Triple Deck Planes - Where Are They? And What Are They Like?

Triple-decked aircraft - why don't airlines fly them, what would they be like if they existed, and why we will never see their like again! Let us jump into this never-built video!

  / foundandexplained  

0:00 - Introduction
0:48 - What Is A Triple Deck Plane
3:00 - Types Of Triple Deck Planes
5:45 - A380/747 Triple Deck
6:42 - Why Triple Deck Planes Won't Happen
8:14 - Boeing 314 Clipper

I do have to stress that yes, there are technically triple-decked aircraft flying today in the form of the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380. As in, they have three levels, two for passengers and one for cargo on the lower deck.

What we are talking about is aircraft with three levels for passengers throughout the aircraft and then in addition, a cargo deck. Truly a gargantuan aircraft monstrosity.

This aircraft design would be able to accommodate well over 1000 passengers in three different classes, with the very best in first class having their own private suites for long haul flights. Other features may include rentable bunks like a japanese pod hotel, an onboard spa for passengers looking to relax, a business center to keep wokring while in flight, bars and dining establishments for airlines to earn additional revenue, and even gyms.

Although as we have said in our future aircraft cabin concept video, the idea of a gym onboard is perhaps not the best idea with access to showers (and plus, would airlines really want to carry the extra weight of dumbbells.

although... knowing airlines they would more likely try to cram as many passengers onboard as possible to earn as much money as possible. Let me know in the comments if you would fly on a high-capacity version of the plane.

This plane would be long haul, making sense only for flights across the world from Asia to Europe and North America between major hubs like Singapore, Dubai, London, and New York. These planes carry so many passengers that it would require a high-density route - lighter routes would make no financial sense and domestic short-haul routes, even New York to LA, would be impossible.

So you likely are halfway through this video and wondering, hey nick, this is all well and good and I'm enjoying the animations but surely this doesn't exist.

The first is the AWWA Sky Whale - now this plane is totally bonkers and relies on technology that's beyond even the latest James Cameron. But we can admire the artist's vision for an aircraft that has an evolution beyond what we currently have today.

The plane is a different take of what is known as the Breguet Range equation - how to fly as efficiently as possible.

They are propulsive efficiency (how efficient are your engines?); aerodynamic efficiency (is lift maximized and drag minimized?); and structural efficiency (how much payload can you carry?). Airlines naturally want the best engine and aerodynamic efficiency but then want to carry as much cargo, be it post or passengers, as possible.

Second, we have the more conservative DECK III concept that can be built today with current technology. Seemly a marriage between a Boeing 747, Airbus A380 and an Antonov An-225 Mriya.

But what about if we brought the concept to the current market using the aircraft we have today - like the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380?

After all, that cargo deck could be re-purposed for passengers and has been done so in the past. For example, The Lockheed Martin L-1011 had an option to turn the forward cargo deck into a boarding lounge with its own features stairway.

Another example of using the cargo area for passenger services was the Airbus A340. This plane had not only bathrooms on the lower level of the plane but also a galley with room for several passengers.

There are some issues.
1st - flexibility. As mentioned at the start of this video, these aircraft require substantial routes to operate on a profit, such as flying halfway across the world. Outside of these routes, they will not earn a dime for an airline despite costing well over half a billion to buy and more to operate over its lifetime.

Speaking of service, airports will have trouble getting access to the plane in order to stock food and fuel, with no ground cars able to reach that high. Airports will also need bigger and longer runways to land the planes, impossible for airports like Heathrow and JFK which already have space problems - and significant redesigns for taxiways and parking ramps.

Lastly, being a passenger onboard you could expect long boarding and disembarking times, a serious evacuation risk if you were involved in an accident and don't even consider getting a meal while its hot.

Before we go, a special mention of the Boeing 314 had three decks and was the mainstay for travel around the world for many years. But we will do a video on this incredible aircraft and where it flew in another video - so you will just have subscribe and tune in next time for my next video.