Here's How You Take a P270 Million Luxury Helicopter Out for a Spin

When you buy a helicopter, you typically have to wait for it to be delivered to you like a regular package. But this didn’t sound like the start of a great adventure to John-Paul Thorbjornsen, the first Australian owner of the exclusive Airbus ACH130 Aston Martin Edition helicopter. 

Thorbjornsen had a different narrative in mind: to fly the chopper home himself from Airbus’ facility in Oxford, U.K. This is only fitting for an aircraft that carries Aston Martin’s ultra-sports car aesthetic, combining Airbus’ engineering superiority with the luxury car brand’s design and craftsmanship.

Tech entrepreneur and former Australian Air Force pilot unveils the ACH130 Aston Martin edition for the first time in the Philippines

Of course, piloting a chopper like this isn’t something that an average pilot can do. But Thorbjornsen learned to fly at the age of 16 at a local flying school where his interest in aeronautical engineering started. He then studied aeronautical engineering at a university in Canberra and then spent a decade as a pilot with the Royal Australian Air Force.

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“I’ve always loved flying and was looking for a reliable and powerful helicopter that could safely fly my family and friends around,” he shared. “I was impressed by the performance and comfort of the ACH130. I’m also convinced that this Aston Martin edition is the most attractive private helicopter on the market.”

Thorbjornsen's chopper in the island of Crete in Greece

Photo by John-Paul Thorbjornsen.

At Nino Konis Santana National Park

Photo by John-Paul Thorbjornsen.

During an exclusive media preview at the Manila Domestic Airport in Pasay City, Thorbjornsen unveiled his bespoke ACH130 Aston Martin edition and shared his epic voyage spanning 10,000 nautical miles across 21 countries with 39 stops in 41 days.

Guests also got to experience the thrill of riding a helicopter built with a sports car heritage that offers panoramic views. While Thorbjornsen declined to reveal just how much he shelled out for the chopper, reports elsewhere on the internet peg the price at around EUR4.5 million (or about P270 million). 

Thorbjornsen climbs into the chopper

The collaboration between Airbus and Aston Martin resulted in a range of interior and exterior designs in the helicopter that customers can choose from. The Airbus ACH130 Aston Martin Edition comes with features like custom paint, an interior scheme with fabrics including ultra-suede and leather shades that you can find on the automobile, and configurable seating for seven including the pilot’s seat. 

“What sets the ACH130 Aston Martin Edition apart from the rest is the intricate details and finest upholstery that created not just a well-appointed interior but an extremely smooth ride in the spacious cabin,” said Thorbjornsen.

A view from inside the chopper mid-flight

Going on a long aerial expedition like Thorbjornsen’s, one should expect unpredictable weather systems and various logistical challenges. Fortunately, the ACH130 is powerful enough to get the job done. Underneath the chopper’s  sleek is a powerful engine, the Arriel 2D, which provides up to 952 shp (shaft horsepower) at take-off and offers a combination of new technologies including a new axial compressor, a new high pressure compressor diffusor, new material in the high pressure turbine and a new generation double channel FADEC.

“The ACH130 never missed a beat throughout the journey,” recalls Thorbjornsen. “Even when the helicopter scaled to 12,000 ft atop the Italian Alps with four crew on board and half a tank of fuel, its impressive performance at such high altitudes is a testament to the helicopter’s engineering prowess, and we were never once thinking that we could be in trouble piloting this amazing machine.” 

Thorbjornsen's chopper on a cliff

Photo by John-Paul Thorbjornsen.

In Samalona Island, Indonesia

Photo by John-Paul Thorbjornsen.

As with all stories, it wouldn’t be worth telling without some sort of challenge or plot twist. Thorbjornsen said he encountered turbulence during the flight and was actually detained by authorities in Myanmar for 20 hours. In addition, he had to consider  the expensive insurance and fuel, which alone cost $40,000 to $50,000, according to reports.

Only 18 people around the world own a unit of the Aston Martin edition, and only 12 other units are available to purchase. An order has come from the Philippines, while the rest have come from Australia, Europe, Latin America, New Zealand, North America, and Southeast Asia.

Only 18 people around the world own a unit of the Airbus ACH130 Aston Martin Edition

“The initial batch was 15 [in production], but it was overbooked,” shared Jussi Hoikka, Airbus Chief Representative and Airbus Philippines Managing Director. “So we have to extend to 30, to a second batch. It shows the success of the line.”