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Have you ever wondered what a commercial jet with a glass bottom would look like?
Virgin Atlantic once entertained the idea in the early 2010s, which would have allowed passengers to look straight down and view the Earth below.
Whether this concept excited or scared passengers, there were never any real plans for a glass-bottom jet, though many media outlets and customers believed it at the time. Here’s the story of the Virgin Atlantic glass-bottom jet concept.
People Who Fly in Glass Planes
On 27 March 2013, Virgin Atlantic CEO Sir Richard Branson posted an announcement on Virgin Atlantic’s website detailing a new addition to the Virgin Atlantic Little Red domestic airline. Branson touted the glass-bottom jet as an ‘aviation breakthrough’ – no pun intended.
Little Red launched on 31 March 2013 due to vacancies at domestic gates the year prior at London-Heathrow Airport (LHR) that used to belong to British Airways. To launch this airline, Virgin leased Airbus A320s from Aer Lingus.
“We are continuing this uplifting spirit by developing an experience that will enable Little Red passengers to appreciate the beauty of the British landscape. And with an unrivaled view of Scotland, I hope this gives Scottish tourism an even bigger boost,” wrote Branson.
Branson also noted that the glass bottoms would be tested with other airlines in the Virgin portfolio, stating the project was a ‘team effort’ across the globe.
Many media outlets, such as The Mirror, picked up on the story. Branson also posted the announcement on Facebook, which garnered over 364,000 likes, 138,000 shares, and 36,000 replies.
What Happened to the Jet?
Despite the attention the airline received from the announcement, Virgin Atlantic representatives confirmed on April Fool’s Day that it was a prank and that no real glass-bottom jets were in development. Branson likely created the hoax to help Little Red garner publicity as it launched.
Outlets such as CNBC, CNET, Southern China Morning Post, and VentureBeat would relay the news to the public that the announcement was indeed fake.
In December 2014, the website Mighty Travels conducted a case study to determine whether the glass-bottom jet would actually be feasible. The study concluded that having glass that would be thick and safe enough for flying would alter the aircraft’s weight and flight efficiency.
However, the page did state that such glass would ‘revolutionize cabin layout’ for future generations of aircraft.
‘Initial reports suggest the glass is designed not only to endure extreme temperature variations but also to offer superior protection against UV radiation, doing away with those plastic shutters of older cabins. This could revolutionize cabin layout, abandoning traditional window placements for a more fluid, space-efficient design, and potentially changing how the passenger experience is defined and perceived.’
The page also mentioned the glass would help regulate internal temperatures and save on energy costs.
Little Red Rides No More
Little Red ceased operations on 26 September 2015 due to initial losses of up to £3 million weekly, followed by reports of passenger flights that didn’t even reach half capacity. Given Little Red’s performance, that glass-bottom concept likely wouldn’t have been such a bad idea in hindsight.
Other airlines posted April Fool’s Jokes around the same time as Virgin. Spring Airlines from China announced ‘weigh-and-pay,’ where ticket costs depended on the weight of each passenger. Southwest Airlines joined in on the fun, announcing hot air balloons to its fleet and promoting a six-hour balloon flight from Dallas to Houston.
Shortly before the announcement, Delta Air Lines released a ‘glass-bottom’ feature for its mobile app, allowing passengers to see the view beneath the plane during flights. This feature has since been discontinued.
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