Aston airlifts Vanquish to Burj Al Arab helipad
Aston Martin celebrates its centenary in Dubai by landing a Vanquish on top of Dubai’s landmark hotel
By Shahzad Sheikh
Unfortunately we had to watch the whole thing from the ground beneath the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel, but there was a live feed to a giant video screen where we could see the a brand new Aston Martin Vanquish (sans engine and gearbox) clamped onto a cradle and then lifted into the air by a Sikorsky Helicopter.
Check out the official video:
Despite high windspeed which meant taking off was rather fraught, the ride through the air was extremely serene and rather surreal as Bond’s favourite make of car flew towards the region’s most recognisable hotel – Dubai’s Burj Al Arab – the only thing missing was Daniel Craig himself skydiving directly into the car before it got to the helipad!
Here’s my iPhone vid:
It’s actually the first time ever that a car has been on the helipad which sits 1000ft above the ground at the top of the sail-shaped building and itself – I’ve personally always felt – is reminiscent of the Starship Enterprise.
It’s all part of the global celebrations of 100 years of Aston Martin.
Speaking from the helipad, Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez said: “It is with great pride that we continue our centenary celebrations in such unique manner in the city of Dubai.
“Today we are achieving another world first – one of many for Aston Martin over the years. This is a true feat for Aston Martin and a fantastic way to begin a new century of global success for our iconic brand.”
This week has already seen the official anniversary of the founding of Aston Martin 100 years ago with a ceremony in London’s Henniker Mews – the original home of the company founded on 15 January 1913.
Aston Martin is also marking the centenary with an exclusive Centenary Edition specification that will be available worldwide on just 100 examples of each of the car maker’s model lines: V8 Vantage, DB9, Rapide and Vanquish.
Featuring a unique graduated paint finish, solid sterling silver Aston Martin wings badges with tailored ‘trans flux’ enamel inlay and a special Aston Martin hallmark, the exterior represents an exclusive new celebration of the company’s 100-year history.
The events in London and Dubai mark the start of a year-long celebration of all things Aston Martin, with events taking place worldwide over the next 12 months.
In the UK, a week-long Aston Martin festival will take place from 15 July to 21 July. Designed to appeal to owners and enthusiasts of the brand, the Centenary Week will include ‘open house’ activities at Aston Martin’s exclusive Gaydon headquarters, including factory-based events and driving tours and will culminate in a 1,000-guest ‘birthday party’ on Saturday 20 July and a spectacular Centenary gathering in central London on Sunday 21 July.
This highlight of the centenary celebrations will be held in partnership with the Aston Martin Heritage Trust and the Aston Martin Owners Club will feature 100 of the brand’s most iconic cars in a multi-million pound timeline display. The event will also see one of the largest gatherings of Aston Martins in the 100-year history of the great British marque.
In addition, appearances at major automotive events throughout 2013 including Nürburgring 24-Hours, Silverstone Classic, Villa D’Este, Le Mans 24-Hours and Pebble Beach will ensure that the celebration is truly global.
Behind the scenes vid:
