Rain-X

[ScoobySnacks]

I was happy to learn the 737-800 had a permenant rain repellent coating built into the windshield. My company deactivated the rain-repellent system on all our planes for environmental reasons. I miss it. I've found Boeing's rain repellent coating useless. Anyone else?

However, I've recently been trying out Rain-X. I've flight tested it, 5 hours at .82 mach, landed in heavy rain without ever turning on the wipers! That was awesome! I picked the runway up clearly at 1000 feet, the other guy had to watch a "slide-show" presentation of the approach, as his windscreen filled with water and got wiped away. My side of the cokpit was nice and quite, his sounded like someone kicking a trash can.

Give it a try, it's worth the lean out the window to do it.

[cossack]

I've used it for years on my car windows at speeds well below .82 and it does work well.
We even put it onto the Tower windows at EDI a few years ago. The Manager asked Rain-X what it would cost to apply it. They said £2000!!! <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
I bought a bottle with money from petty cash and the window cleaner applied it for nothing! :)
Its about £6 a bottle in the UK but only $3.50 at WalMart. Go figure!

[Steep Approach]

There is a more permanent commercial product produced by a company called RITEC in North London.

We've had the VCR glass coated at EGLC and it's brilliant stuff, the windows hardly ever need cleaning and when it rains the visibility is not at all impaired. Supposed to last around 10 years after which time it needs a refresh.

[akafrank]

I don't believe you want to use RainX on a heated windshield. I understand RainX will bake on and cloud over the windshield requiring replacement. Its use is not approved on Boeings by the FAA which is another way of saying "here's something else we can hang you for"

[manuel ortiz]

Akafrank,

After how many years of Rain X use is the windshield supposed to start getting cloudy ?

I know of winshields in Boeing aircrafts with more than a decade of R.X. use...

[411A]

Beware guys/gals, the local FAA/CAA/DCA may be watching....