckons Earhart must have changed her mind about the convertible’s top colour. What was originally seen in a photograph as black was later captured as tan in another image taken at a Lockheed factory in Southern California. The pilot’s enthusiastic driving was also revealed via a large scuff on the front fender, a clue that would later help validate the authenticity of the vehicle’s body after components were separated and split into vehicles in California, Texas, and Montana.

Stoller says that collector Ray Foster spent 30 years reuniting the chassis, engine, and body of Earhart’s Cord after extensive research, and sold the parts in 2004 to Laura and Jack Boyd Smith Jr., founders of the JBS Collection. They commissioned LaVine Restorations to bring the Cord back to its original glory, and the vehicle has since earned numerous awards for the quality of the work done and the automobile’s overall importance.

As was commonplace back in the day, the 1937 Cord was built to spec by its original owner, with several rare factory options distinguishing it, like the Brodie knob – or as it more commonly and distastefully referred to, the “suicide knob” – on the steering to aid with quick turns, and a windshield-mounted compass. In a bit of mechanical irony, many of the components on Earhart’s aircraft were manufactured by Bendix, as were a few of the items on her Cord, including the brakes, clutch, and the electronic pre-selector for the transmission. In fact, Earhart commissioned a painting of the ill-fated Lockheed Electra at Bendix Field in South Bend, Indiana.

During the Amelia Concours d’Elegance last weekend in Florida, we were fortunate enough to go for a spin in Earhart’s Cord on the small roads connecting the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island property. The rear-hinged (or, again, “suicide”) doors require a firm twist and an assertive shut, not unlike the doors of an aeroplane. Once within the cabin, occupants are enveloped by instruments and materials worthy of the finest flying craft: the turned-metal dashboard is accented with chromed edges and shiny toggles, all exquisitely finished. With Stoller manning the controls, we set out for a drive in the long-wheelbase ragtop, sitting inches apart as the Cord’s 1930s dimensions make it narrower than one might expect.

Rather than offer, say, the plushness of a Cadillac or the imposing presence of a Duesenberg, the Cord feels like a curious combination of stately and sporty. There’s a bit of sound and character from the V-8 (which seemed to be misfiring a bit, likely due to being cold). The drive requires a bit of technique, with a tiny gated shifter pre-selecting the gear changes, which do not occur until the clutch is actuated by foot. Our presence is grand, the Cord’s otherworldly proportions standing out against a sea of normal. With headlights utilizing re-tooled aircraft landing lights produced by the Stinson Air Company, the Cord 812 Phaeton has been described as a “kindred spirit” to Earhart’s vivacious character, a sort of vehicular avatar to her enterprising energy.

While the circumstances of her disappearance stir an air of mystery over Amelia Earhart’s larger-than-life legacy, her 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton Convertible offers tangible insights into one of history’s most intriguing women.

Amelia Earhart was an American aviator who set many flying records and championed the advancement of women in aviation. She became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and the first person ever to fly solo from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland. During a flight to circumnavigate the globe, Earhart disappeared somewhere over the Pacific in July 1937. Her plane wreckage was never found, and she was officially declared lost at sea. Her disappearance remains one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the twentieth century.

Maria Shollenbarger from FTs How To Spend It – Reports

A cardholder’s haven in midtown Manhattan
Those in possession of American Express’s invitation-only Centurion card know the privileges of membership are many, from hotel room upgrades to the oodles of points they earn with various purchases. As of next month, it has another one to enjoy, in the heart of Manhattan: Centurion New York is its new, private, hybrid work-relax-wine-and-dine space on the 55th floor of the historic 1 Vanderbilt building.

© Adrian Gaut

Designed to provide all the benefits and privacy of a members’ club, the venue offers an all-star line-up of contributors, from Yabu Pushelberg (who designed the interiors throughout) to Daniel Boulud (he created the menus and oversees the kitchens at both casual spot The Studio, and The Gallery, Centurion’s fine-dining restaurant). There is a wine vault, and a semi-clandestine bar called 1850. Every space is filled with fine art curated by New York- and Toronto-based consultant Hanabi; the collection evokes a wide swath of recent art history, featuring Nan Goldin, Diane Arbus, and Robert Motherwell, among many others. Card holders have priority for all restaurants and spaces (but others are allowed to partake, space permitting, so a booking is recommended).

Cipriani’s home sweet Casa in Milan
Milan, where Fashion Week is just now wrapping up, is moving up the agenda on Italophiles’ must-visit lists. Last September, the Venetian Cipriani family set up operations here in the Palazzo Bernasconi, a grand 20th-century building overlooking the Indro Montanelli gardens. Casa Cipriani is a combination of hotel and private club, with 15 rooms and suites and a clutch of spaces and facilities to which members can bring up to three guests.

The sister to Casa Cipriani on Lower Manhattan’s South Street, it reprises all that’s good about the experience: there’s Bar Arrigo, in a soaring interior courtyard, and a wood-panelled Cipriani restaurant. Wellness buffs are amply catered to and the spa features his-and-hers sauna and steam rooms and facials with the made-in-Italy Bakel skincare line.

Exclusive arts in East London
New to London’s East End, meanwhile, is Shoreditch Arts Club, which has taken over 500sq m of the landmark Tea Building on Redchurch Street. Joel Williams and Ché Zara Blomfield bring the hospitality and culture nous: he is the former CEO of The Conduit and spent several years with both Home House and the Conran Group, while she is a curator who has produced exhibitions across the UK and Europe.

