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10 ways to fall in love with flying again
10 ways to fall in love with flying again

Times

time19 hours ago

  • Business
  • Times

10 ways to fall in love with flying again

From private lounges to cockpit simulators and pocket-sized drones, these picks prove aviation can still feel fresh Aviation has always promised more than movement. It's about freedom, adventure, and, at times, a flash of luxury. While modern air travel often frustrates as much as it excites, there's still something singular about the act of being airborne. You just have to hack the process first. To foster a deeper connection with flight, here are ten brands, services and products that make aviation feel fresh again. Some ease the experience of commercial travel; others make private flying more attainable than expected. There's even the option of learning to pilot yourself – or of navigating from the ground, via drone. And if you need shelter from the skies, that's covered too. Strap in. Here are ten ways to rekindle the romance of aviation. In a world that feels increasingly unpredictable – whether due to geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, pandemics or other instabilities – the idea of a personal shelter feels more relevant than ever. Atlas Survival Shelters manufactures underground NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) survival and bomb shelters, designed to offer protection and peace of mind. Built with high quality materials such as bullet-resistant hardened steel, fibreglass and corrugated pipe, each Atlas shelter is installed according to the client's needs and available space. The company also produces shelters for the aviation industry, meeting the requirements of aircraft owners who need emergency protection for a fleet. For households, a standard shelter brings practical advantages. Many are comfortable enough to be used as weekend hideaways, or adapted as storage, office or retreat space. Find out more about Atlas Survival Shelters at One of the hottest tickets for this year's Glastonbury wasn't for the VIP or backstage areas: it was for the helipad nearby. More Britons are discovering that travelling by helicopter to festivals, sporting events and weddings is more attainable and affordable than ever. Capital Air Services has specialised in helicopter charter and management for over 30 years. Its trusted, professional and discreet service operates a fleet of luxury twin-engine helicopters, including three new Airbus H145 D3s. These state of the art aircraft are IFR-capable – able to fly in poor weather, day or night – and carry up to nine passengers with generous space, excellent visibility and a smooth, quiet ride. While Capital Air Services is known for its safety record and tailored experience, it's the aircraft themselves that make the strongest impression. With range, comfort and reliability, they remain the most efficient way to arrive – or depart – in style. Make your business trips and events stress-free by flying by helicopter. Get in touch at or call 020 7223 6179 for a bespoke quote any time Private aviation – whether chartering a jet or owning one outright – has never been more in demand. Yet the process can appear, at least on paper, out of reach. Global Jet aims to change that. With a 25-year track record, the company is a leader in the field. Still privately owned and run by its founders, Global Jet employs over 600 people across four areas: charter and brokerage, aircraft management, sales and acquisitions, and design and completion oversight. Services are offered from ten offices worldwide, including Monaco, Madrid, Paris and Dubai. Its managed fleet comprises around 75 aircraft – including six Boeing business jets, seven Airbus ACJs, 18 Gulfstreams and 22 Bombardiers – making it one of the largest operators globally. For clients who value discretion, access and consistency, Global Jet delivers a seamless experience – from aircraft purchase to daily operation – with high-end equipment as the standard, not the exception. Visit to find out more While the prestige of being a pilot may seem out of reach, it is a career that remains open for those with the ability and commitment. FlyFair helps make it possible. Unlike many ATOs (Approved Training Organisations), it prioritises social mobility by ensuring its pilot training is inclusive and affordable. Its core offering is the IntegraModular Pathway, which offers career-starting future pilots both the structure of integrated learning with the benefits of modular teaching. Students can train across multiple partner sites in the UK, with schedules that fit around existing commitments. Mentoring is central to the programme. The Continuous Resilience Development Programme – delivered in partnership with CAA-approved ATO Resilient Pilot – prepares trainees with airline-standard skills and the necessary mindset from day one. Whether starting from scratch or seeking to return to training, FlyFair supports a direct route into professional flight. Its goal is simple – to expand access to a career that lifts off on merit. Visit to learn more or follow on Instagram Drones – while ideal for capturing hikes, holidays and family moments – often require forward planning due to their bulk and setup time. The DJI Flip All-in-One Vlog Camera Drone is designed to make the process simpler. Compact and lightweight, it folds neatly into a pocketable size, making it easy to carry and ready to use on the move. It connects seamlessly via an app, takes off within seconds and has been designed with portability and ease in mind. The DJI Flip shoots stabilised 4K aerial