Aérotrain, Experimental transport system near Orléans, France
Aérotrain is an experimental transport system near Orléans in France that hovered on an air cushion above a special concrete track. The futuristic capsule with silver cladding and large windows stretched across several segments and was designed for high-speed connections between French cities.
French engineer Jean Bertin launched the project in 1964 and built an 18-kilometer test track near Orléans. The program ended in 1977 after the government decided to invest in the TGV instead.
The name combines "aéro" and "train", reflecting the fusion of aviation technology with ground transport. The vehicle hovered on an air cushion above a T-shaped concrete track, producing a distinctive whistling sound as it passed by.
Parts of the original concrete track remain visible today and can be seen from the road. One prototype was preserved at the railway museum in Mulhouse.
The I80 prototype reached a speed of 417.6 kilometers per hour (259.5 mph) in 1974, setting a record for ground vehicles on the track. Two turbine engines with ducted propellers allowed rapid acceleration and braking between stations.
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