A luxury hotel, shaped like a whale and airborne.  Yes, it is really on the drawing board and Jean-Marie Massaud designed this flying hotel with the environment in mind.  Using helium to stay aloft, fuel to steer and air as a counter weight, this whale promises a fantastic ride.

Manned Cloud as Massaud has dubbed this airship, will be “capable of carrying 40 passengers and 15 crew in 20 cabins will sport a restaurant, lounge, study, recreation center, as well as balconies, a spa, and a bar”.  Clearly, a luxury hotel and not meant for those afraid of heights.

This floating hotel will actually be a blimp.  This 700 foot blimp, containing two helium balloons, won’t travel very fast (a mere 105 mph), and will travel at 9,800 feet.  Altitude will be changed by releasing helium and taking on air as needed to avoid such inconveniences as storms.  The blimp will use a fraction of the fuel required for jet flight and will produce very little exhaust pollution.

The Manned Cloud is the air equivalent of a luxury train experience.  Nine hours between Paris and Rome or four days travel between Paris and Madagascar while being able to read, eat, sleep, talk or look at the magnificent scenery.  You may not get there fast but you will enjoy the ride much more than jetting to your destination.

Since this mode of transportation is airborne and flies low enough to see the scenery below, the Manned Cloud will allow passengers to view areas closed to hiking or ground traffic. 

Onera  suggested a scaled down version that would carry 15 passengers and go only 80 miles per hour.  Either way, Massaud is hoping to attract investors so that he can get his Manned Cloud airborne by 2020.

When or if, this design ever gets built, it will be priced high not because of the cost of the fuel but the novelty and luxury of the ride.  Start saving now, and you might have enough by 2020 to enjoy a flight.

Entry was posted on Monday, June 9th, 2008 at 8:55 am under Technology, Amusing.  Print This Post