A whole year of recession. Aviation firms have also put up with flak over the months for various reasons. Gulfstream however decided to defy the trend and launch its new large cabin G650 business jet. With as many as 7,000 people who put in work in making this first G650, T1, the aircraft taxied into display at Gulfstream’s local space in Savannah, Georgia. It has the latest in electronics with fly-by-wire controls and huge screens that have video, night vision and three dimensional visuals.

The aircraft that spells ultimate in luxury can take the passengers anywhere in the radius of 8,000 miles at Mach 0.925 and 41,000 feet. G650 has dual Rolls-Royce BR725 engines. The economy has not swung back, but that incessant desperation to go back to extravagance has got back into its mode, one can safely say. Company officials do admit the beginning of this year was the most difficult for them.

So it is 33 per cent more silet, emits five per cent less N0x emissions and 10 per cent less smoke than its previous version.

Via: Fightglobal, Gizmodo

The idea of this manned cloud or Airship is to make you travel experience sound no less than a luxury ride taking you travel from remote locations within no time. You may choose to disagree with me but the creation by French industrial designer Jean-Marie Massaud substantiates my thought. History reveals Massaud association with established brands like Yves Saint Laurent (for cologne bottles) and Yamaha (for yacht), but now he is eyeing to partner with Onera, France’s space agency, to develop world’s first luxury airship- The Manned Cloud. Crafted like a whale, the 5.6 million sq ft airship is constructed using double-decker craft and can fly at a top speed of 105 mph offering the comforts of a luxury cruise liner. With a capacity to transport 55 passengers from Paris to Madagascar within four days, Missaud is awaiting the interest of any private investor as it requires $15 billion to start work on it with an anticipated completion by 2020.

Its 2.6 million sq ft hull crammed with helium keeps the airship uphill and the integrated de-icing machine shields the ship from cold weather. The conical tail optimizes aerodynamics by diminishing drag and scheming airflow over the hull. After burning of fuel, the airship becomes lighter and its pumps insert external air into the hull. Its elegant crafted design easily accommodates around 15 travelers’ in its underbelly and the roomy two-story cabin details a restaurant, library, fitness room, spa, and furnishings designed by Massaud.

Via PopSci