Giant Floating Hotels​ | 『空中邮轮』饭店

Airplane rides are often cramped and uncomfortable. What if you could travel without the constraints of a tiny aircraft cabin? It could become a reality with a giant, kite-shaped airship named the Aircruise. Design director Nick Talbot says guests aboard the airship can "bathe in the clouds" by standing on an open-air promenade deck the size of a football field.

Mr. Talbot, who worked on the interiors of the world's first private spaceship, said the Aircruise was born of a desire to create the antithesis of a hurried and cramped passenger jet. "It kind of intuitively felt like a shame that the act of traveling seemed to be becoming devalued. It was all about just getting there," Mr. Talbot said.

The Aircruise combines solar power with a primary hydrogen drive for a cruising speed of around 145 kilometers per hour. "There is a three-level cocktail bar at the bottom of the ship, with a thing that we call a Moon Pool—effectively it's a transparent floor—so at sunset you can sit there with your chums, sip a cocktail, and look at the Earth passing by underneath you," Mr. Talbot said.

"I don't know if the Aircruise will ever be built," Mr. Talbot said. "The fundamental reason for the project was just to get people to think about the way we travel and the way we're going to travel in the future. I hope it happens, but who knows."

1.  Mr. Talbot hopes that the Aircruise inspires _____.

(A) the industry to create more floating ships

(B) designers to build more expensive planes

(C) people to enjoy their lives at a faster pace

(D) travelers to rethink the way they travel

2.  According to the article, what is true about the Aircruise?

(A) The airship is already in the process of being constructed.

(B) The backup engine is powered by the sun.

(C) The designer got the concept for the craft from the space program.

(D) The facilities on board are designed for travelers to let go of themselves completely.

3.  What does Talbot expect passengers to do aboard the Aircruise?

(A) Engage in athletic activities like football.

(B) Use the extra time to prepare for business meetings.

(C) Relax and appreciate the world as it floats by.

(D) Save money and time by flying with Aircruise.

搭乘飞机通常让人感到空间狭窄而且不舒适。要是你可以不受狭小机舱的拘束就能够旅行呢？外型有如大型风筝的『空中邮轮』飞船或许能实现这个梦想。设计总监尼克‧塔尔波特说，登上这座飞船的嘉宾可以站在面积有如一座足球场那么大的露天散步甲板上，享受『腾云驾雾』的感觉。

　　塔尔波特曾经负责史上第一架私人宇宙飞船的内部设计，他说打造空中邮轮的动机，是为了与一般讲求快速但空间狭窄的喷射客机形成对比。他说：『直觉告诉我，旅行的价值似乎正在降低，这实在是太可惜了。所有的一切都只求抵达目的地而已。』

　　空中邮轮是以氢气驱动为主，并结合太阳能的使用，每小时时速可达 145公里左右。塔尔波特说：『在飞船的底部有个 3 层的鸡尾酒吧，还有一个名为「月池」、实际上是一片透明地板的地方，这样在太阳下山时，你就可以和好友坐在那里，啜饮着鸡尾酒，沿途欣赏底下的地球风光。』

　　塔尔波特还说：『我不知道空中邮轮是否真能建造完成。这个案子最主要的原因仅在于让人好好思考我们现在以及未来的旅行方式。我希望它会实现，但没人说得准。』

答案：1. (D)2. (D)3. (C)

For Your Information

『空中邮轮』上头有 6 名驾驶员和 14 名服务人员。内部空间设计充满未来感，规划最多可容纳 100 人，有 4 间跃层房、一间豪华阁楼房，和 5 间较小的房间；公共区域有酒吧、餐厅、交谊和休闲空间等。而且该飞船以太阳能和氢混合动力驱动，安静、没有污染。

该飞船构想还被南韩三星物产公司看上，他们认为这款飞船有助实现未来结合永续、创新和豪华生活方式的建筑形式，并希望能在 2015 年落实。（数据源：自由电子报）