In 1919, with the Great War over, the Vickers Company drew up plans for the next step in airship evolution.  They were going to build the Trans-Oceanic Airship.  This would not be any ordinary airship, however.  At 800 Feet long and 100 feet in diameter, the Vickers Trans-Oceanic Airship would have been nearly as large as the Hindenburg itself, yet would have carried 100 passengers (twice that of the German gasbag) in not only comfort, but outright luxury.

The Vickers airship also differed from the Hindenburg in that the passenger compartment was on top of the gasbag rather than below.  Not only did this keep the passengers away from the noise of the engines, but it allowed for spectacular views from what would have been an alarmingly windy promenade deck.

Needless to say, the service would have been something that has become all but forgotten on today's airliners.  This dining room is as far from today's cattle car in the sky as the Dover boat train is from the Orient Express.

Tales of Future Past | Ephemeral Isle | Freelance Writing | Radio Plays | Shop