Airframes
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Airframes
Looking at an airframe would it be any cheaper to build if you built without windows?After all except for those next to the windows theres not a lot to see after you reach cruising height!!With all the entertainment channels could not an external cam show what was going on,if anything.
I always get a window seat when in the back - get claustrophobic otherwise (plus I enjoy the scenery). Glad I never had the "opportunity" to experience the C5's "flying movie theater." Talk about "self-loading freight!" 
http://www.theaviationzone.com/image...-bin/mn_14.jpg
Build one without windows - and I'll fly with somebody else.
http://www.theaviationzone.com/image...-bin/mn_14.jpg
Build one without windows - and I'll fly with somebody else.
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Take the windows out, and I don't want to fly!
This comes under the general category of consumer resistance, a related example is that having passengers face the rear would increase safety, whether train, airplane or automobile but simply will not happen.
Many moons ago BOAC wet leased a Seaboard and Western L-1049D Connie for service to Bermuda from KIDL. Being a convertible cargo-pax aircraft the interior was Spartan. BOAC had not noticed there were only about five window to each side behind the curtains but the passengers did. To continue the lease BOAC required S&W to get an L-1049E-01 which they did from Cubana. It was converted in stages to an all coach configuration.
After a spell sitting atop a gasoline station for some years it has ended up at Dover AFB masquerading as a C-121 in their museum.
Windows do count.
After a spell sitting atop a gasoline station for some years it has ended up at Dover AFB masquerading as a C-121 in their museum.
Windows do count.
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These days, everyone is so interested in the movies on their iPads, that they close the screens for 99% of the flight anyhow. Fewer/no windows would certainly make for a lighter & stronger fuselage. A series of OLED screens showing the view out the sides may be cheaper, lighter, and easy to implement.
OTOH, there would need to be SOME windows for the flight attendants to look for fire, etc during emergencies. Those in exit rows may be the ones privileged with windows...
OTOH, there would need to be SOME windows for the flight attendants to look for fire, etc during emergencies. Those in exit rows may be the ones privileged with windows...
I've done a number of flight tests where I was sitting in the belly of a freighter with no windows (747-8F and 767-2C). It's horrible - especially takeoff and landing where you feel the motions but have no outside references.
I'd never pay to fly in something without windows.
I'd never pay to fly in something without windows.
Twas back in the day when IFE consisted of one large screen for the entire cabin to watch movies. Had travelled half way round the world to find myself at thirty plus thousand feet on a gin clear day over the Grand Canyon when along comes a CC demanding the window shade be pulled down in order to show some B grade Hollywood trash. Was appalled that everyone seemed to prefer the trash to the magical vista to be seen outside. Why the heck didn't Boeing put a window at row seven, or there abouts, on the 738 LHS. Had it a few times and not a happy traveller.
Why the heck didn't Boeing put a window at row seven, or there abouts, on the 738 LHS. Had it a few times and not a happy traveller.
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Two good reasons to have windows is from a safety point duriing an evacuation in daylight hours, in the even of no electrical power, as I think was the case in the A320 landing in the Hudson river, it is alot easier to evacuate and for the crew to check the aircraft, Secondly, it is easier for fire and rescue crew to locate fire and people, that is why the blinds are in the up poistion for take off and landing.
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The desire for windows is a bit overblown - if you sit in the middle in first class or business class on something like EK then you cant see the windows at all as the seat structure is built up around you with the express intent of giving you more privacy.
You could always replace the windows with lcd screens and show a picture of the world outside....
You could always replace the windows with lcd screens and show a picture of the world outside....
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Two good reasons to have windows is from a safety point duriing an evacuation in daylight hours, in the even of no electrical power, as I think was the case in the A320 landing in the Hudson river, it is alot easier to evacuate and for the crew to check the aircraft, Secondly, it is easier for fire and rescue crew to locate fire and people, that is why the blinds are in the up poistion for take off and landing.
The 787 is a horror when it comes to windows since the FA's can now lock the windows into "dark" mode, at least they usually don't do that until cruise though.
I've spent plenty of time in the back of various KC 135, C 141, C130, and C5s. Never thought much about the lack of Windows, but I definitely prefer having them and leave the shades up.
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I seem to remember that Airbus showed a design at the Paris Airshow with no windows, and had screens mounted where the windows would normally be. The screens showed the outside view from cameras mounted on the airframe.
Without the weight of the windows, and the reinforcement required around the openings, I think it was about a 25% weight difference, and was actually much stronger.
Without the weight of the windows, and the reinforcement required around the openings, I think it was about a 25% weight difference, and was actually much stronger.
I think it was about a 25% weight difference
The problem with view screens is unless you give every passenger their own camera that they can pan/scan, it's not going to be even remotely the same - you'll be looking at the camera view, which probably won't be the view of interest.
It's not as important at night (although I've seen some pretty cool stuff at night as well) but some of the most spectacular scenery I've ever seen has been out the window of an aircraft (and I used to go backpacking in the Rocky Mountains - in large part for the views). If I'm paying for the ticket, I'm not willing to give that up...
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Pan/scan isn't an issue with an all-round camera and some software - think Google Maps/Street View.
Come to think of it, with Google Maps you don't even need the camera!
For a 150-seat aircraft, this comes out at around 200 kg.
Window sizes have grown since his book was written, so the weight penalty for newer aircraft will be a bit higher than that.