Take a detour above the traffic in an Air Center helicopter.
s any north texas native knows, dallas traffic can turn even the best day into a miserable, temper-flaring nightmare. Those who wish to beat the congestion should simply avoid it altogether.
Skip the road rage and take to the skies in a chopper from Air Center Helicopters. The Fort Worth company rents helicopters for all occasions, from sightseeing tours to aerial photography to VIP charters. Air Center has a diverse fleet of choppers—all new and finely cared for—from the Bell 407 to the military-derived 412, which can handle up to 13 people.
The company has been helping executives make a grand—and punctual—entrance since 1982. They are the largest helicopter operator based in DFW, with headquarters at Meacham Field and operating bases in the Virgin Islands, Virginia, and California.
“We’ll pick people up and drop them off wherever they want,” says James Jensen, director of operations. “We’ve done weddings, proms—you name it.” Air Center even helped out with aerial film work for the Fox drama Prison Break.
Prices range from $800 to $5,000 an hour, depending on the job. But your time is money, and with a typically five-hour road trip to Midland taking just two hours by air (and with gas prices reaching all-time highs), you just might be ready to trade in your wheels for blades.
Miracle Yachts provides a hassle-free way to own a luxury liner.
earning for a yacht? who isn’t? but the expense of burning thousands of dollars for a vessel that will be parked at the club most of the year can be a turn-off. Dallas-based Miracle Yachts, Inc. has the answer: fractional ownership. In the same way savvy CEOs have been sharing jets for years, now you, too, can enjoy the luxury of your own oceanliner without the hassles of outright ownership.
Miracle Yachts clients each own one-tenth of a ship, which is customized to their needs for the days they use it—down to the bed linens, silverware, and liquors. Owners can schedule the days they will use the yacht online at Miracle’s Web site, where they can also trade and buy dates from the other owners anonymously. And, because clients own the yacht, they also get a share of the proceeds if the yachts are sold.
The one-and-a-half-year-old company currently has two seaworthy vessels in its arsenal: a 62-footer based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and a 72-footer in Newport Beach, Calif. President Hunter Ross says other yachts will be added at ports all around the world as Miracle grows. It’s a concept Ross is sure will catch on with shore-dwellers and landlocked individuals alike.
“This is the ideal way for a customer to use an asset like a yacht,” Ross says. “It’s like owning a floating condo that you can take wherever you want.” And if clients aren’t comfortable at the helm, it’s not a problem—to make the experience as effortless as possible, Miracle supplies your ship with a captain and crew members. (Ginger and Mary Ann not included.)
