Stealth bomber design: The design uses an airframe reminiscent of a stealth bomber to transport detachable cargo and passenger modules.
EPFL/ENAC/TRANSP-OR
Multiple choice: Clip-Air could allow a decoupling of who manages the airframe and passenger cabin -- perhaps even allowing competing airlines to sell seats on the same flight.
EPFL/ENAC/TRANSP-OR
Mid-range: Clip-Air's speed and range is expected to be on a par with that of modern midsized airliners.
EPFL/ENAC/TRANSP-OR
Versatility: Clip-Air's design roughly emulates the versatility of shipping containers, which have revolutionized the cargo transportation industry.
EPFL/ENAC/TRANSP-OR
Road, rail and air: The same modules used in flight could be loaded onto rail tracks or trucks to continue the journey on land.
EPFL/ENAC/TRANSP-OR
Quick turnarounds: Clip-Air's designers say their concept could speed up aircraft turnarounds on the ground, since the plane would only need a change of module before taking off again.
EPFL/ENAC/TRANSP-OR
Seamless transfer: In theory, Clip-Air passengers could board a bus in one country, then travel by road, rail and air without leaving the comfort of the same seat.
EPFL/ENAC/TRANSP-OR
Will it fly?: Aviation experts say that although the Clip-Air concept is a brilliant engineering concept, it's chances of taking off are limited.
EPFL/ENAC/TRANSP-OR
Tough sell: "Although it may be brilliant from an engineering point of view, it is going to be very tough to make it work commercially," says Addison Schonland, founder of Airinsight.
EPFL/ENAC/TRANSP-OR
Akka Link & Fly: Link & Fly, designed by AKKA Technologies, a European engineering services firm, is another revolutionary aircraft design which hinges on intermodality.
Courtesy Akka Technologies
Smart mobility: "The Link & Fly is not just a plane, but a smart mobility concept for an increasingly mobile world," says Maurice Ricci, founder and CEO of AKKA Technologies.