We at Flightglobal aren't entirely convinced by the flying hotel called the Hotelicopter.
The aircraft is modelled on the Mil V-12 (Russian heavy-lift helicopter) and the Hotelicopter Company supposedly bought one of the prototypes from the Mikhail Leontyevich Mil helicopter plant in Panki-Tomilino, Russia in 2004 and have been engineering the world's first flying hotel ever since.
In addition to extending the helicopter's body to accommodate an extra floor, four GEnx turbofan engines ave been added, each featuring a thrust range of 75,000lbs, and energy-efficient aerodynamic modifications that cut fuel consumption over 22% on long hauls.
Once stepping inside the Hotelicopter, you're welcomed into a "plush" welcome lounge then shown you to your own cabin where you'll enjoy your "private entertainment system, full bathroom and shower, and a queen-sized bed with Egyptian cotton sheets.
If it's pampering you're after, and why wouldn't you in a flying helicopter? - you can have a deep tissue massage, a manicure and pedicure, or have your hair done, top up your tan or take a soak in the jacuzzi or indulge in our dry sauna.
Hmmm, I thought transporting water wasn't the most efficient way to travel, so I smell a rat.
David Kaminski Morrow, online news editor, says: "Looks like an elaborate prank to me (PS - April Fool's Day this week). The Mil V-12 (Russian heavy-lift helicopter) existed, but I think there were only two of them because it never went into production. Plus I doubt anyone managed to put something like this together under people's noses without something being said."
"Incidentally, I think the building behind the front-page picture is a weather monitoring station."
If you know something we don't we want to hear from you.
on March 30, 2009 8:32 PM | Reply
here is the source image for the background of their web site:
http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/transformations/aircraft/image1.html
It is NOAA's hangar at McDill AFB in Tampa.
on April 14, 2009 8:38 AM | Reply
I saw an advert for the Hotelicopter on the penultimate page of a T.V.supplement issued with a Cyprus News paper (Saturday 04/04/2000). It appeared genuine!!!!
on April 23, 2009 5:02 PM | Reply
Definitely fake. Good work though.
I fly helicopters, and used to fly big CH-53E's. I got a real chuckle out of the little pursuit helicopters flying right under the large blades and in the large machine's rotor wash. Yeah...that could happen.
on May 10, 2009 10:06 PM | Reply
es ist kein witz
on June 2, 2009 8:53 AM | Reply
i flew the hotelicopter so its real!!!!!!!
on June 19, 2009 5:57 PM | Reply
This machine has been around for over 40 years. It was designed by Gerry Anderson and first appeared in an eposide of Thunderbirds.
on June 20, 2009 11:40 AM | Reply
This is truly amazing. i wish i could fly on this thing one day !!! (a dream)