Eurocopter unveils the first EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style high-end, multi-purpose helicopter at 2011 EBACE show in Geneva. Photo courtesy of Eurocopter / Mercedes-Benz

Marignane, France - May 17, 2011

Eurocopter unveils the first EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style high-end, multi-purpose helicopter at 2011 EBACE show in Geneva

Eurocopter’s EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style helicopter – which features an easily transformable interior and is tailored for high-end corporate, executive and private operations – made its world debut at the 2011 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva.

The first rotary-wing aircraft is being displayed prior to delivery for a European customer.

EC145 VIP Interior Photo courtesy of Eurocopter / Mercedes-Benz

“Only one year after Eurocopter presented the EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style concept at EBACE 2010, we now are unveiling the first aircraft and can announce the initial sale in this high-end helicopter series to a corporate operator,” said Olivier Lambert, Eurocopter’s Senior Vice President Sales and Customer Relations.
“These achievements confirm Eurocopter’s successful approach in developing products that meet the demanding expectations of executive and private customers worldwide.”

Eurocopter unveils the first EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style high-end, multi-purpose helicopter at 2011 EBACE show in Geneva. Photo courtesy of Eurocopter / Mercedes-Benz

Conceived in a styling project led by the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Como, Italy, the interior of the EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style is inspired by the automaker’s range of high-end vehicles.

It features deluxe materials, elegant woods and ambient cabin lighting, along with multi-function boxes.

EC145 VIP Interior Photo courtesy of Eurocopter / Mercedes-Benz

"We are very pleased to have realized the first product of Mercedes-Benz Style with Eurocopter," said Prof. h.c. Dr. Gorden Wagener, head of design at Mercedes-Benz.
"The interior design of the EC145 'Mercedes-Benz Style' helicopter represents the classic passion of the Mercedes-Benz design language and fulfils the very highest expectations in terms of elegance, luxury and comfort."

EC145 VIP Interior Photo courtesy of Eurocopter / Mercedes-Benz

With its versatile interior, the EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style is tailored to a broad range of travels: executive transportation, family voyages, as well as leisure and sport trips.

All seats are mounted on rails and can be easily reconfigured for different seating arrangements from four to eight passengers – or removed to make room for luggage.

Multi-purpose storage is made possible by numerous attachment points on the floor and walls.

The EC145 is the perfect match for Mercedes-Benz Style, as this turbine-powered aircraft is at the top of its class in the medium-sized, twin-engine helicopter category.

It combines Eurocopter’s leading-edge developments in cockpit design and avionics, while also incorporating a hingeless rotor system and enhanced rotor blades that reduce sound and vibration levels.

More than 400 EC145s have been sold around the globe for a full range of operations, and is the only helicopter of its type that can seat up to eight passengers.

Eurocopter offers the widest helicopter range in executive and private aviation, comprising 12 different model types in the light single-engine, light/medium twin-engine and heavy twin-engine categories, which accommodate from four to 19 passengers in executive and private configurations.

More than 500 helicopters have been sold in these market segments during the past four years to customers ranging from private owners and charter companies to small/medium enterprises and multi-national corporations.

In responding to the high-end market's evolving demands, Eurocopter has launched three major initiatives in eight years for the executive and private marketplace, combining high-end design and interior outfitting for a full range of discerning travelers, executive and corporate operators.

Along with the EC145 "Mercedes-Benz Style," Eurocopter's Stylence family of helicopters and the EC135 Hermès version offer unique travelling experiences.

Eurocopter will be exhibiting in Hall 7 on Stand 7065 at the 2011 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, which is being held at the Geneva PALEXPO exhibition center.


About Eurocopter


Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defense and related services.

The Eurocopter Group employs approximately 17,500 people.

In 2010, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s number one helicopter manufacturer in the civil and parapublic market with a turnover of 4.8 billion Euros, orders for 346 new helicopters and a 49 percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors.

Eurocopter Genealogy Courtesy of Eurocopter

Overall, the Group’s helicopters account for 33 percent of the total worldwide civil and parapublic fleet.

Eurocopter’s strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 30 subsidiaries and participations on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centers.

There are currently 11,200 Eurocopter helicopters in service and some 2,900 customers in 147 countries.

Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.


For more information, please contact:

Eurocopter:

Stéphane Chery
Tel: + 33 (0)4 42 85 60 51
Mob: + 33 (0)6 23 93 71 23
stephane.chery@eurocopter.com  

Pascale Fleury
Tel: + 33 (0)4 42 85 62 38
Mob: + 33 (06) 32 54 05 02
pascale.fleury@eurocopter.com  

Julie Guérin
Tel: +33 (0)4 42 85 60 51
Mob: +33 (0)6 22 00 34 73
julie.guerin@eurocopter.com

Priscilla Yip
Tel: +65 6592 7217
Mob: +65 9660 7040
priscilla.yip@eurocoptersea.com  

Website: www.eurocopter.com  


Mercedes-Benz:

Tobias Müller
Tel: + 49 (711) 17-773 68
Mob: + 49 (160) 862 00 35
tobias.mueller@daimler.com  

Website: www.media.daimler.com  


Source: EADS

http://www.eads.com/eads/int/en/news/all-press-releases.html  



Lutz Bertling

President and CEO, Eurocopter Group

Lutz Bertling Courtesy of Eurocopter

Academic background:

Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at Braunschweig University,
PhD Mechanical Engineering Braunschweig University

Professional career:

1988-1991:
Academic Staff at the Institut für Werkzeugmaschinen und Fertigungstechnik (IWF),
TU Braunschweig

1991-1993:
Head of Production Systems Department at IWF of TU Braunschweig

1993-1999:
Vice President,
System Development and Production Unit Carbody at DaimlerChrysler Railsystems at ADtranz

1999-2003:
Vice President,
Director of the Augsburg Plant and of the Business Unit Aerostructures at DASA / EADS Military Aircraft

2003-2006:
Executive Vice President of the Governmental Helicopters Business Center, Eurocopter Group

Since November 2006:
President and CEO, Eurocopter Group,
EADS Executive Committee Member


Source: Eurocopter

http://www.eurocopter.com/site/en/ref/Lutz-Bertling_1043-1035.html  



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