Launched at a time when luxury helicopters were a promising market segment, the EC135 “L’Hélicoptère par Hermés” has failed so far to fulfill its creators’ commercial hopes for sales of “several dozen” aircraft. Only four copies of this version of the light twin, with an exclusive interior crafted by the French design house, have been delivered since the model was launched in 2007. Customers are located in the UAE, Japan, the UK and Denmark.

As Royer explained, the helicopter can now be customized more than initially planned. For example, a fifth seat can be installed in the cabin. Prices range from €5.5 to €6 million ($7.7 to $8.4 million).