A GOLD-PLATED ILLUSION
The Helicopter That Turned Heads at the Dubai Airshow—Without Ever Leaving the GroundThe Helicopter That Turned Heads at the Dubai Airshow—Without Ever Leaving the Ground.
At the last Dubai Airshow, surrounded by next-generation fighter jets, experimental eVTOLs, and long-range commercial aircraft, one of the most photographed “aircraft” wasn’t an aircraft at all.
Parked among cutting-edge aviation technology was a gleaming, full-scale helicopter sculpture finished in polished gold. Known as the Gold Chopper, the piece is a creation by Sprayground, the New York–based brand best known for its bold, street-inspired backpacks embraced by celebrities and athletes worldwide.
While the airshow featured major announcements—such as new electric air-taxi expansions in the Middle East and the debut of emerging aviation startups—the Gold Chopper captured attention in a very different way. It embodied the unapologetic sense of spectacle that Dubai is famous for.
The project is the vision of Sprayground founder David BenDavid, also known as DBD. Rather than building a functional aircraft, BenDavid conceived a sculptural object inspired by helicopter design language. The result is a life-size, non-motorized rotorcraft complete with opening doors, a meticulously finished red-leather interior, and a stylized front end featuring Sprayground’s unmistakable shark-tooth grin.
Craftsmanship played a central role in the build. Each component was hand-welded, carefully brushed, and then electroplated to achieve its gold-like finish. Even the cockpit, though purely decorative, was designed to resemble a futuristic flight deck, reinforcing the illusion of a machine ready for takeoff.
From initial idea to final installation, the process took roughly eight months. The Gold Chopper is far from BenDavid’s first venture into monumental design: his past creations include oversized dinosaur sculptures, a Formula 1 car wrapped for the Miami Grand Prix, and even a conceptual collaboration with Zaha Hadid Architects envisioning a futuristic lunar residence.
At the Dubai Airshow, the Gold Chopper proved that sometimes the most talked-about object doesn’t need engines, rotors, or wings—just a bold idea, flawless execution, and a healthy dose of imagination.