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Airbus Patent Shows Modular, Removable Aircraft Cabins (gizmag.com)

Posted by samzenpus on from the mix-and-match dept.

Zothecula writes: According to a recently-granted patent, Airbus is exploring the potential of creating a new breed of versatile, modular aircraft that would see detachable passenger cabins slot into a hole in an aeroplane's fuselage. The concept has the potential to revolutionize air travel, while providing significant savings for airlines by reducing the time that planes spend idle on the ground.

4 of 96 comments (clear)

  1. Re: They didn't hear of the Fairchild XC-120 Packp by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Yes they did. It's referenced in the f'ing patent.

    Which claim do you think is invalid? Idiot.

  2. Re:They didn't hear of the Fairchild XC-120 Packpl by NoKaOi · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They didn't hear of the Fairchild XC-120 Packplane? The patent should not have been granted in the first place.

    You really don't understand patents do you? The patent is not the title. The patent is a method for accomplishing the title. If it's a different method for doing it than the Fairchild XC-120 used, then the XC-120 is not prior art.

    As an analogy, if I come up with a method for shutting up arrogant morons, and title the patent, "A method for shutting up arrogant morons," it doesn't mean my patent applies to all methods of shutting up arrogant morons, only the method that I specify in the patent. If somebody else comes along with another method of shutting up arrogant morons that is not the method in my patent or one that I have used before, then my method doesn't count as prior art to their patent.

  3. It will never fly by Michael+Woodhams · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I predict this won't happen. The cost of the system, in weight, complexity, ground support and possibly safety I think will outweigh the benefits for all but a few niche markets, which wouldn't be able to support the massive investment required to bring it to market.

    A rather smaller example was that Boeing tried to sell the idea of 777s with folding wing tips, so they could use then-current terminal gates (for which the 777 wingspan was too large.) Nobody took them up on it.

    However, I am not an airliner engineer. I'd be happy to be proved wrong.

    --
    Quattuor res in hoc mundo sanctae sunt: libri, liberi, libertas et liberalitas.
  4. You lost what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Riiiiight cause losing baggages was not enough of a skill. You're now going to lose passengers,

    Hey Dave where does POD4K go.
    It goes to tarmac B4
    Before what?
    Fuck it , i'll just put it here.