Private jets are increasingly becoming the transport of choice of Hong Kong’s rich and powerful: just ask Li Ka-shing, Lee Shau-kee and Cheng Yu-tung, who all own their own Gulfstream jets. Asiatatler.com finds out what all the fuss is about by boarding the new Gulfstream G550
Flying private boasts many perks: privacy, space, plus your own crew and control over your own time. Business meetings and family gatherings can take place with ease. Figures in the region show that people agree with the added benefits, with sales up 15 per cent from last year in Hong Kong, Macau and the People's Republic of China, making it the world's fastest growing private jet market.
Still in doubt? Just ask owners of their own Gulfstream jets Li Ka-shing, Lee Shau-kee and Cheng Yu-tung, and the other 23 Gulfstream-owners in Hong Kong about the benefits.
The latest edition of the Gulfstream private jet, the Gulfstream G550 is a far cry from the initial Gulfstream planes that first debuted in the late 1950s. The G550 flaunts a round of luxe features that consequentially put this private jet in high demand - we're told the next available delivery is in the beginning of 2012. So what is it that makes this plane from the Gulfstream series irresistible? We boarded the plane to find out.
Seats like you never left home
The 2.5 metre-wide cabin allows for ultimate comfort as it is able to accommodate seats for 14-18 passengers. The seats are a world apart from the metal-form seats found in regular planes, instead you're looking at seating ranging from lush couches to loungers, with massage features and the ability to recline fully into a flatbed.
You can fly long-haul, no problem
Rolls-Royce BR710 turbofan engines enables the Gulfstream private jet to go the extra mile compared to its predecessor, flying a range of 12,501 kilometres (which is more or less equivalent of travelling from Hong Kong to New York on a non-stop flight) at a mach 0.87 cruise capability. To give you a benchmark on what that means, the US President's Air Force One, a much bigger plane, flies at mach 0.85 and has a range of 13,450 kilometres.
Work hard, play hard
When you're a busy bee, productivity is key, whether productivity includes getting down to business or catching up with your latest movies and TV, in the Gulfstream, you have that covered. Owners can deck their private jet up to accommodate a mini-business centre with facilities such as fax, broad band multi link internet (with wireless local area network, satellite communication, printers and more. And for those who want to sit back and relax can enjoy the top-notch entertainment system which includes two dual DVD player, a passenger information system, a multi-disc CD player and two LCD monitors, and like many owners, opt for direct TV to watch your favourite TV shows.
Fresh air up there
Every frequent traveller knows the damage cabin air can do to your skin, regardless of the million products you may layer on. But with the Gulfstream G550, a fresh-air system is installed to fill the cabin with 100 per cent fresh air at all times to alleviate any skin worries you'd otherwise have in commercial flying.
And while owning the G550 means getting on a two year waiting list, we definitely think it's worth the wait.