In April last year, Virgin Group Founder and Chairman Richard Branson tweeted about launching a glass bottomed airplane that would provide air travelers with spectacular terrestrial views as they commute. Keeping up with Virgin Group’s long running tradition of hoodwinking the public into believing its ridiculous claims, Sir Branson’s post was in fact a rather elaborate April fool’s joke, dazzled up by realistic images of the aircraft to convince readers of its authenticity.
More recently, the France-based team for Technicon Design won at the prestigious International Yacht & Aviation Awards for their IXION windowless private jet concept. Their design was the winner in the private aviation Exterior Design Concept category. Technicon aims to remove windows from the fuselage, and instead provide passengers with panoramic views of the world by displaying footage of the external environment on inside surfaces of the cabin via strategically-placed cameras.
Using Parallax-Barrier technology passengers seated in different rows will have different views while still observing the same screen as other passengers. The applications of this technology are limitless; imagine watching your favorite soap across the roof of the cabin at the same time as your toddler seated next to you, gazes up at the stars.
Besides the manufacturing benefits of removing the windows; such as reducing weight and cost, it opens up a whole new dimension of interior cabin design. This dynamic display piece will be powered by amorphous solar panels attached to the exterior of the aircraft giving it a unique appearance on the runway as well.
This innovative and intriguing new aviation concept is just a small hint at what the future holds for air travel. Next stop, recreational moon flights!