Finnair's future fleet: flying into the 21st century

Finnair A1700-2400 Cruiser

The flying saucer-like A1700-2400 can seat up to 2,400 passengers, who reside in self-contained cabins that include toilets, showers, and Internet connectivity. The vehicle also promises restaurants, bars, shops, conference rooms, a beauty parlor, a first aid station, gymnasiums, and hologram theatres (why not). The seven engines can, like the 850, be rotated to provide increased flight stability and vertical take-off capability.

Besides offering an entirely new approach to flight, the 2400 proposes advancements in safety. The central take-off engine bay had three smart parachutes with an automatic alarm system, which transmit location data and images to emergency centres in case of disaster. The luminescent parachutes direct the landing to the safest place, which is further cushioned by 200 large cell-structured air bags.

The 118.30m plane has a maximum take-off weight of 422,000kg, a cruising speed of 160-750km/h, and a maximum cruising level of 14,800m.

The Flying Car (of course)

What future projection would be complete without it? The three-seater, 7.60m long heli-craft has a wingspan of 8.80m and a cruising speed of 240km/h. Finnair estimates that the zero-emission vehicle will be available in the 2020s, and that its low manufacturing and running costs will allow it to saturate the market. The surface is covered with thin, elastic solar cells with 92% efficiency, and the body is created from carbon-fiber.

Space Hotel

Finnair’s final prediction is the double-feature of a “space hotel” and the service ship that ferries passengers between it and the Earth. The space hotel is positioned 500km above the Earth’s surface, completing a full orbit once every nine hours. Tourists can enjoy restaurants, recreation areas, an auditorium, greenhouses, and the vista of space - all in zero gravity. The average stay is four days, and the hotel has 450 beds.

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