video, with wind resistance built in. It's a practical first drone for anyone interested in aerial content, whether for social media or private use. Built-in subject tracking, gesture control and cinematic pre-sets allow users to start recording with minimal effort – and to capture smooth, dynamic footage without specialist knowledge. For casual creators or families documenting their travels, it's a tool that expands what's possible with minimal intrusion. Available now from plus Argos, Very and other major retailers Everyone finds the process of traversing an airport stressful – so imagine how welcome it would feel to be expertly aided and escorted from curb to cabin. Airport VIP Services does just that. This concierge service is designed to save time and protect privacy. Based at Heathrow and Gatwick, it delivers the same experience at international destinations too – thanks to a global network of trusted concierge partners. Founded in 2009, Airport VIP Services regularly handles royalty, heads of state and diplomatic parties. It offers four tiers of service to meet varying needs – from solo travellers to full delegations. Alongside meet-and-greet services, baggage handling and expedited immigration, the company also provides access to VIP lounges – ensuring calm and comfort before boarding. Whether the priority is discretion, speed or convenience, the aim is simple: to make the airport experience feel less like a hurdle and more like the start of the journey. Find out more at If you have a passion for aviation history, technology or flight itself, chances are you've encountered the appeal of model aircraft. For the creative or nostalgic, few ways of engaging with history are more satisfying than the Corgi Aviation Archive range. Corgi – part of the Hornby Hobbies brand – recreates several of the world's most historically significant aircraft in weighty die-cast form, finished to a high standard and ready for display. A particular favourite is the AA29004 Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4. Nicknamed 'Moggy', this 1:48 scale replica includes detailed attending air crew and a display stand. Another standout is the Supermarine Spitfire MkI – the aircraft flown by war hero Douglas Bader – available as a 1:72 model with its distinctive black and silver underside. As digital life becomes ever more abstract, it's easy to see why so many people are returning to tactile objects like model aircraft to reconnect with the past. Visit to view all the latest models in the range It's unfortunate that flight disruptions have become such a routine part of air travel. Worse still is how difficult and time-consuming the compensation process can be – so much so that many passengers never pursue the claims they're entitled to. Join the Claim is a UK-based consumer platform that connects eligible passengers with regulated law firms equipped to handle compensation claims. There's no upfront cost, and individual payouts can reach as much as £520. It doesn't take a mathematician to see how family claims can amount to several thousand pounds. To be eligible, the disrupted flight must have taken place within the past six years. If that applies to you, Join the Claim may offer a simple route to recovering compensation – without legal jargon or unnecessary delay. For many, it's not about the money so much as the principle. This platform helps ensure that principle isn't lost in the process. To start your compensation claim, visit Reconnecting air travel with a bygone era of luxury, grace and ease might seem like a pipe dream – but there are still ways for commercial flying to feel effortless. The Windsor at Heathrow offers one such route, providing a private terminal experience for VIP travellers. A chauffeur transfers you to one of eight private lounges – designed by Oliver Burns Studio – where you can relax and enjoy a fine dining menu curated by acclaimed chef Jason Atherton. Crucially, a fast-tracked immigration check means no queues before boarding, a benefit available to any First or Business Class passenger, regardless of the terminal used for departure. If privacy, control and comfort are important to you as a frequent flyer, it might be time to investigate what The Windsor at Heathrow has to offer . Visit to find out more If you're a plane buff who has ever dreamed of soaring through clouds, navigating storms or landing a Boeing against the odds, this may be the experience for you. JetEx's static flight simulators are open to the public – but what sets the company apart is its state of the art, six-axis full-motion Boeing 737 simulator. Used by professionals in the aviation industry, the simulator features a real cockpit, force feedback controls and such accuracy that you can feel the bumps of the runway as you land. It's open to anyone over the age of 12 – no experience required – and participants are guided by trained instructors throughout. Whether you're an aspiring pilot, an aviation enthusiast or simply looking for something immersive and unusual, JetEx offers a way to engage deeply with the thrill of flight. Flight simulation may not get you airborne – but it brings the cockpit remarkably close. Find out more at This is a commercial article paid for by our advertising partners If you've enjoyed reading this article and are interested in more inspiration in everything from food and drink to luxury living , from travel to health and wellbeing, why not follow Checklist on Facebook, X and Instagram @ChecklistSocial, or sign up to the newsletter? Checklist provides the best free online competitions too – discover amazing new services and products when you visit the website today.

