It'll Cost You

[PAXboy]

This idea has been put forward and with the extra weight and drag it would give, the price per minute will be commensurate ...

The new first-class air travel for the super (super) rich. The Independent

[abgd]

It's nice that someone else actually enjoys looking out of the windows, but it doesn't seem to offer a lot that a bigger window wouldn't. Most of the view is of sky. Move it above the cockpit so you can see forwards and downwards as well, and I'd be much more interested.

[Hotel Tango]

When I stopped laughing, looking at the video, I thought that it might have some potential for corporate / VIP type aircraft, but that's all.

[wanabee777]

Some of the best views would be of the stars and constellations at night.

Meteor showers, comets and eclipses would be especially impressive.

I miss it.

[clareprop]

Guaranteed, the one in the left will want the blinds down and so the arguments will continue.

[Heathrow Harry]

put in a couple of mock-up 0.303's and you could play at shooting down other aircraft.................

[kkbuk]

'View the aircraft's external environment' according to the newspaper? In plain English 'look outside'!

[Herod]

Wouldn't a bigger selling point be to have one that dropped below the aircraft? After all, there is a limit to the excitement of the clouds, but being able to see the country you're passing over would be interesting. Either way, it's not going to happen.

[PAXboy]

It seems they are aiming it at private/corporates in the first instance.

[Basil]

Spend a fraction of the extra cost on an introductory flying lesson

[Heathrow Harry]

normally a flying lesson doesn't come with the inflight drinks, smoked salmon etc etc - or the Limo from the front door to the bottom of the steps

[Piltdown Man]

The view from those seats would be truly impressive and totally incomparable with anything else. Because of the lack of frames and support pillars it would be better than the view I get. Which then leads to the question, how is this possible? It had to be as strong as an aircraft windshield and these are laminated from glass and plastic, have integrated heating and are very thick to achieve the strength required. They are also heated (for various reasons) which helps stop condensation forming on the inside at higher levels and ice on the outside at lower levels. So I wonder how the required strength is achieved. Assuming this bubble is strong enough, next issue is how with the observers deal with some of natures more interesting phenomena? Like snow, hail (which at 300 kts TAS or more is VERY LOUD!), lightning strikes, bird strikes etc. I hope those seats are commodes.

PM