Variable-tinted smartglass
Posted on 12/16/2015 3:28:12 PM PST by sparklite2
Introducing the SkyDeck-- a patent-pending seat design that aims to give a few lucky passengers a 360 degree view of the surrounding clouds by sitting them on top of the plane in a fully transparent bubble.
Unlike other seat design models, the SkyDeck is designed to be incorporated into existing types of aircraft and would cost between $8 million to $25 million to install depending on the type of plane.
"Current in-flight entertainment offerings have not changed much over the decades. We wanted to come up with a product that would provide a higher level of entertainment to reduce the boredom of long flights," says Windspeed of the new design.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
"It's time to get on the plane."
F%*# you I'm getting IN the plane.
The old Speilberg “Amazing Stories” episode called “The Mission” (starring Kevin Costner) is free out on the ‘net. Anyone who wants an idea of what dangers a ball turret gunner faced should go watch it.
As many have mentioned, a bubble canopy is a hothouse and without excellent a/c you are going to have roasted passengers. The US Army Air Corps found this out (P-38, P-47 & P-51) during that little tiff called WW2!
A mo better idea might be to have some special seats within that have semi-surround screens that are fed from exterior cameras. Much the same effect but without the fuel cost, the sunstroke and other oppsies!
Rumbleseat ping. Next up, airline pilots finally get necker knobs!
Canopies aren't made of glass.
If such a thing were available for plastic canopies, we'd have it.
Canopies can be tinted, but it cuts down on the view like dark sunglasses...
Pilot sits on top in the open air
I don't remember seeing the ones you posted.
They wouldn't be on the outside.
Yup, it was a dangerous posting for a small soldier.
Audie Murphy small and Audie Murphy brave!
Loneliest guy in the crew. No access to the main fuselage. Only one way in and out. Recall reading that they cramped up and ground crews had to unwind them.
...Not bad ... but I think I’d prefer the ball turret...
Gotta be awfully short for that. And hope it doesn’t jam with the landing gear stuck up.
As long as it’s on their own dime, why not, if that’s what makes your putter flutter?
I rather liked the concept of foregoing ports/windows in favor of video displays that screen what cameras on/in the fuselage are picking up...Added benefit of less drag and a stronger less air-leaky fuselage structure...
Might be unnerving in a thunderstorm, though...
I don’t think there would be much drag... the airflow over the streamlined dome [since air has to travel more distance to go over the dome than if it weren’t there and is therefore ‘thinner’ in that area] would create a lower pressure area “sucking the plane upward.” Now, if it were a ball turret on the bottom, that’s a different story, you want high pressure on the bottom surfaces to push them upward.
That’s why those AWACS planes with the giant round radar on top that don’t look logical actually fly well- the contraption is neutral, its upper and lower surfaces neutralize each other.
That would be great! Maybe too great — but, it would be an exciting ride.
“EIGHT MILLION to retro-fit two seats? You’ve got to be kidding me.”
You have likely never owned a certified aircraft...
You receive a small envelope from the FAA...
It instructs you to replace your left windshield within the next 10 flight hours.
$25,000 later you can fly your aircraft again.
Yes, a ball turret with some heavy machine guns would be a lot more fun. :)
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