Air travel in 30 years ?
Discussion
If technology moves the right way there wouldn't be as much "long haul" travel as we know it. If Virgin Galactic took off and became cheap/readily available/advanced technology then if you wanted to fly from London to Sydney for example you would take off and go extremely high up to the edge of the atmosphere (or thereabouts) and come back down towards Australia. Would cut journey times significantly.
Orchid1 said:
If technology moves the right way there wouldn't be as much "long haul" travel as we know it. If Virgin Galactic took off and became cheap/readily available/advanced technology then if you wanted to fly from London to Sydney for example you would take off and go extremely high up to the edge of the atmosphere (or thereabouts) and come back down towards Australia. Would cut journey times significantly.
You mean like British Aerospace proposed with HOTOL, 30 years ago?
If Skylon makes any progress in the near future you might have a chance.
Personally I think we are more likely to see blended wing, high volume, subsonic, composite craft.
We're still flying aircraft designs from 30+ years ago today (eg. 747), so we will still be flying the same currently new things (787, A380) in 30 years time 
I think if anything changes it'll be in size (moving more people) with less fuel use through more efficient engines.
Maybe something like the 750 seater "Skywhale"
I think if anything changes it'll be in size (moving more people) with less fuel use through more efficient engines.
Maybe something like the 750 seater "Skywhale"
The 747 design dates back 50 years - as does the 737 (although they have been modified over the decades).
Aviation by its nature tends to be quite conservative when it comes to the general shape of aircraft. In the 1930s people were predicting flying wing airliners and bombers. Despite a number of designers having a go - notably Jack Northrop - but the bulk of aircraft remained fairly conventional. I still think the the normal airliner flying in 2046 will look very like what we have now
Aviation by its nature tends to be quite conservative when it comes to the general shape of aircraft. In the 1930s people were predicting flying wing airliners and bombers. Despite a number of designers having a go - notably Jack Northrop - but the bulk of aircraft remained fairly conventional. I still think the the normal airliner flying in 2046 will look very like what we have now
FourWheelDrift said:
We're still flying aircraft designs from 30+ years ago today (eg. 747), so we will still be flying the same currently new things (787, A380) in 30 years time
I think if anything changes it'll be in size (moving more people) with less fuel use through more efficient engines.
Maybe something like the 750 seater "Skywhale"
Says Iberia - that means 1,500 seats on a 750 seat aircraft!I think if anything changes it'll be in size (moving more people) with less fuel use through more efficient engines.
Maybe something like the 750 seater "Skywhale"
el stovey said:
Pretty much the same as now.
Maybe some slight improvements in engine efficiency but essentially there will be Airbus and Boeing making a range of twin engined aircraft flying around Mach .85.
I think this as well. There has been little major innovation in the (commercial) aviation industry since I started travelling years and years ago. Yes, A380 and Dreamliner, but they take the same amount of time, more or less do the same thing, just with more people. Maybe some slight improvements in engine efficiency but essentially there will be Airbus and Boeing making a range of twin engined aircraft flying around Mach .85.
I want quick travel, the promise of a couple of hours to anywhere in the world.
That's not going to happen - unless the technology to do it quietly (relatively speaking) and in an economically efficient manner can be overcome. We are still a long way from that at the moment.
The airliner of today more less does the same thing in the same way the airliner of 50 years ago did - but much more efficiently (more passengers, lower fuel burn, smaller crew) and with less of an environmental impact.
I think we will see more innovative designs in biz jets and light aircraft than in airliners.
The airliner of today more less does the same thing in the same way the airliner of 50 years ago did - but much more efficiently (more passengers, lower fuel burn, smaller crew) and with less of an environmental impact.
I think we will see more innovative designs in biz jets and light aircraft than in airliners.
So, basically, business as usual then, it isnt like cars where the EV is waiting in the wings to topple the IC engine.
The 747 is in its twilight years, in terms of being built but ones built today could conceivably still be flying though I think they will become a much less common sight by then, very few are being built now and they dont seem to be that popular for passenger travel nowadays, loads will start being phased out over the next few years and it will becoem mainly a cargo aircraft or used in developing parts of the world with a pajillion seats in.
Can only really see various sizes of twin engined Boeings and Airbuses with the odd tweak here and there, seen so many renderings of various supersonic things, they never happen, apart from the obvious, though wonderful it was a bit of a white elephant as a commercial plane, there arent enough Joan Collins's to make it worthwhile and it can never be cheap enough for us plebs.
I cant really see things changing much other than getting even more samey.
The 747 is in its twilight years, in terms of being built but ones built today could conceivably still be flying though I think they will become a much less common sight by then, very few are being built now and they dont seem to be that popular for passenger travel nowadays, loads will start being phased out over the next few years and it will becoem mainly a cargo aircraft or used in developing parts of the world with a pajillion seats in.
Can only really see various sizes of twin engined Boeings and Airbuses with the odd tweak here and there, seen so many renderings of various supersonic things, they never happen, apart from the obvious, though wonderful it was a bit of a white elephant as a commercial plane, there arent enough Joan Collins's to make it worthwhile and it can never be cheap enough for us plebs.
I cant really see things changing much other than getting even more samey.
Whatever is most cost effective for airlines and customers alike. These London/Sydney in 2 hours planes have been talked about for years but unless they car make it less than double the cost of your 18 hour flight it won't be feasible as most people will just put up with the 18 hour flight.
Its the same reason that Concorde etc... has gone away and the latest A380 and Dreamliners are all about efficiency and numbers. The simple economics of supply/demand are winning over innovation in the traditional sense.
Its the same reason that Concorde etc... has gone away and the latest A380 and Dreamliners are all about efficiency and numbers. The simple economics of supply/demand are winning over innovation in the traditional sense.
Crossflow Kid said:
Electric aeroplanes. (Not the English Electric variety, sadly)
Given the increasing hatred of carbon-based fuel, electro-props have to be on the horizon.
Obviously this conveniently overlooks where the lecktrickery comes from in the first place.
There was an electric aircraft at Farnborough 2 years ago that I watched demonstrating Given the increasing hatred of carbon-based fuel, electro-props have to be on the horizon.
Obviously this conveniently overlooks where the lecktrickery comes from in the first place.
As mentioned earlier, its the 4 hour trudge through the airports for a 2 hour flight that is the worst thing about air travel these days, faster more streamlined check in would make a huge difference for many, having to be at the airport at least 2 hours before take off is ridiculous in this day and age
ecsrobin said:
Crossflow Kid said:
Electric aeroplanes. (Not the English Electric variety, sadly)
Given the increasing hatred of carbon-based fuel, electro-props have to be on the horizon.
Obviously this conveniently overlooks where the lecktrickery comes from in the first place.
There was an electric aircraft at Farnborough 2 years ago that I watched demonstrating Given the increasing hatred of carbon-based fuel, electro-props have to be on the horizon.
Obviously this conveniently overlooks where the lecktrickery comes from in the first place.
J4CKO said:
The 747 is in its twilight years, in terms of being built but ones built today could conceivably still be flying though I think they will become a much less common sight by then
Not many 747's flying into and out of Heathrow now, let alone in the future. Pretty much confined to the BA 747 fleet, and the odd one from the few remaining in other fleets, plus the cargo operators.19 orders plus Air bridge cargo as of Jan 2016, 1.5 built per month, if no new orders the last will come off the line in Jan/Feb 2017. So it's possible a 747 could still be flying in 2047 most likely in cargo form.
http://airwaysnews.com/blog/2016/01/21/747-orders-...
http://airwaysnews.com/blog/2016/01/21/747-orders-...
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