Wheels Up reveals blue and white colour scheme for new King Airs
Wheels UP Beechcraft King Air 350i
Happy Design Studio in France is chosen by Wheels Up to design its new Beechcraft King Air 350i turboprops.
Wheels Up Beechcraft King Air 350i
Wheels Up revealed it will paint its brand new King Air 350i turboprops a stylish blend of blue and white, after purchasing 105 of the aircraft in the largest ever order for propeller-driven general aviation aircraft.
The new US private membership company, launched by Marquis Jet-founder Kenny Dichter, has enlisted Happy Design Studio in France to design the exteriors of the aircraft ordered from Beechcraft in August 2013.
Kenny Dichter, founder and chief executive officer of Wheels Up, said: “Happy Design Studio is known within the industry for its cutting-edge aircraft exterior designs, and for pushing boundaries with their modern aesthetic, so partnering with the firm was a clear choice.”
“Didier Wolff, founder and designer of Happy Design Studio, and his team possess the vitality and creative expertise needed to visually separate the King Air 350i aircraft to be used in the Wheels Up programme from anything else in the sky,” added Dichter.
Earlier this year, Happy Design Studio designed the livery for a Learjet 75 displayed by Bombardier at EBACE 2013 in Geneva. Wolff and his team have also worked on a Bombardier Global 7000, a number of Falcon 7X business jets for Dassault, as well as Gulfstream G550s. The company has also designed EC145 helicopters for Eurocopter.
Reflecting on the partnership with Wheels Up, Wolff said: “The entire project was invigorating. From providing a design that will be seen on over 100 aircraft, to working on the King Air 350i for the first time, the project pushed our team to create a fresh design within a very limited timeframe.”
Wolff added: “A natural bond was forged between Wheels Up and Happy Design Studio, which resulted in a truly collaborative process enabling us to conceptualise and create a superior product. Within a relatively conservative industry in terms of design, Wheels Up is pushing for a different and exciting product, and we’re positive this will be a success.”
Wheels Up expects to receive the first nine aircraft designed by Happy Design Studio before the end of the year, with the rest of the order to be completed by mid-2015. The company also teamed-up with VistaJet this month to help offer VistaJet’s Flight Solutions Programme on 12 Bombardier Global business jets that the Swiss company will base in the US from 2014.
