Embraer unveils Art Deco inspired airships

Embraer has revealed two luxury jet concepts that showcase the glamour of the 1920s and 1930s. Created by the company’s Vice President of Interior Design Jay Beever, in partnership with former Disney Imagineer Eddie Sotto, each plane embodies a key Art Deco destination. 

The two concepts have been showcased through the Brazilian firm’s Lineage 1000E jet, which can seat up to 19 passengers.

Beever and Sotto bonded over the thrill of resurrecting the art deco designs found in the buildings, furniture, jewellery, cars and ocean liners of the 1920s and 1930s, with the Normandie cruise liner providing inspiration to the project. 

Intensive research generated specific interest in famous Art Deco destinations, including Manhattan and Hollywood, leading the way for captivating storylines pertinent to the private aviation experience. With that, the team breathed life into a concept that would bring the thrill back to flying and give passengers a reason to dress up – namely a chic air shuttle, capable of connecting the Art Deco cities that inspired the concept in the first place.

Explaining how the idea came about, Beever says: “A friend of mine in Laguna Beach, John Erdman, exposed me to the design and history of the Normandie, a French ocean liner which capsized in New York while being retrofitted as a US troop ship during World War II. I immediately fell in love with its streamlined Moderne interior design and the influences it had on Art Deco. This made me think of the wealth of Art Deco and Moderne styles and architecture here in the US, which spawned the idea of the ultimate charter aircraft experience. I immediately reached out to Sotto for his expertise and conceived two sister airships which not only celebrate the Art Deco history of Manhattan and Hollywood architecture but also deliver the ultimate flight experience. The experience begins when you board the plane, not when you land.”


MANHATTAN & HOLLYWOOD

The Manhattan, featuring deep, rich woods, is the embodiment of the Empire State Building crossed with the Rainbow Room, whereas the Hollywood has a bright, silver screen appeal. This balance of dark and light materials characterises the relationship between East Coast and West Coast styles. While the aircraft have similar configurations and design aesthetics, the designs are polarising but with a playful balance. 

The Lineage 1000E, says Beever, is the ideal canvas for this shuttle aircraft, with roots in commercial aviation accounting for superior reliability, operating costs and space.  

The aircraft’s five cabin zones have been configured to create the ultimate adult playground. Unlike most business jets, you don’t board the plane at the galley. In fact, all crew resources have cleverly been moved to the back of the plane, out of sight. 

Guests are greeted in a plush lounge, complete with art and architecture that set the mood for the journey. The first cabin zone, the Cloud Bar, features striking fold-up bar stools and an Embraer-exclusive portrait view window.  

The living space is ripe for a party with a variety of club seating options. Only the most exclusive guests are invited back to the private Crystal Room, capable of hosting a refined dining experience for up to six passengers. 

Do the concepts employ any rare/ultra-luxurious materials or special techniques?

Beever says: “The use of aircraft mohair and lamb skin leathers make for luxurious seating applications. The exotic veneers and marquetry utilise methods from the period. Simulated crystal, developed for aircraft, created special lighting opportunities. Lastly, the 3D sculpted sidewall and headliner trim of the Hollywood take advantage of space rarely considered a canvas for art.”

And to what extent is each concept customisable? 

“These sister airships are proposed as charter aircraft, with unique and compelling layouts atypical of a plane this size,” he explains. “For instance, the first three cabin zones are set aside for the party. These three open gathering spaces encourage socialisation. Next is the salon, featuring a more typical cabin layout for relaxation and intimate conversation. In the rear of the aircraft, the Crystal Room is meant for either dining or crew seating. The very back of the aircraft features the aft galley and lavatory. The cabin layout is entirely customisable, with options ranging from a more typical business layout to charter applications.” 

Both the concepts are purchasable, as they are conceived for use on a green Lineage 1000E. “These concepts are based on existing seating and monument designs, meant for ease of execution and a timely build. Additionally, our exclusive portrait-view windows, as seen on the Kyoto Airship, are also feasible and used as the basis for the engineering of the bar lounge panoramic city loft window featured in both designs.” 

Pricing has not been finalised. However, the list price for the Lineage 1000E is $53 million, and similarly exotic interior configurations can go for as much as $30 million.

In true Embraer fashion, the Manhattan and the Hollywood feature a unique blend of form and function. The Lineage 1000E exceeds every expectation in terms of utility, demonstrating Embraer’s unique expertise, via a bespoke experience on a traditionally commercial route. Simply put, these aircraft are intended to make the journey fun again.  First class is a gross understatement,” he concludes.