Airbus has some future tech porn in the Guardian, showing us what flying in 2050 will be like. Yes, the picture on the right is one of those shots. In a few words: glass membranes and virtual golf. Yep, looking out a few years, that’s all they got.
While I can look at the picture and parts of me oohs and ahs, the reality factor steps in. You are flying east in the morning after a night of hard partying in Vegas. Do you really want the sun in your eyes? Night flying might be really cool, but remember, lights inside the cabin would reflect inside the cabin, causing any stargazing to be rendered practically useless.
Major point – this is a view from First Class. By 2050, those in coach will be strapped to boards, standing upright. Of course, no glossy artwork of that. Airbus may talk about a world where there are no classes, just zones of fun and vitamin enriched air, but airlines fly the planes. That is why the virtual golf thing, will never see the light of day. Virtual golf takes up valuable real estate in a plane. You know, space where a paying passenger would sit. And while Airbus talks about
"The concept cabin is designed with that in mind, and shows that the journey can be as much a voyage of discovery as the destination."
the point is the only thing that people are going to discover is that they have overpaid for their four hour ride, because the person next to them used Priceline. And there still will not be enough overhead bin space. After all, you can’t see the sky in Wonder Woman’s plane if there’s a suitcase above your head.
While all of this is nice and everything, I would take a flight with no crying babies, a passenger list of people who have flown more than once in the last twenty years, a hot TSA agent who actually means it when they feel me up and an occasional complimentary beer.
I know. That’s the stuff of science fiction.
