4guys Sept 2016 issue #1 | Page 33

One idea being mooted for KLM’s AHEAD aircraft is a windowless cabin. Other companies have already toyed around with that idea though. Spike Aerospace, a Boston-based company, hopes to have a supersonic jet in the air in 2018 that would fly from London to New York in less than four hours with a “revolutionary” fuselage that’s completely devoid of windows. Instead the jet’s interior walls will be covered in thin display screens with cameras on the exterior able to transmit footage of the surrounding panoramas or show inflight entertainment. Meanwhile the UK-based Centre for Process Innovation had similar ideas for a windowless cabin back in November. They proposed projecting 360-degree views from outside throughout the interior using flexible screens built into the fabric of the cabin. If you’re excited by KLM’s design, don’t start booking your tickets just yet. Duivis admitted that “the AHEAD design is a long-term study, with many aspects yet to be researched,” with a target of 2050. 4GUYS.CA 33