The Design of a Flying Tin Can
The Flying Tin Can
This month has been filled with time spent on a flying tin can, taking me on a 20-hour trip to the other side of the planet. As I sat there waiting for time to pass, the design side of my brain wouldn’t shut off. Not for the first time, I spend most of those hours trying to criticize and improve the design of a plane. But to my surprise… there wasn’t much I could change.
As for the exterior design, the fact that planes can fly is a successful start. How that is even possible is well above my pay grade, so I won’t even go there. However, the interior design is fully up for grabs.
Layout
Apart from the first-class cabin, the interior design of aeroplanes is almost identical across all planes. That’s because it works, and it works well. While I spent my air time overanalyzing this concept. I concluded that although somewhat boring, the consistency of design on modern aeroplanes is key to its success. If you have spent any time on a commercial aeroplane you are either consciously or unconsciously aware of how the space functions and the role it will play on your journey. This is what makes this space successful in my opinion. Could you completely change the layout of a plane? Yeah, sure. There is probably a way to redesign it. However, the changes that make it new and different, may also be the reason it doesn’t succeed.
Aisle, middle or window?
Pick your poison. This is a classic plane question and something I have spent too many hours thinking about. No doubt you have your preference. However, for me aisle wins every day. Let me break it down.
Window seat
Pros
The pretty view! Until you fly over the ocean and it’s essentially pointless…
Cons
Unless you’re getting on the plane first. More often than not you have to make someone else get out of their seat just so you can wiggle your way into your window seat trap.
Now that you’re in there, you are literally trapped. Especially if your next-door neighbour decides to sleep the flight away.
Middle seat
Let’s be honest. Nobody wants this bad boy. If you’re unfortunate enough to get it, I feel for you.
Aisle seat
Pros
Full access, all the time. The key is to get on the plane last or as close to last as possible. After that, there is no asking somebody to move. You can get to your overhead bag and the bathroom. Not to mention you also get off first.
More arm and leg room. Granted it’s only one side of your body. That’s all it really needs to win me over.
Cons
You have to put up with the strugglers in the middle and window seats.
Just carry everything on
As much as airlines try to limit onboard bags, some more than others. Somehow there are always a few lovely humans that push the limits. Both the limits of the overhead baggage bins and the limits of everyone around them. However, somehow the plane always manages to win. I am constantly surprised at how well and how much overhead baggage bins manage to hold. Even when the shipping container somebody managed to sneak on board somehow still fits.
It’s all about the Screens
Entertainment/distraction seems to be the modern approach to aeroplane design. Screens everywhere for everyone. Whether it’s your phone screen or on longer flights the built-in screens behind everyone’s head.
Whether we like it or not, screens are everywhere in our modern lives and we are hooked. These screens aim to ‘entertain’ and essentially distract us from the journey we are about to go on. Now, is this unusual in today’s world? No, not really but I did find it interesting how many people were instantly locked to their screens even before take-off. Conversation hardly exists, reading seems less appealing and for the most part, if you weren’t sleeping you were locked to that screen. Is this the worst thing in the world? I’m not too sure. I do think it’s something to be aware of and possibly poses a bigger question for another day.
So what do you think?
So ultimately I’m not sure I can fault too much about aeroplane design. Do they have faults and are they sometimes ugly? Yeah, but there is no questioning that they function. They function well considering the role they are asked to play. Planes get us from A to B in a somewhat commendable way, and due to their consistency, we accept imperfections because we are aware of their benefits. We mostly put up with the negatives to benefit from the positives. So next time you jump on a plane do me a favour and look around. Let me know what you think.
If you are interested or have any thoughts on this topic feel free to reach out at hello@909design.co or DM me on Instagram @909_design