How wealthy tech leaders have prepped for a possible doomsday, from underground bunkers to gun stockpiles
How wealthy tech leaders have prepped for a possible doomsday, from underground bunkers to gun stockpiles

Business Insider

time01-07-2025

  • Business
  • Business Insider

How wealthy tech leaders have prepped for a possible doomsday, from underground bunkers to gun stockpiles

In times of geopolitical chaos, the average person might watch a meditation video or stock up on canned goods. The wealthiest among us, however, might turn to a luxury underground bunker instead. "When a war breaks out, or when America bombs Iran, it does cause a spike in our business," Ron Hubbard, founder and CEO of Atlas Survival Shelters, told BI. Larry Hall, the owner of luxury bunker company Survival Condo, also said he's seen increased interest during geopolitical conflicts, including the recent one between Israel and Iran. Hubbard said it's safe to assume that most billionaires have some sort of shelter, though relatively few have extremely extravagant bunkers that cost tens of millions of dollars. Hall said he's built a bunker complex with a swimming pool, and others have included a shooting range or bowling alley. He said he's currently negotiating bunker sales between $1 million and $2 million. As Hall sees it, bunkers have become a "new status symbol of the elite" in the post-pandemic era, while the topic used to be more taboo. Some of the country's biggest tech names have hopped on the prepper trend in the last decade, buying underground shelters and collections of guns. LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman told the New Yorker in 2017 that he thinks more than half of his Silicon Valley billionaire peers have bought some sort of end-of-world hideout. Here are some of the tech millionaires and billionaires who have invested in doomsday planning. Bunkers — or similar tunnels or shelters Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hasn't confirmed reports that he has a survival bunker, but said on a recent episode of the podcast "This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von" that he has an " underground tunnel" at his ranch in Hawaii. In 2023, Wired reported that Zuckerberg was building a 5,000-square-foot underground shelter at the ranch. A year later, local news outlet Hawaii News Now reported that county planning documents included a "storm shelter" measuring almost 4,500 square feet. Zuckerberg also downplayed the bunker reports during an interview with Bloomberg in December, comparing the space to "a basement." "There's just a bunch of storage space and like, I don't know, whatever you want to call it, a hurricane shelter or whatever," he said. "I think it got blown out of proportion as if the whole ranch was some kind of Doomsday bunker, which is just not true." A representative for Zuckerberg directed BI to his comments to Bloomberg. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has also denied having a bunker, saying instead that he has "structures." He didn't share details of the structures at a WSJ Tech Live event in 2023, but did note that none of them would be helpful if artificial intelligence "goes wrong." He also told the New Yorker in 2016 that he has a plot of land in Big Sur, California, that he could fly to if necessary. PayPal cofounder Peter Thiel attempted to build a 10-bedroom compound in New Zealand, but the local government rejected his plans after environmentalists complained. Some suspected that parts of the estate were meant to be a doomsday bunker. Hall told BI that he's been "flabbergasted" by some of the reported shelter locations, since California and New Zealand are near active tectonic plate boundaries. "They're the two places you don't want to be building bunkers, and yet allegedly these billionaires are building in those two places," he said. Representatives for Altman and Thiel did not respond to BI's request for comment. Other preparations include guns and surgery Some opt for different doomsday preparations. Altman also previously told the New Yorker that he has "guns, gold, potassium iodide, antibiotics, batteries, water, gas masks from the Israeli Defense Force." Reddit CEO Steve Huffman told the New Yorker he's bought guns, ammo, and motorcycles. And he's taken it one step further — he said that in 2015, he got laser eye surgery to hopefully better his chances of survival. Interest in doomsday-esque materials doesn't just extend to those who are preparing for the end of the world. Palmer Luckey, the founder of Oculus and Anduril, hasn't referred to himself as a prepper but he owns a sizable collection of older military-grade vehicles. He said on an episode of Bloomberg's "The Circuit" that he also owns decommissioned missile silos, some of which extend underground, where he stores what he says is the world's largest video game collection. "I put that in one of my missile bases, 200 feet underground," Luckey told Bloomberg's Emily Chang. Representatives for Luckey and Huffman did not respond to BI's request for comment. Hall said that he thinks the association with prominent tech leaders has helped his business. "A lot of people like to live vicariously through what other people do," he said.

Inside the booming business of bomb and survival shelters
Inside the booming business of bomb and survival shelters

Yahoo

time30-04-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Inside the booming business of bomb and survival shelters

(NewsNation) — The hottest real estate trend all across America is almost assuredly different from what you may think. Bomb and survival shelters are all the rage right now, and NewsNation visited a top-secret development in northeast Texas to get a close-up look. These underground bunkers offer homeowners a place to go in the event of nuclear fallout, civil war, pandemics and natural disasters and are strategically attached to their existing home. Border buoys may be deployed near Canadian border: Exclusive The particular survival shelter visited by NewsNation is still under construction, but when finished, it will feature 10-foot-tall ceilings, home theaters and working bathrooms and plumbing. Treasury secretary reiterates onus is on China for tariff talks NewsNation was only allowed access to the shelter on the condition that it keep its location a secret. Ark Industries builder and developer John Brinkman told NewsNation there is a great need for secrecy when it comes to survival shelters. 'If you have a safe in your house, you don't want to advertise that you have a safe in your house. … The simple fact of the matter is, if you have it, there's no real reason for everyone to know,' he said. NewsNation also went behind the scenes with bunker manufacturer Atlas Survival Shelters, who currently have a backorder of six months. The bunkers are premade and placed into the ground thereafter, costing the everyday American around $25,000. Amazon denies reports it will list tariffs in price listings However, NewsNation is told the ultrawealthy are the most frequent purchasers, with clients ranging from celebrities to members of President Trump's Cabinet. 'The world's elites are getting bunkers, and most of the billionaires, if they don't have a bunker, they are probably getting one right now,' Rob Hubbard of Atlas Survival Shelters told NewsNation. 'It's not that they are worried about an immediate scare or something imminent, they just know there are people out there who have feelings different than you and I might have about the future, and they want to be prepared for that,' he added. Brinkman told NewsNation he's already received approval and plans to place shelters in 60 to 90 homes across northeast Texas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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