AIRBUS “conceived the A350-800 to dramatically increase the aircraft payload-range”, the firm says in a magazine advert. But the next bit made Francis Quinn splutter: “Flying 300 nm further with space for 30 more passengers…”
“I am not sure,” Quinn muses, “whether your average passenger in first, business or cattle class would really notice or appreciate the additional 300 nanometres gained on a flight”. It would certainly be no skin off anyone’s nose, 300 nanometres being the length of a typical collagen molecule in, for example, the average epidermis. Unless, of course, they mean that quaint aviation managers’ unit, the nautical mile (1852 metres).…
