I know politics (serious ones with disputes) are forbidden in this forum, and though the future has always been commanded by politicians/political history, more or less, and a word about it may be more funny (through ridiculous propaganda, even from a good side) than boring technical directions. Moderator, please delete this if it is “too much”, reaching status “unacceptable”.
In 1945-46, Europe had to choose between the 2 winners of WW2: Stalinist communism and Capitalist republic. A first project of the Marshall plan seems to have been based on military aviation:
“Europeans, you must decide, 2 possibilities for you to choose a FUTURE:
– Red army (like bloody agonizing soldier): most planes on the ground, to be repaired someday if ever, ½ hour of flight training per year, pilots’ wages: $1 per year (because “richness is guilty” repeats the severe political police crushing people everywhere), low octane fuel made from vegetables shared with the hungry angry population (“diet is good for your health” say the fat leaders to the slim humble commanded).
– US (like Ultra Special goodness): very powerful planes incrusted with huge natural diamonds (for stealth performance); 300 hours of flight training per year, pilots’ wages: $122,000 per year (to boost local economy, buying wine-&-beer/flowers-&-fur/toys-&-chewing-gum, …).”
A looooong time ago, in some English-speaking country (I don’t want to remember precisely which one) a candidate to presidency had a very special relation to women, that he treated as “just fucking bitches” (according to some journalists and opponents, unconfirmed). It seems he said to a friend: “in the future, if I am elected, the R[censored] races will be very much more sexy, vote for Me and you will see!”. Retro future is frightening sometimes, (sigh of relief – I am a puritan citizen).
In France, almost every election of president has its ecologist candidate. In 1981 (or 1988?) was published this view of the ecologic future in the sky (if voters decide so):
A/ very-solar plane;
B/ windy electrical plane (2 lateral propellers fed with battery, 1 central wind turbine generator to charge the battery; propellers’ airflow + relative wind ensure a very positive total, providing light and hot water to mechanics after flight, in addition to cooking hot-dog and French fries);
C/ piston engined plane using for fuel: agricultural ethanol (a.k.a. “French wine”).
It seems this was not the true future program of the candidate but a joke from a few minor opponents, pretending this ecology cannot be regarded as mentally sane.
In 1981, the new French president abolished legally the death penalty here, then he was very angry that polls demonstrated a strong disagreement of the population against this new law, people arguing that rapist murderers of children do not deserve jail well-balanced free workless food with TV entertainment. The government published immediately an article/answer to destroy such opposition: “If in 5 years, the other side comes back and declares ‘kill the killers’ again, this is not only a very stupid self-contradiction but this will require future new military airplanes. Hey you: flying soldier accomplishing your duty, if ever you dare killing one enemy (despite the new visibility, intentionally poor), you must suicide immediately, using the self-directed gun, or this will be for you hungry jail forever (with just one little piece of bread per month, worms included, drinking contaminated water taken from toilet waste), raped everyday by fellow prisoners, enjoy! If ever you truly want this ‘future Heaven’, that definition of ‘Humanity’, you will just have to vote in the right direction…”