Forget planes and trains: Could floating on a 'cloud' be the new way to travel?

Tiago Barros

An architect from New York has come up with a very eco-friendly alternative to planes: floating across the world on a 'cloud'.

Tiago Barros entered a competition in the US about the future of high-speed railways, and submitted his 'Passing Cloud' idea, which is probably best explained in the words of the man himself.

'The Passing Cloud is an innovative and environmentally friendly method of transportation that doesn't require expensive steel tracks or concrete highways.

'It is made of a series of spherical balloons that form the shape of a cloud. Its inner stainless steel structure is covered with heavy weight tensile nylon fabric.

'During the journey, It moves according to prevailing winds speed and direction at the time of travel. Since it moves with the wind, no wind is ever felt during the trip, offering the passengers a full "floating sensation".'

Tiago Barros

Would-be passengers climb to the top of the 'cloud' on a giant ladder, and would disembark the same way, with no guarantee of destination or arrival time, according to news.com.au.

What do you think? A brilliant new environmentally-friendly travel plan? Or simply pie in the sky?

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