Airliner Number 4

Norman Bel Geddes (1893-1958) was an accomplished industrial designer known for aerodynamic form than was as much about aesthetics as wind resistance. He began as a theatrical designer before venturing into furniture, cars, trains and aircraft. Perhaps his most innovative design was Airliner Number 4, a transatlantic boat with a 528-foot wingspan— a 747's is just under 200 feet.

The proposal included twenty 1900-horsepower engines capable of lifting Airliner Number 4 to 5,000 feet and attaining a cruising speed of 100 mph. The 450 passengers could choose from nine decks including private dining rooms, a solarium, a gym, six shuffleboard courts, a dance floor, a library, and a concert hall.

Airliner Number 4 mock-up

Along with the members of the orchestra, Airliner Number 4's 155-person crew included telephone operators, masseuses, manicurists, and—ahead of its time—a personal trainer.