There’s the requisite restaurant and bar, meeting rooms and co-working spaces, as well as a full cinema. Blomfield will also curate a moving image arts programme and other events in collaboration with local galleries. (Note to aspiring founding members: preference is being given to artists, art professionals and curators, on a very egalitarian founding-fee schedule to keep things interesting). shoreditchartsclub.com

Aman’s sky-high New York eyrie
New York’s Crown Building, a Fifth Avenue landmark, is where a club of a very different sort opened late last year. The Aman Club is the members-only affiliated with Aman New York; rooms start at $3,500 – and membership is even more strictly the preserve of the rare-air breathers, costing as it does a tidy $200,000, plus $15,000 in annual dues.

© Courtesy of Aman

In, er, fairness, that does get you access to some of the city’s most sought-after exclusive spaces in town, along with Italian and Asian dining venues, three full floors of wellness space and privileged access to the medical-longevity-wellness services of Dr Robert Graham, an internal and integrative-medicine specialist. There’s also the 7,000sq ft terrace bar, which is already the post-work seat du jour for those whose bank balances get them through the door. aman.com, from $3,500

Another private jet charter completed with the safe landing of this Cessna CJ1 Light Jet.

One of 195 in the skies today, the CJ1 business jet seats 6, has a cabin volume of 198 cubic feet, a maximum cruise speed of 698km/h and an operating altitude of 41,000 ft. Classified in the Light Jet category , the Citation CJ1 improved upon the original CitationJet with an updated EFIS avionics suite and an increased maximum takeoff weight. The CJ1 can be single-pilot operated.

As of June 2020, 88% of the Citation CJ1 aircraft were purchased pre-owned by their current owners, the other 12% new. 11.3% are for sale with more than half of those (64%) under an exclusive broker agreement. When for sale the average time on the market is 367 days.

Brief History
The original CitationJet (model 525) had its first flight in 1991 with FAA Certification in 1992 and then the first delivery in 1993. The Citation CJ1 was the second aircraft in the CitationJet/CJ series which replaced the original model CitationJet (CJ). It began production in 2000 and ended manufacturing in 2005. During that time, a total of 198 aircraft were produced with all but three currently in operation.

Worldwide Appeal
There are 195 Citation CJ1 business jets in operation today. The majority of these (182) are wholly owned with 13 in shared ownership. 6.2% are currently leased. North America has the largest percentage of wholly owned Citation CJ1 aircraft (62%), followed by Europe (17%) and South America (13%).

Performance
Two Williams FJ44-1A engines power the Citation CJ1 each offering 1,900 pounds of thrust and using a combined 116 gallons per hour (GPH). The range of the Citation CJ1 is 1,127 nm operating under NBAA IFR 4 passengers with available fuel.

Interior
The cabin volume for the Citation CJ1 is 198 cubic feet. Typical configuration features 6 passenger and 2 crew seats.

As always, a big thank you to all involved. There’s lots of variables when organising an all-encompassing private jet charter service, whatever the size of the plane – from crewing and logistics to communication and meticulous planning; and all with the utmost discretion expected of us by our valued clients!If you’re planning a business trip, why not let Sentinel Aviation help you get there.

Our private charter team will ensure a seamless door-to-door service, meticulously planned and overseen from inception until well after landing.

Contact us today.

Arushi Sakhuja from Luxe Book – Reports

This is right out of an airline geek’s fantasy. Formerly part of the defunct airline Mandala airlines, this retired Boeing 737 has been transformed into a luxurious private jet villa and is located on a clifftop near Nyang-Nyang, Bali. The cliffside villa is the world’s first luxury hotel to open inside a commercial aeroplane.

Known as the Private Jet Villa, the aircraft was purchased by developer Felix Demin (also the owner of Bubble Hotel Chain) back in 2021 and was transported to its remote location on a cliff 150m above sea level. This was one of the most challenging parts of the project and transporting the plane and reassembling it in its current location required two cranes and a team of 20 people who worked for two months. In addition, Bali’s narrow, winding roads and low-hanging wires meant that 600 metres of the road had to be created just for the project, and the transportation of the plane took five days in total.

The villa can be accessed via a staircase leading up along the wing to the main entrance. Inside, there’s a living room with a bar, a sofa bed and a glass portal, as well as two bedrooms with walk-in closets. The cockpit has been converted into a large bathroom with additional portholes. The property also has sun loungers, an outdoor lounge area and a fire pit.

Inside the Private Jet Villa 
The interior design of the villa features light colours and incorporates items and materials that were meticulously collected from across the world. “We use fine Egyptian cotton for bed linen and we searched for a beige toilet from more than 50 manufacturers around the world – finally, we found one small manufacturer in Spain who undertook to make it specifically for our project,” shared Denim. It is complete with two bedrooms and a swimming pool and ocean views. Both the villa’s bedrooms have walk-in closets and guests can even walk straight onto the wing of the plane from the living room.

The living room features luxe interiors including a bar, sofa and a  glass portal where Denim plans to use smart glass technology. “When you press the remote control, the transparency of the glass changes and a gorgeous view opens up. I want people to experience the ‘wow effect’ from every second of being in this unusual place,” says Denim. There’s also an automated smart home system for opening and closing the porthole curtains.

The villa will open in March and is available to rent from April, with nightly rates starting at around $7,000.