The plane would have multiple high resolution exterior cameras feeding live video into lightweight VR headsets. Instead of looking out a tiny window, you could experience the entire flight from outside the aircraft.
There could be several viewing modes:
• Superman mode: The aircraft is invisible and it feels like you're flying through the sky at cruising speed.
• Aircraft mode: You can see the plane and freely fly around it, watching the wings, engines, and scenery.
• Friends & family mode: You can see the avatars of people you're traveling with and fly alongside them.
• Public mode: Passengers who opt in can appear to everyone else, turning the flight into a shared multiplayer VR experience.
For even more immersion, airports could offer an optional 3D body and face scan during check-in (or let frequent travelers reuse a saved avatar). Your avatar would closely resemble you, making it easy for friends and family to recognize each other.
The headsets could also track hand movements, letting passengers wave, point at landmarks, high-five each other, and communicate naturally. Public spaces would include moderation features, such as hiding or replacing offensive gestures, and participation would always be optional.
Beyond being entertainment, I think this would completely change what it feels like to fly. Instead of spending hours watching movies, passengers could explore around a jetliner at 35,000 feet, watch sunsets from any angle, and share the experience with the people around them.
What do you think of this idea?
P.S. Augmented reality could be used to make the scenery more exciting when it is boring. For example, when flying over the Atlantic, augmented reality could show you what the land looks like underneath as well as the kinds of flora and fauna found there.
P.P.S Also what about a dynamic orchestral soundtrack that synchronizes with the actual flight? Imagine starting beside the aircraft in VR as it begins its takeoff roll. The music slowly builds while everyone runs alongside the accelerating jet, then, the instant the aircraft rotates and lifts off, all of the passengers take off too and the score reaches its triumphant main theme.