Lockheed pitching the idea of civil C-5s

[Alvis 3.14159]

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2011/09/lockheed-pitches-retired-c-5as.html


Gentlemen, start your whiffing!


Alvis Pi

[RussC]

For the Airforce- A new super version of Spooky. Mounting a 310mm gun and dropping the "double MOAB" in addition to a "vulcan gallery" along the left side using GAU-8's.
 
For the Airlines- a new supercheap seat price carrier which will pack passengers into vertical tubes to save space - carrying 1400 on a single trip.
 
For the corporate jet buyers- Airborne golf links with Jacuzzi at the 3rd hole.
 
For the FEDEX fleet - new version that will lapes drop parcels at the customer's doorstep.

[Taiidantomcat]

Would love to see one in Southwest colors! 

Enough room on one of those for a Gym and a length of running track... pro sports team plane? 

[Hobbes]

 
For the Airlines- a new supercheap seat price carrier which will pack passengers into vertical tubes to save space - carrying 1400 on a single trip.

Or the opposite: use the room to build an airship-like interior with cabins, proper beds, a bar, lounge areas etc. For those long-haul flights.

[RussC]

 
For the Airlines- a new supercheap seat price carrier which will pack passengers into vertical tubes to save space - carrying 1400 on a single trip.

Or the opposite: use the room to build an airship-like interior with cabins, proper beds, a bar, lounge areas etc. For those long-haul flights.

  Whenever airliner manufacturers debut a new design, its always shown with interiors straight out of Star Trek the Next generation, molded , contoured, padded, and spacious. Then the bean-counters and design weasels for the actual airlines get the airframe... 
 
  I think your concept is the way to go. I would even think about a vaca to Oz or New Zealand if that was the standard.

[PR19_Kit]

 Whenever airliner manufacturers debut a new design, its always shown with interiors straight out of Star Trek the Next generation, molded , contoured, padded, and spacious. Then the bean-counters and design weasels for the actual airlines get the airframe... 

And then the airline PR people put out piccies of their plans for massive seats that convert into beds (doubles sometimes) full length baths in First Class, jacuzzis in Business Class, a big curved bar and maybe a 5 lane bowling alley.

And then the accoutants get into the game and realise that if they junked all that stuff they could squeeze in 140 more seats, and squeeze even more money out of the pax. But do we see photos of the high density configuration? OH NO! They still only show the First and Business Class seats.............

[Alvis 3.14159]

Nothing new under the sun there really. I'm sure White Star and Cunard never had ads showing steerage.

It's all about the image, not reality. Reality sucks, which is why I think a lot of us do Whifs. All of which maybe puts us a lot closer to ad people than we'd like to think!

Alvis Pi

[RussC]

Nothing new under the sun there really. I'm sure White Star and Cunard never had ads showing steerage.


Alvis Pi

Or lifeboats... pre 1911. 
 
But you do have a interesting take on the what-ifs and builders' motivation. So often a really great design gets the budget axe while another gets approved because of politics or salesmanship. Not much meritocracy. So often too we think of ways that a conflict could have been decided besides just sending more waves of men "over the top", or sending a cold war techno force after cave dwellers...

[The Rat]

And then the accoutants get into the game and realise that if they junked all that stuff they could squeeze in 140 more seats, and squeeze even more money out of the pax.

Yeah, a few airlines actually did order the 747 with the upstairs lounge, but I don't think they lasted long.

[PR19_Kit]

Yeah, a few airlines actually did order the 747 with the upstairs lounge, but I don't think they lasted long.

The first of Pan Am's 747s that came to Heathrow for a pre-scheduled publicity junket had one. I managed to wangle my way on board and the Pan Am guide took great care that we wound our way up those crazy spiral stairs to see it. As I recall the bar itself was at the aft end of the upstairs lounge and even had a foot rail! There were seats forward of it, with a small 'milling area' between them and the bar.

Needless to say we didn't get a guided tour of Cabin Class.......... 

[McColm]

I'm sure that the Royal Air force if they had the money would lease a few of these. HeavyLift springs to mind and my own fictious heavy haulage company.

[NARSES2]

And then the accoutants get into the game and realise that if they junked all that stuff they could squeeze in 140 more seats, and squeeze even more money out of the pax.

Yeah, a few airlines actually did order the 747 with the upstairs lounge, but I don't think they lasted long.

Once flew on, I think, a United DC 8 and it had a first class lounge up front. A Small bar with some bar stools, a chesterfield and armchairs. The flight I was on was 3/4 empty and they invited people up. Only me and a NZ lad went, it was a red eye flight, stayed for a couple of hours (nice looking bar stewardess) and then went and slept the rest of the way 

[scooter]

Nothing new under the sun there really. I'm sure White Star and Cunard never had ads showing steerage.

From what I remember reading in A Night to Remember and The Night Lives On, 3rd Class accommodations and meals on Titanic, Britannic, Olympic were comparable to earlier ships' 1st and 2d Class.  So steerage, other than "class distinction" wouldn't have been a bad way to travel.  Until you hit an iceberg

[raafif]

wouldn't have been a bad way to travel.  Until you hit an iceberg

     wasn't hitting the iceberg just their way of replentishing the cold-bucket on the bar ??

[NARSES2]

Interestingly White Star and the other lines lost money on First Class, made their profits in 3rd/Steerage from all the emigrants