It is an eye-catching world-premiere in a blue and white Zig-Zag design: At this week’s Monaco Yacht Show, Eurocopter will exhibit a “collectable” art helicopter aboard the Quattroelle, an 86-meter Lürssen yacht, with the EC135’s cabin interior and exterior paint scheme designed by German artist Rita Weber.

Marignane, 23 September 2013

The project for this original art-inspired rotorcraft began with the idea of creating something unique and different in the vertical lift marketplace. Its result is an exceptional design combination that creates a link between the helicopter and yacht. Thanks to its exterior blue-white pattern with integrated lighting, the EC135’s appearance changes, depending on the observer’s perspective.

“A helicopter doesn’t have to be just a technical accessory; it also can be a work of art,” explained Weber, who came up with the design concept. “My Zig-Zag design respects the external lines of the EC135, but creates a unique helicopter.” To provide an optical tie-in between the helicopter and its ocean-going environment, yacht-builder Lürssen adapted and applied the Zig-Zag design to the Quattroelle’s helipad. Rita Weber calls this the “footprint on deck,” which underscores the link between yacht and helicopter, even when the rotorcraft is airborne and away from the vessel.

“Rita Weber’s design idea is extremely original and attractive,” said Thomas Hein, Eurocopter Vice President for Sales and Customer Relations – Europe. “In bringing together the helicopter’s unique configuration with the helideck’s paint scheme, we have an art concept that takes the helicopter into a new dimension.”

The EC135 Zig-Zag’s “wow” effect extends into the cabin, which features an exclusive interior. It combines high-class materials from well-known international designers: the silk carpet is provided by Tai Ping; the leather in fuchsia from Foglizzo; and the cashmere covering the interior wall is by Loro Piana.

Eurocopter has the widest range of helicopters tailored for private and business aviation, and has been the leader in these sectors during the past five years with a market share of 43 percent.

The EC135 is a powerful, twin-engine lightweight helicopter combining a spacious cabin, ample storage compartment, unobstructed flat floors, room for up to five passengers and pilot, and lateral sliding doors. Moreover, the aircraft has a low noise signature, allowing it to operate both day and night in the urban environment. To date, over 1,100 EC135s have been sold, winning praise from customers around the world who work in business aviation and other varied applications that include medical evacuation, offshore and public service missions.