New trend in Design of Nose of Aircraft

[Airmann]

Thanks all for the input

Yes the A300/310/330/340 Nose is one and the same. In fact I think the entire fuselage is the same design

So would it be right to summarize with these points:

--The "flat-nose" shape is aerodynamically more efficient and this has been known by designers since at least the construction of the Commet if not before

--In the past, in order to meet the required strength window panels had to be more or less flat due to limitations in glass technology. Therefore, in order to achieve the "flat nose" shape a greater number of smaller panels had to be installed, which resulted in a compromise in pilot visibility

--Designers of the era and subsequent eras decided that overall visibility was a higher priority than aerodynamic advantages achieved through the "flat nose", and hence the conventional pointed/stub noise design dominated aviation

--Recent advances in glass technology, has allowed manufacturers to design new aircraft with "Flat" noses while maintaining if not improving visibility vs. the conventional aircraft design

BTW, if you notice Airbus still opted with the 6 pane configuration while Boeing opted for 4. As a result the 787 needs an escape hatch as the cockpit windows cannot be opened. Airbus opted for 6 because of customer concerns that it would be too costly if a larger side pane needs replacement, although their initial design like Boeing was for 4.