Flying is old hat for most of us, it has become a normal fact of life and something most of us have done at least once. The one thing that still eludes many of us is first class travel. Airline ticket prices are already hefty for coach, first class is even more. Well, how about flying at 30,000 feet with your head in the clouds? That’s what Windspeed Technologies thinks could happen with their proposed SkyDeck. The SkyDeck would obviously be a premium priced flight experience which will probably only be afforded by those who have a lot of cash to burn.
The idea is to have this special SkyDeck, seat passengers just outside the fuselage of the plane so they can experience seeing everything 360°. Of course the bubble the passengers are in would be part of the cabin already so no need to worry about pressure. It looks as if passengers would also be able to go up and down at will. It’s an interesting idea and Windspeed says it can be implemented in a variety of aircraft. Windspeed is pitching this as a ride experience where the airline could also charge on a per ride basis.
The SkyDeck is a system designed to provide an exhilarating view of the aircraft’s external environment while in flight, from a safe semi-external location. The aim was to create the next exciting experiential in-flight entertainment for VIP aircraft owners and the airline industry. For the airlines, it could be an additional source of revenue, as passengers could be charged on a pay-per-view basis. There are several combinations of design features that can be incorporated into the SkyDeck. For example, either an elevator or a staircase can be incorporated, and either a single- or two-seat platform can be specified.
I can’t imagine this is going to be a cheap retrofit and I can imagine airlines charging an ultra-premium price for it. It’s something I would personally love to try but realistically could probably never afford if it were stand alone seating. Now if there was a pay-per-ride option, that could possibly be doable, but not counting on it to be cheap either.
What do you think of the SkyDeck? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
Last Updated on January 23, 2017.
