There was actually a German film (Die Tunnel) on a similar theme in the late 20's /early 30's. The same file had passenger airships with parachute escape - you just had to put on a shoulder harness then climb outside the wimdow to attach the parachutes which were stored outside! There was recently a british designed space plane which could be built for around £20 mill and would only cost a few thousand for an orbital flight- thy were just waiting for a revolution in materials to actually have something to make it with