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Aviation has come a long way since the first commercial flight over 100 years ago, but now a new luxury jet is looking to provide an even more futuristic form of air travel.
We all have things that we dislike about travelling by plane, whether it be the stress of arriving at the airport on time and making sure you've got the right colour of suitcase, or thinking about what to wear so that you're prepared for that wonderful blast of hot air when you step outside for the first time.
There are things to love too of course, especially considering flights are often cheaper than trains in the UK these days, and surely we can all agree that getting a window seat is the best thing that can happen, unless you're living it up in first class.
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However, getting those stunning views from the air and having the simple but powerful pleasure of deciding whether the blind is going up or down, could soon be a thing of the past, if other companies follow in the footsteps of American aircraft manufacturer Otto Aviation.
They have come up with a new luxury private jet which scraps windows for a more digital outlook, swapping real life views for 'ultra-realistic high-definition screens, offering passengers panoramic virtual views in a sleek, seamless cabin'.
It dubs this 'Super Natural Vision'.
The Phantom 3500 is designed to cruise through the skies at altitudes of 51,000 feet while carrying just four to six passengers, and is expected to be in our skies by 2030.
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Otto Aviation says: "The Phantom 3500 is Otto Aviation’s next-generation aircraft, engineered to redefine efficiency, range, and performance.
"Built on the revolutionary tech proven by our laminar flow technology demonstrator, the Phantom 3500 delivers transonic speeds at a fraction of the fuel burn, slashing operating costs and emissions.
"This isn’t just an aircraft — it’s a new category of aviation that combines speed, range, luxury, and sustainability, and Otto is the unchallenged category leader."
In a world that is becoming increasingly digital, it's perhaps no surprise that customers won't even be treated for the real thing, but there's a very good reason why the manufacturers have built the plane without traditional windows, as according to engineers, they can be a structural nightmare.
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They add weight, weaken the fuselage, and disrupt the airflow around the aircraft, all of which reduce fuel efficiency.
It is somewhat ironic to discuss efficiency, as any cares for the environment seemingly go out of the window, if you will pardon the pun, when it comes to private air travel. But Otto Aviation seem confident that this new jet will massively reduce emissions.
We've already heard about the crazy rules on board Elon Musk's private jet for example and the world's richest man may well consider doing the same with any of his planes, given his love for AI and all things digital.
So, while you're unlikely to see windowless planes on board your Ryanair flights any time soon, if you're accustomed to a more luxurious form of travel, then perhaps you might soon have to make do with these digital views.
Topics: Technology
James Moorhouse