. . . Continued from Main Page
And then there is AIRBUS's early concept entry going back to 2016 (above). In much the same way, the French based OEM consortium took a similar design path utilizing a geometric grid extending all the way forward to just above the flight deck. The giant windows continue aft of the wing but not extending over the top like the forward section. Before any of these aircraft actually roll out of a hangar and move into service, the designs will no doubt migrate through dozens, if not hundreds, of design iterations. But these concepts do point to a distinct direction, based on current and evolving technologies.
But let's move back inside to interior concepts that have been put forward by the world's top OEMs, Centers and Designers. The entry pictured below was dreamed up by US based Rosen Aviation in collaboration with KiP Creating and SkyStyle. Dubbed the Maverick Project, a myriad of near-term future innovations are presented, including tables that roll out of the sideledges, unique wrap-around seats with integrated personal speakers and flight data / PSU suites projected onto windows and other surfaces. For more on this project, visit our JULY issue here.
Courtesy: ROSEN Aviation - visualized by SkyStyle and Kip Creating
In this concept pictured below by Germany based Lufthansa Technik, one of the premier VVIP outfitting centers for both narrow and wide-bodies, presents an evocative idea. But don't be fooled. While we've been talking about dramatic large-scale new windows in future airframes, that's not what we have here. In this rendering, what we're looking at are ceilings and sidewalls outfitted with bendable OLED monitor screens that mimic the outside . . . or for that matter, any imagery you might want. Let's say it's daytime but you rather fancy a star studded night sky. It's available at the touch of a button from your CMS system. In another of LHT's version of this design, the projected matter is an undersea view with whales gliding by. Pretty crazy juxtaposition considering you're at 40,000 ft cruising at .08 mach. They may look like radicle concepts in the moment - but in some for or fashion, they will soon be a reality.
ACJ-330 EXPLORER Concept / Courtesy Lufthansa Technik - 2022
Below is an AIRBUS concept for their MAVERIC blended wing concept. As we can see, the sidewalls are essentially vertical, offering a much greater spacial sense. Projected flight data and touchless pads offer passengers a myriad of environmental and entertainment control options, without the clutter of traditional button suites on the chair or sideledge. AIRSPACE seats provide an ultra-clean wrap-around feel and forward or aft repositioning capability.
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AIRBUS Interior Concept - Maveric Blended Wing Concept
FACTORY Design takes us a little further out, exploring the idea of a vita lounge all the way forward in the nose of the aircraft.
The best seats in the house usually fall to the pilot and co-pilot, but in this concept, the flight deck is replaced with a passenger deck. Pretty cool. Will it ever happen? Only the future will tell.
Factory Design - Autonomous Flying Concept
As the title of the article suggests, these are all concepts dreamed up as far back as 2014. But they set the way for for a closer future, one that relies on technologies and materials still more or less in the labs back then. But in many cases, they are now being deployed and tested onto pilot projects.
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This past is already on deck . . . but the cool question is, what are these edgy pontificators dreaming up for out beyond mid-century? Whatever it is, hang onto you helmet Buck Rogers!
