Here are some of the strangest aviation(航空）ideas in recent history.
Double-Decker Seating
In 2015, Airbus filed a patent for a design for a double-decker cabin seating arrangement. Passengers would sit on top of the other, with upper-tier passengers climbing steps or a small ladder to reach their seats. While the design does have some advantages* the idea of climbing a ladder during flight seems unreliable.
Separated Cabins
This patent was awarded to Airbus. Rather than waiting for a flight to arrive and be cleaned,passengers could simply board a ready cabin, which would be moved into the plane's body as soon as it was ready. When the plane reached its destination, the cabin would be separated again. Different cabins with different kinds of seating or levels of comfort could be used for flights of different lengths or destinations.
Windowless Cockpits(驾驶舱}
For ideal design, airplane noses should be long and pointy. But there’s the whole “pilots have to fit in the cockpit” problem. Well, what if the cockpit didn’t have to go in the nose of the plane? That's part of the thinking behind this Airbus patent application* which suggests replacing the plane's window with a digital viewing surface. Without a window, there’s no reason the cockpit needs to go in the front of the plane —it could go in the middle of the plane, or even in the tail.
Nap Straps (睡眠吊带}
Airbus is not the only company in the strange patent contest. Boeing’s got its own patent, Nap Straps. With this invention, passengers looking for a nap can find an “upright sleep system” beneath their seat. In action, the whole thing is somewhat like a traction device for someone who's been in a terrible accident.
21. Which shows the disadva ntage of double-decker seating?
A. Crowded. B. Expensive. C. Small. D. Unsafe.
22. Why were separated cabins designed?
A. To improve flight speed. B. To save passengers’ time.
C. To increase comfort level. D. To ensure passengers' safety.
23. Which design is intended for pilots?
A. Double-Decker Seating. B. Separated Cabins.
C. Windowless Cockpits. D. Nap Straps.
