popular science

44 POPULAR SCIENCE

THANK YOU FOR FLYING

HOW TO USE A TINY BATHROOM

With only one lavatoryfor

every 80 passengers on someflights,

expect a wait. Queue up in the aisle.

STEP 1

La vs ar ea sm uc h

as 250 mm narrower now, withl itt le

room to turn around. Shimmy to enter.

STEP 2

New k idne y-

shaped sinks are only 100 mm deep, so

cl ean one han d at a time.

STEP 3

Outward-swin ging

doors blockflight attendants’ access to

the ga lleys. Exit with caution.

STEP 4

BYGONE

AMENITIES

ENTERTAINMENT

Before seatbackTV,

airlines distributed

postcards to fill out.

SEAT FLOTATION

Cush yrecliners made

butts comfy;butthe

cha ir s didn’ t float.

COAT RACKS

Acloset forgarment

bags and outerwear

preceded each section.

1960 1970 1980

LOCATE

YOUR

REDUCED

LEGROOM

Over the past 50 years, the

space between rows (the

pitch) has compressed by an

average of 100 mm. Some

budget carriers offer only

700 mm between seats, the

tiniest space yet allotted on a

commercial flight. Chairs have

also transformed, from pillowy

cushions to fire- resistant- but-

minimal pads, each less than

10 kg. Trimmer profiles,

though, slide butts back in the

seats, restoring a few precious

centimetres of lost legroom.

1960

SEAT

WIDTH:

450

PITCH (mm 880 880 815

SEAT

WIDTH:

450

SEAT

WIDTH:

480

SHRINKING PLANES, OH MY!