To those who know their airplanes: Is there an example of a four seat airplane which allows (easily) three people to sleep horizontal with one pilot flying the airplane? No to Cessnas, Cirrus, RV, Cubs, Pipers, Mooney, Maule, .... none that I know of.
Cars don't allow passengers to sleep in the car (well) due to crash issues, in part. The seats don't lie down flat and one's feet are not up. When a car stops quickly, such as during a head on crash, the occupant can slide under the seat belt and end up dead under the instrument panel. I know of no car that can allow a person to sleep flat like a bed. Cross country trips with four people in a passenger car end up being miserable experiences and nobody gets any real sleep. On a 1200 mile trip, for example, it takes 20 hrs (17-18 driving and 2-3 hrs for fuel and stops) due to the need to stretch legs and the lack of sleep. Falling asleep on the road is deadly.
In an airplane there is no risk of sudden head on crashes and therefore the risk of a passenger sleeping horizontal is low. On the same 1200 mile trip (say to Oshkosh) it would take 8 hrs of flying (assuming 150 mph). If each person could fly 2 hour legs, then each person could get 6 hrs of sleep. Take off at 10 PM and arrive at 6 AM ready to do a days work or sight seeing. Fly back the same night. One full day of fun and no lost days of work.
In contrast, in a car, the 20 hrs and lack of sleep kills two days each way. It messes up the sleep cycle and it forces a hotel. Four days lost for one day of events. Five days instead of one. 4 hotel stops at $100/night = $400.
In contrast the airplane that can sleep three while one flies would use $400 in fuel and no hotels. In essence, the fuel is free without the need for hotel.
To fly 8 hrs one needs to stretch their legs, meaning you have to stand up. However, if one is asleep, one does not need to stretch legs as much and if one can stand up in the cockpit, then no stop is needed if fuel supply is large enough (8hrs).
It is easy to get off one day at work, but 5 days is much harder for most people. A friend of mine wanted to go to Oshkosh but could not afford 5 days in a car or 3 days in an airplane.
Holden
Cars don't allow passengers to sleep in the car (well) due to crash issues, in part. The seats don't lie down flat and one's feet are not up. When a car stops quickly, such as during a head on crash, the occupant can slide under the seat belt and end up dead under the instrument panel. I know of no car that can allow a person to sleep flat like a bed. Cross country trips with four people in a passenger car end up being miserable experiences and nobody gets any real sleep. On a 1200 mile trip, for example, it takes 20 hrs (17-18 driving and 2-3 hrs for fuel and stops) due to the need to stretch legs and the lack of sleep. Falling asleep on the road is deadly.
In an airplane there is no risk of sudden head on crashes and therefore the risk of a passenger sleeping horizontal is low. On the same 1200 mile trip (say to Oshkosh) it would take 8 hrs of flying (assuming 150 mph). If each person could fly 2 hour legs, then each person could get 6 hrs of sleep. Take off at 10 PM and arrive at 6 AM ready to do a days work or sight seeing. Fly back the same night. One full day of fun and no lost days of work.
In contrast, in a car, the 20 hrs and lack of sleep kills two days each way. It messes up the sleep cycle and it forces a hotel. Four days lost for one day of events. Five days instead of one. 4 hotel stops at $100/night = $400.
In contrast the airplane that can sleep three while one flies would use $400 in fuel and no hotels. In essence, the fuel is free without the need for hotel.
To fly 8 hrs one needs to stretch their legs, meaning you have to stand up. However, if one is asleep, one does not need to stretch legs as much and if one can stand up in the cockpit, then no stop is needed if fuel supply is large enough (8hrs).
It is easy to get off one day at work, but 5 days is much harder for most people. A friend of mine wanted to go to Oshkosh but could not afford 5 days in a car or 3 days in an airplane.
Holden
