COOL PICS · TRANSPORT

LUXURY TRANSPORT

AIRBUS A380

The A380 is the world's largest passenger aircraft and features 50 per cent more floor space than its nearest competitor. Inside you will notice the stunning interior design that will catapult the A380 into a league of its own. With generous interior space, surrounded by beautifully designed features, as well as a state of the art entertainmnet and business facilities, the A380 looks more like a hotel bar and recreation area, than the inside of an aircraft.

The unique double deck arrangement provides extra capacity at the same time as improving the passenger experience. Each twin-aisle cabin allows wider seats but with fewer rows than on other large aircraft. Easing the stress of long-haul travel, the A380 cabins feature mood lighting thanks to light emitting diodes (LED) capable of simulating day or night. Mood lighting eases the stress of jet lag for long-haul passengers and also helps provide a relaxing ambience. Windows are also bigger, providing more natural light and a better view outside the aircraft.

EOS - BOEING 757

Recently the airline Eos launched its fleet of customized Boeing 757s which boasts 48 "suites," including flat bed seats. Partly owned by Alitalia, the Italian flight service MiMa is set to take the exclusivity of air travel up a notch. MiMa will soon begin service between Milan and New York. The $4,000 fare will include transport to and from Milan's Linate Airport and concierge service in both cities.

AEROCRAFT FLYING HOTEL

Although looking somewhat like a traditional air-blimp, the Aerocraft is really an aeronautic ferry. It's main appeal is its shear size and the luxury it affords its passengers room wise. By not ascending to the higher atmosphere the way that planes do, the Aerocraft is able to take advantage of greater window space and its occupants can enjoy moving about the cabin freely. Lifted by helium and propelled by six turbofan Jet engines, the aircraft glides smoothly and can reach top speeds of 174 mph or travel across the U.S in less than 18 hours.

THE BATHING SHIP - BERLIN

A series of pools anchored out in the middle of Berlin's Spree river . Sounds cool? Well its warm actually - a comfortable 24 degrees celsius for one in particular. Another pool is freezing cold and visitors are encouraged to experience the adrenalin rush of jumping from the extreme heat to the cold. The ex-river cargo container is 32.5 meters long by 8.2 meters wide and two meters deep. Surrounding areas include a sandy deck and bar area, a dance floor as well as a spa which is scheduled to ward off the winter chill. The idea was to allow people to swim in style whilst maintaining the feeling that they are still in the river itself.

XERO - GRAVITY FREE FLIGHTS

The Swedish company XERO is the first in the world to offer commercial zero gravity flights other than space agencies in the U.S. Through a unique inflatable design aircraft interior and flying manoeuvres which work on extreme drops in gravity, passengers can experience the same weightlessness felt by astronauts in space. The chance to defy gravity lasts 30 seconds and is repeated to accumulate a total of 12 to 15 minutes of zero gravity. The IL-76 MDK aircraft, specially designed and modified for zero gravity flights, measures inside 3,5 meters wide, 3,5 meters high and 14 meters long. The aircraft will accommodate 12 passengers who are supervised by professional crew from Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre. All of this sci fi fun takes place in Kiruna, which is nestled 200 km above the Arctic Circle and is one of the preferred tourism destinations in northern Sweden. A professional film crew accompany passengers on board and present them with a DVD memento of their once in a lifetime weightless experience.

DESIGNER TRAIN - FRANCE

French designer Christian Lacroix is the latest designerr to lend his unique sense of aesthetics to the non-fashion realm. In this case, Lacroix was chosen by the French Railways to renovate the interiors of their high-speed trains. Over the next 5 years, all high-speed trains on the Atlantic route and the new route to Eastern France will be made over by Lacroix and his design team, promising to transform their drab interiors into ultra modern, stylish, boutique-hotel-like environments. It's actually the second time Lacroix has delved into the world of interiors. He transformed the Hotel du Petit Moulin in Paris into a stunning art hotel, creating different themes for each room.