https://archive.ph/fekOe link to The Sun article

A GIANT nuclear-powered 'flying hotel', complete with a gym and swimming pool could carry 5,000 passenger in unparalleled luxury.

A new CGI video details how the AI-piloted Sky Cruise plans to remain airborne for months at a time, while also docking to take on new passengers, or to drop off anyone board.

The futuristic hybrid between a plane and hotel - which has 20 engines powered by nuclear fusion - is designed never to land.

Hashem Alghaili, who created the incredibly detailed mockup of the monster aircraft, says the nuclear-powered sky cruise “could be the future of transport”.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow concept art

:is-this:

the future of transport?

Designed to run 24/7, Alghaili even adds that running repairs would be carried out in-flight - a first in aviation.

And, when asked how many people it would take to fly this gigantic plane, he said: “All this technology and you still want pilots?

:youre-laughing: pilots?? pffft ha, pilots pft shh haha

"I believe it will be fully autonomous”.

Despite plans for a man-less ride,

:sicko-fem:

the Sky Cruise will still require plenty of staff on board to be at every passengers beck and call.

The greatly detailed video also promises restaurants, a gigantic shopping mall, a gym, theatre and even a swimming pool - all in the sky.

:galaxy-brain: there will still be servants, of course

    • Frank [he/him, he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      It's probably just a neat idea to show off to investors in order to get attention to more... uh... grounded projects. I get the impression that some engineers and architects come up with ridiculous projects as a way to generate hype.

    • ssjmarx [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      First thing that came to my mind: keeping planes in the air for months on end turns out to be a pretty difficult problem to solve. The lift force pushing up on the wings deforms them over time no matter what material you make them out of, the only solution seems to be to make the plane as light as possible, which means you're limited to slow-moving high-flying drones (and it's hard to justify using something like that over a balloon).