Wacky Air Travel Inventions Through The Ages. (8 Photos)

1. An experimental flying bicycle, which never got off the ground is one of many air travel inventions. The latest from Airbus in that passengers could one day be taking their seats in a “flying doughnut” aircraft if an ambitious design comes to fruition.The France-based aircraft manufacturer has filed a patent application for the unusual plane, which it claims would increase legroom and address one of the problems facing aircraft designers working with the more traditional cylindrical design. - Picture: Easyart/PA

2. An experimental gyrocopter.This is a long way from the new airbus idea. It goes on that cylinder-shaped planes efficiently contain the stresses of pressurised cabins but heavy structures are needed to manage the pressure on the front and rear ends. The doughnut shaped plane is said to provide a “simple, economic and efficient solution” to the issue, “or at least, partially overcome the… disadvantages”. - Picture: Easyart/PA

 

3. The Avrocar saucer shaped aircraft which was a conceptual vertical take off and landing (VTOL) aircraft built by Canadian company Avro in 1958 for the US Air Force. It was able to hover a few feet off the ground from the thrust generated by a centrally located 'turborotor'. When flown without tethers the Avrocar was unstable and could only reach a top speed of only 35 mph. The engines created excessive heat and noise. The project was cancelled in 1961. - Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

 

4. The Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) was built by Bell Aerosystems in 1964 as part of the Apollo Project to land on the moon, it was a vertical take-off and landing vehicle powered by a single jet engine. - Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

5. Ever dreamed of owning your own jetpack? It could soon become reality after developers of a personalised jetpack said aviation regulators had issued a flying permit for the device, which could be on sale in just two years. - Picture: SPL / Barcroft Media

6. Windowless plane - Picture: Tomasz WyszoÅmirski DABARTI

7. An Airbus design did away with cushions, tray tables and legroom entirely, in favour of seats that resemble bicycle saddles. While Airbus told Telegraph Travel that it was 'unlikely' the seats would ever be used on passenger planes, almost 90 per cent of readers said they would never travel in such a way. - Picture: Tomasz WyszoÅmirski DABARTI

8. This is the airbus 'donut' aircraft design blueprint. The 15-page application, filed in the US last month, suggests that passengers would board via a retractable escalator or an elevator leading up to the “access hatch” around the hole in the middle and be served by flight attendants pushing trolleys down curved aisles. Luggage or freight is carried in two pressurised containers and the cockpit is accessed at the front of the craft via a narrow corridor. - Picture: Espacenet

Source - The Telegraph