Pod planes

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probes
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Pod planes

#1 Post by probes » Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:51 am

based on idea of shipping containers as units that are easily transferred to other transport,
"The key idea here, both in Clip-Air and Link & Fly, is that the aircraft is composed of two elements.
There's the flying component, including airframe, cockpit and engines.
Then there are the capsules, a number of detachable pods that can act as cabin or cargo hold, depending on the chosen configuration.
Both concept aircraft feature an arch-like airframe, with an elevated wing and the engines mounted on top. This makes it possible to place the cabin right underneath and attach and detach it easily."

Well...?



https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ ... index.html

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Re: Pod planes

#2 Post by Boac » Mon Nov 25, 2019 9:05 am

Talk about re-inventing the wheel................!

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Re: Pod planes

#3 Post by Pontius Navigator » Mon Nov 25, 2019 11:08 am

Interesting. The Pods will have to have self contained services at least for the time from boarding to mating with the carrier.

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Re: Pod planes

#4 Post by ian16th » Mon Nov 25, 2019 11:50 am

That under-cart, doesn't it infringe on a Blackburn patent?
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Re: Pod planes

#5 Post by Rwy in Sight » Mon Nov 25, 2019 12:03 pm

Pontius Navigator wrote:
Mon Nov 25, 2019 11:08 am
Interesting. The Pods will have to have self contained services at least for the time from boarding to mating with the carrier.
These services can be provided by an umbilical cord on the vehicles used to carry them to the aircraft like an external air condition unit on the loading bridge.

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Re: Pod planes

#6 Post by G-CPTN » Mon Nov 25, 2019 12:23 pm

It all seems too much like Thunderbirds - or even Dan Dare.

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Re: Pod planes

#7 Post by Fox3WheresMyBanana » Mon Nov 25, 2019 4:27 pm

Seems aerodynamically inefficient. Thunderbird 2 had the pods integrated with the fuselage, avoiding this problem.


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Re: Pod planes

#8 Post by Pontius Navigator » Mon Nov 25, 2019 4:46 pm

Rwy in Sight wrote:
Mon Nov 25, 2019 12:03 pm
Pontius Navigator wrote:
Mon Nov 25, 2019 11:08 am
Interesting. The Pods will have to have self contained services at least for the time from boarding to mating with the carrier.
These services can be provided by an umbilical cord on the vehicles used to carry them to the aircraft like an external air condition unit on the loading bridge.
Indeed true, very much an infrastructure problem isn't it. Pod would need umbilicals at the pier, from transport to the carrier, and then mated to the carrier. Traditional aircraft arrive, empty the tube, reload and depart. For a triple pod, to save boarding time, you would need pods at the piers before the carrier arrives. Unloading and loading pods whilst the carrier refuels would probably take as long as the present system.

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Re: Pod planes

#9 Post by ian16th » Mon Nov 25, 2019 4:50 pm

This reminds me of the Hawker Hunter and the Aden 30mm gunpod gunpack!
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Re: Pod planes

#10 Post by Pontius Navigator » Mon Nov 25, 2019 4:58 pm

And the Skycrane?

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Re: Pod planes

#11 Post by Rwy in Sight » Mon Nov 25, 2019 5:40 pm

Pontius Navigator wrote:
Mon Nov 25, 2019 4:58 pm
And the Skycrane?
Much more like the "Skycrane". You were right about the need for special vehicles. Plus a number of spare pods left previously in the departure airport that can be boarded while the aircraft is still in the approach and rapidly exchanged after the aircraft shuts down on its parking spot. Than also means fewer contact gates and more remote stands and new pods-boarding points.

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Re: Pod planes

#12 Post by Pontius Navigator » Mon Nov 25, 2019 5:53 pm

In that video the pods appear to have skids. You certainly don't want wheels that would be deadweight once airborne.

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Re: Pod planes

#13 Post by Boac » Mon Nov 25, 2019 5:57 pm


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Re: Pod planes

#14 Post by Pontius Navigator » Mon Nov 25, 2019 6:03 pm

The other scheme I think was loading a mission pod into a C130.

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Re: Pod planes

#15 Post by probes » Mon Nov 25, 2019 7:53 pm

Then the only point would be non-SLF, to save time when reloading? On the other hand, the pod is nothing as simple as a shipping container.
Btw, the 'could take air travel to new hights' was good. How high are the new ones, I wonder? :)

I personally would be scared the pod might slip off... although it wouldn't matter if you crash in a pod or aircraft, I guess.

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Re: Pod planes

#16 Post by llondel » Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:33 pm

Could breathe new life into the old joke about the passengers arriving in Rome while their luggage arrives in Frankfurt. What happens if your pod ends up attached to the wrong aircraft?

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Re: Pod planes

#17 Post by Rwy in Sight » Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:47 pm

probes wrote:
Mon Nov 25, 2019 7:53 pm


I personally would be scared the pod might slip off... although it wouldn't matter if you crash in a pod or aircraft, I guess.
You double the danger here - a pod sleeping off AND the aircraft crashing.

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Re: Pod planes

#18 Post by probes » Mon Nov 25, 2019 9:29 pm

llondel wrote:
Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:33 pm
Could breathe new life into the old joke about the passengers arriving in Rome while their luggage arrives in Frankfurt. What happens if your pod ends up attached to the wrong aircraft?
:) - at least your suitcase wouldn't end up upside down and open in the open field - not so rare, actually? #-o

And, yes, Rws, it would be bad in all the 3 cases: pod crashing independently, pod crashing with an aircraft, aircraft crashing without a pod.

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Re: Pod planes

#19 Post by Rwy in Sight » Mon Nov 25, 2019 10:10 pm

probes wrote:
Mon Nov 25, 2019 9:29 pm
llondel wrote:
Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:33 pm
Could breathe new life into the old joke about the passengers arriving in Rome while their luggage arrives in Frankfurt. What happens if your pod ends up attached to the wrong aircraft?
:) - at least your suitcase wouldn't end up upside down and open in the open field - not so rare, actually? #-o

And, yes, Rws, it would be bad in all the 3 cases: pod crashing independently, pod crashing with an aircraft, aircraft crashing without a pod.
The last one would be really really bad for the crew.

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Re: Pod planes

#20 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Tue Nov 26, 2019 5:41 pm

The LOCO airlines could have a special yob pod for the drunks and the disorderly. If they became too disorderly in flight, the pod could just be jettisoned (with or without a parachute) or alternatively the pod could be sealed (after any cabin crew had withdrawn to the main aircraft) and anesthetic gas piped into the container. Good night VIenna!

There could be a separate pod for children with screaming babies etc. etc.

Altogether a capital idea.
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