Boeing aircraft "eyebrow" windows
 

Possibly the wrong forum, I'm not sure.

A page on the Boeing website suggests that they have removed the eyebrow windows on the 737.

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/737family/flash.html

Elsewhere they have done the same for the 717.

Any idea why? Moreover, what was the purpose of the windows in the first place?

Pity, I thought the windows made the 'plane look "cool" and "hard"

what are they for? to see out of, of course!

Can ya reelly see out ofthem, or are they just there to give bald pilots a bit more exposure to radiation?:}

It might save a slight bit of weight, production and mx cost. And most important having a glass cockpit you don't get blinded by straight sunlight from the top anymore. Tight VFR patterns are rarely flown where eyebrow windows still come in handy.

However don't know if the 737 are set to lose their's.

Hah! You see! The thin end of the wedge.
It is only a matter of time before no windows at all, think how much that would save.

Actually the windows were for astral navigation. Not much use any more.

KK is on target, they were eliminated to safe weight and cost.
Originally intended to be used to view the stars for navigation, and turned out to be quite handy for those visual approaches and steep turns, sad to see them going. FD

Visual approaches containing steep turns? Now there's an interesting concept. Fun, Fun! (extracting tongue from cheek....)

I must admit to never having looked through them, except to see the horizon approaching the top of the loop. (Ah! tongue still in cheek....) The B707 only did a barrel roll I remember.

Astro Nav? & where did the Nav sit? Ah, that's what they meant by the 'observers's seat'. Didn't the B737 come after the B727? and was it really contemplated that these a/c, with no nav, would fly in areas requiring astro? I admit, all before my time; just curious.

However, can't remember ever looking through them doing visuals, even tight ones. Usually impossible, anyway, because someone, before tailored sun screens arrived, had stuffed maps or newspapers to block out the sun.

A sun roof would have been useful on some RH circle patterns from the LHS in B767's, though.

From what is shown on Boeing website that info is probably not accurate; see this .

No Eyebrows on the B737 anymore is just like on then B757,767, 777.....
Save productioncosts... that is the task.

NG

Er, my original post is based on a picture on the, um, Boeing website. :\

Check my link again?

Who said anything about visual approaches containing steep turns? The post was, "visual approaches AND steep turns". Regardless, I suppose you never had the pleasure of the visual approach to Kai Tak.

I'll admit, I never view anything out of the eyebrow windows except to catch a little bit more of the view of a beautiful aircraft flying directly over us in the opposite direction. Mostly, at certain times of the day the eyebrow windows my side are all covered with the last pages of the notams to block the sun from shining right at me :O

I think eyebrow windows are actually a relic from the past. Used to fly the DC-8 with quite big ones, usually stuffed with something to keep the sun out like others have written here. Same thing on the B737s I flew, tailored sunshades were some help though. The original 707 had them (same nose section as the 727,737 therefore...) but I always guessed that was some kind of military relic due to Boeings planned (and successful) military use of 707 derivatives. Perhaps former military guys know? Something originally to do with formation flying? Or as suggested here tight circuits?

On the B-727, the eyebrows were there for certification reasons. The pilots had to have certain angles of vision for various flt regiems.

From the RH seat, the Capt. side eyebrow window it's very useful when turning from downwind to left base especially on tight turns...
It gives a good glance of the rwy.

Also gives the 73 a very "nice but tough" look.

happy landings !!!

I wish they would get rid of them in the 73. They are of no practical use whatsoever and just help turn the flightdeck into a sauna and solarium in one.

We have been hearing no eyebrow windows on our B737-7H4's next year. I think Boeing finally convinced the FAA that they were really not needed.

Well, not that it matters, but someone told me that they were for certification. The flight deck was kind of dark during the day without them, so Boeing installed them to make it brighter in there.

Makes sense when you think of it. The forward and side windshields on aircraft with Eyebrow Windows (707,727,737,DC-8,DC-9,MD80) are really tiny. I could see how it would be hard to see the steam-gauge instruments during the day. With the advent of Glass Cockpits, seeing the instruments is not really a factor, unless it is in direct sunlight. So now you want less light, not more. Pretty funny if you ask me.

I think Boeing realized this on 717, finally designing them out cause we don't need them. I've never flown the 737, but I would guess that they are definetely more expensive and heavier than just a metal plug. I wouldn't be surprised if the FAA also requires them to be heated since thay are a window. Soemone then had the bright idea of removing them on the 73 line, which makes perfect sense. A cost and a weight savings.

>>>However don't know if the 737 are set to lose their's.

Actually, very soon. Starting in January 2005, Boeing will start delivering 737-700s to Southwest without eyebrow windows. N200WN will be the first...