The British company has unveiled a new aircraft that looks like an airship on the outside and a superyacht with bedrooms, a bar, restaurants, and private bathrooms inside. It is expected that the aircraft will be put into operation and will start carrying tourists as early as 2026, writes The Sun.
The company Hybrid Air Vehicles is engaged in the development of a hybrid airship called Airlander. It will differ from a conventional aircraft in its ability to take off from any flat airstrip, like a helicopter, as well as in size. The ship is the length of a football field and the height of six double-decker buses.
This square will accommodate a large seating area with a bar with huge windows and glass panels on the floor. Eight bedrooms will also be available for guests on board, each with a double bed and its own bathroom with toilet and shower. For entertainment – restaurants and wireless Internet.
The aircraft is planned to be put into operation by 2026. The Spanish airline Air Nostrum and some luxury cruise ships have already shown interest in him. In 2033, the release of the all-electric Airlander 50 is expected.
Hybrid Air Vehicles CEO Tom Grundy said: “It will be more like traveling on a cruise ship than a plane.” The maximum speed of the Airlander will be 160 kilometers per hour, which is 5 times less than that of a passenger plane. However, Tom says that if you factor in airport congestion and takeoff-landing times, short-haul flights will have comparable flight times.