(CNN) – It has been a horrible year for the aviation industry. Indeed terrible.
But amid the gloom, there were some lighter, crazy, even hopeful moments that grabbed our imagination during the dark times. Here is the wildest.
1. A small airport in Alaska has become the busiest world
Alaska’s Anchorage International does not have the waterfalls and razzmatazz of Singapore Changi or the eight runways of Chicago O’Hare, but in April, this modest airport briefly became the busiest airport in the world.
It depends on the combination of global passenger traffic wiped out by the pandemic and the transportation of medical supplies that are contributing to an increase in freight traffic – which is Anchorage’s specialty. territory.
2. ‘Flights to nowhere’ has become something
A flight to nowhere took off from Sydney, Australia, and returned to Sydney. Strong travelers eager to board a plane board the flight that runs through the country, with views such as Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef. According to CNN’s Kim Brunhuber.
Prospective travelers were so hungry for the pleasure of whistling in a tube under the ground that when the Australian airline Qantas launched a seven-hour sightseeing tour of attractions such as Byron Bay and the Gold Coast, it sold out within ten minutes.
In Taiwan, these ‘flights to nowhere’ have also been combined with speed dating on board, such as EVA Air’s’ Fly! Love Is in the Air ‘campaign, while Thai Airways gave the trend a spiritual edge with a’ flight to nowhere ‘. about some of Thailand’s Buddhist religious sites.
3. Naomi Campbell was the aviation’s Nostradamus
Back in the summer of 2019, the world watched in amazement as Naomi Campbell revealed her elaborate aircraft ritual, which included wearing disposable gloves, wiping surfaces with anti-bacterial wipes and wearing a face mask.
Next March, when the rest of us started getting on board with Campbell’s message to stay safe, the British supermodel had to go one better. She shared photos of herself at Los Angeles International Airport wearing a suit, goggles, a mask and gloves.
4. The world’s longest flight has become even longer
From quiet huts to special wings, find everything you need to know about the 19-hour flight from Singapore to NY.
The fluctuation and diversion of the pandemic has yielded many surprising aviation records.
The reason: Singapore Airlines has switched US airports from Newark in New Jersey to JFK from New York City, so the new SQ24 SIN-JFK route is now 9,536.5 miles longer than before.
5. A 64-year-old man accidentally threw himself out of a fighter jet
The terrifying journey was arranged for the nameless man as a retirement gift.
Bureau of Investigation and Analysis for the Safety of Civil Aviation
A surprise trip to an air base caused a 64-year-old Frenchman so much tension that he threw himself into the air of a fighter jet, grabbed the ejection button in a panic and tumbled through the air above France before crashing into a field. ended up.
Although the unnamed man had never expressed a desire to fly in a fighter jet and had no previous military aviation experience, the employees at his firm still thought it would be a good idea to put him on a joyride. to treat.
Fortunately, the man avoided serious injuries after falling 2,500 meters to the land below.
6. Passenger planes became cargo planes
The pandemic has fueled an aviation trend known as ‘preighter’ flights – a portmanteau of ‘passenger’ and ‘cargo plane’ – in which airlines are resetting their passenger cabins to hold packages instead of passengers.
Portuguese charter operator Hi Fly has removed most of the seats from its only A380 to make way for more cargo, making it the world’s first A380 to be converted for cargo.
7. A plane took off without a pilot
Are we one step closer to leadless commercial aircraft?
Thanks to Airbus
According to Airbus, the A350-1000 achieved eight automatic take-offs over a period of four and a half hours, with two pilots on standby.
8. A plane took off without jet fuel
The eCaravan is the result of a collaboration between the engine company magniX and the airline AeroTEC.
magniX
The largest electric aircraft in the world made its first flight in May, which was a new milestone in all electrical technology. The nine-passenger eCaravan took a 30-minute turn over Moses Lake, Washington.
Then in September, Airbus unveiled ZEROe, its trio of concept aircraft without release. The European manufacturer believes that it intends to bring a passenger aircraft to the market without emissions by 2035.
9. Berlin’s ‘cursed’ airport finally opened
Impeded by nearly a decade of setbacks, complaints and inefficiency, Berlin’s airport, Willy Brandt, has finally opened its doors.
Nearly a decade behind schedule, 4 billion euros (almost 5 billion dollars) above budget and the center of the pandemic, Berlin’s beleagured new airport finally opened its doors at the end of October.
Willy Brandt Airport of Berlin-Brandenburg (BER) was allegedly granted state aid of 300 million euros before transporting a single passenger.
10. There were still many new planes that looked funny
The whale-shaped Airbus Beluga XL, one of the largest animals in the air, went into full-time service in January.
A mysterious bullet-shaped aircraft first spotted at Southern California Logistics Airport three years ago was unveiled in August as the Celera 500L, a six-person private jet that promises to fly at jet speeds but with eight times lower fuel consumption .
CNN Travel’s story about the futuristic Flying V plane caught the attention of US presidential candidate Kanye West in October.
And finally, the Caspian Sea Monster – a colossal vehicle with a ground effect in the Soviet era, somewhere between a glider and a plane – was transported to the city of Derbent after 30 years in hibernation along the Russian coast.
11. There were still many fast planes
XB-1 is the first independently developed supersonic aircraft.
Tree Supersonic
In February, British Airways broke the record for the fastest subsonic flight from New York to London, reaching a top speed of more than 800 mph (1,287 km / h).
In September, we received the news that there could already be a supersonic Air Force One prototype aircraft in 2025, with the U.S. Air Force awarding development contracts.
The California start Exosonic is working on a supersonic Mach 1.8 twinjet with a low boost, while Hermeus Corporation in Atlanta is working on a hypersonic 20-seater that promises to deliver passengers within 90 minutes from New York to London.
Start-up Boom in Denver, one of the hottest companies currently operating in the supersonic aviation field, unveiled its XB1 demonstration aircraft in October. The XB-1 is the first independently developed supersonic aircraft.
12. The ascent was easy, but the touch became difficult
Boeing, Boeing but not gone.
VINCENT JANNINK / ANP / AFP via Getty Images
A month later, German low-cost carrier Eurowings became a little too eager to resume from Düsseldorf to Sardinia, Italy – but was forced to return to its destination because the airport was still closed.
Then six Lufthansa 747s flew to a Dutch airport in the summer, but were stuck until Halloween due to a safety certificate issue. Larger aircraft may land at Twente Airport, but not take off.
When we were all trapped at the beginning of 2020, few people also expected the bumpy ride ahead and how far we would land from the year we had hoped for.
The journey is far from over, and we can expect much more turmoil. But out there on the horizon there is even clearer sky ahead.
CNN’s Benjamin Berteau, Julia Buckley, Brekke Fletcher, Tamara Hardingham-Gill, Jack Guy, Rob Picheta, Rory Sullivan, Hollie Silverman, Francesca Street, Ya Chun Wang and Amy Woodyatt contributed to this report.
