The Cruise Ship of the Skies

This sure beats economy class on a 747.

A privately-funded California firm is developing a new vehicle for air travel called the Aeroscraft. An airship the length of two football fields elevated by 14 million cubic feet of helium, the Aeroscraft has the potential to revolutionize air travel and add a new dimension of luxury. Yes, travel would be slower, but far more comfortable. It’s intended for travelers who are more concerned with the journey than with the destination. 

“It’s a sort of flying Queen Mary 2 that could change the way you think about air travel,” explains CNN. “It’s the Aeroscraft, and when it’s completed, it will ferry pampered passengers across continents and oceans as they stroll leisurely about the one-acre cabin or relax in their well-appointed staterooms.

“The craft would have a range of several thousand miles and, with an estimated top speed of 174 miles per hour, could traverse the continental U.S. in about 18 hours.

“During the flight, passengers would peer at national landmarks just 8,000 feet below or, if they weren’t captivated by the view, the cavernous interior would easily accommodate such amenities as luxury staterooms, restaurants, even a casino.”

A prototype is expected to be complete by 2010.