With an ornate design inspired by a custom yacht called the Thunderbird built by master boat builder John Hacker in 1939 for George Wittell Jr, the Skyacht One is one of the most luxurious private jets on the planet.
Based upon the Embraer Flagship Lineage 1000E, this grandiose flying machine which offers a flying range of 4,600 nautical miles within a spacious cabin space of over 4,000 cubic feet is the brain child of Eddie Sotto of SottoStudio the former Senior Vice President of Concept Design for Walt Disney Imagineering.
This bespoke flying yacht priced at $83m has been loving described as an “aeronautical masterpiece” and features the same if not higher quality level of luxury and refinement as its seafaring counterpart. It is offered with five cabins including a chartroom, a galley, a conference room, main cabin with a fine dining area and a master suite which comes complete with a shower.
The finishes throughout have been carefully selected with the interiors dominated by rich leathers, mahogany panelling, and controls made from fine metals such as brass, gold and platinum. It also offers intelligent lighting that changes colour to match the view from the roof-mounted, nautically-inspired SkyPorts that run the length of the cabin. Many mythical objects from the navigation world have been integrated into Skyacht One to give it that nautical feel such as armillary spheres, Arabs Sextant, and a planetary clock.
The exterior features faux mahogany on the lower fuselage, evoking an oceangoing yacht and unlike other luxury aircrafts, the complet design manages to strike the perfect balance between opulence and whimsy, resulting in a work of art that will even please your inner child. Referring to his work on Skyacht One, Sotto quotes Walt Disney: "It's kind of fun doing the impossible." Sotto adds, "Why should hand-made luxury only exist on your wrist, or as an exotic car or a yacht? With Skyacht One, we have created the Wow! factor every time you see or touch it. Why should real luxury be confined to the ground or the sea?”
This flying vessel is a true treasure and truly deserves its title as the most luxurious aircraft in the world
Master Suite:
The Captain's Quarters is intimate, fiercely romantic and lined in padded suede, underscored by bookmatched Macassar walls and paneled ceiling. Authentic detail abounds. 14th Century Star maps are the inspiration for the silk Cellarius Carpeting, while Skyacht's signature Armillary Sphere is softly inlaid on the secret sliding door. Reading lights adjust up and down the ship's trusses, while a flat screen TV faces opposite. A ring of SkyPorts line the ceiling. Attached is the matching bath and shower.
The Main Cabin:
The main living arear the cabin is expansive with a Chesterfield Sofa and Cocktail Bar for watching television or surfing the net. Seating is lavish, flanked by inlaid panelling and window "portholes" lined in brass, nickel and mahogany. Platinum Controls are bejeweled and simply operated. Shagreen "Stingray" skin lines the valances and tabletops, while Skyacht's ribbed structure of inlaid brass and wood span the cabin with adjustable lighting.
Master Bathroom:
Skyacht One's Master Bath is second to none. It features a bejeweled "throttle" inspired faucet with a lit gauge that controls temperature over a walnut and gold sink. Edge lit bronze mirror softly bathes the space while adjustable spotlighting tasks the working areas in addition to a brass framed window. The walls are lined with matte finished teak and mahogany, held tightly by brass fittings. Contrasting the woodgrain, green Malachite countertops and Shower lend a deep elegance. Vintage Fornasetti Accessories accent our own platinum Skyacht hardware.
The Chartroom:
A planetary clock lies embedded in a marquetry mural inspired by the 15th Century Ducal Palace's Studiolo of Italy. The rug is Fornasetti, and the Galley is appointed to evoke the portable luxury of the British Campaign style. Custom hardware sets off the personalized embossed leather. On closer inspection, the bulkhead walls are planked and pegged as on a Yacht.
Article provided courtesy of Luxury Living Magazine - Issue 3
