Bel Geddes

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Here's one I made earlier.

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Bel Geddes, the man behind the General Motors Futurama at the 1939 New York World's Fair, did more than make models of urban utopias full of streamlined skyscrapers.  In 1929, he also put forward a serious design for a seaplane (yes, seaplane) capable of carrying 606 passengers.

Okay, that sounds ambitious, but today's jetliners can carry about that.  True, but this little skylark had nine decks, a crew of 155, three kitchens, two dining rooms, three private dining rooms, library, gymnasium, barber, hairdresser, and deck tennis.  Not to mention suites, staterooms and promenades. 

Well, given that this flying wonder had a cruising speed of 100 MPH and took 42 hours to cross the Atlantic, I suppose you had to do something to keep the passengers amused.  Having endured 17 hour flights over the Pond trapped in a seat designed for a hamster while eating meat as tough as the vegetables were soggy, I refuse to look down on this design.  I'm too busy banging my head against the wall.

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