![]() Just nanometers thick, this coating sits between glass plies and is completely transparent." What About Bird Strikes?īird strikes are a cause for concern for pilots, airlines and manufacturers. (Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Īccording to PPG, in the past "this was accomplished with thin wires of a design similar to those in rear car windows, but the main manufacturers now use a coating of indium tin oxide. Is that a splotch of oil causing the rainbow? No-its a thin coating of indium tin oxide, which is electrically conducive and transmits heat to keep the windshield clear on this Lufthansa A321. The voltage can be precisely controlled and adjusted in small increments to allow intermediate states of light transmittance to be selected," is how PPG explains it.īelow, windows are darkened in a 787 cabin, except for the two at the back. "Applying a small electrical voltage across the gel causes it to darken, while removing the voltage allows the gel to return to its natural transparent state. This system, branded as Alteos, is manufactured by US-based PPG Aerospace using technology developed by Gentex, based in Michigan. It does this by means of a medium, a gel, that darkens or lightens depending on the charge. Instead, the shade is controlled by magic: electrochromic technology which uses electricity to change the color and amount of light that passes through the window. However, unlike other planes, Dreamliners do not have a physical window shade. The structural cabin window is made by GKN, as noted above, with the familiar inner and outer panes made of stretched acrylic. First, they are quite a bit larger than most airline windows, at 19 inches high. If you've flown on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, you know the windows are a cut above. It freezes on contact with the very cold windows. You may unsubscribe at any time.įrost can form on the inner pane because moist air from the cabin seeps through the hole as the aircraft gains altitude. It provides better resistance to crazing, reduced crack propagation and improved impact resistance," said Jason Webb, Director of Business Development and Aftermarket Services at GKN in California, in an email.īy signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. "Stretched acrylic is produced by stretching the base material of as-cast acrylic. The largest manufacturer of cabin windows worldwide, GKN makes cabin windows for the Boeing 737 and the Boeing 787, and most other aircraft. It's a lightweight material manufactured by a few global suppliers for the various aircraft flying today. The main thing to know is that aircraft cabin windows are not made of glass, but with something called "stretched acrylic". The scratch pane isn't actually part of the window assembly itself, but installed separately. Instead, passengers can rest their weary heads against the scratch pane, press their iPhone against it, or simply muck it up with greasy fingers. Passengers can't touch the inner pane (the one with the hole in it) or the outer pane, for safety reasons. Cabin Windows: No, They're Not GlassĪ cabin window consists of three panes: 1) an outer pane flush with the outside fuselage, 2) an inner pane - which has a little hole in it you may have spotted, and 3) a thinner, non-structural plastic pane called a scratch pane. So, let's take a deep dive into aircraft cabin windows and flight deck windshields. ![]() A very exciting subject for AvGeeks, but maybe a bit of a mystery for the flying public. Between the two, just incredibly sturdy windows. On one side, there's a warm, pressurized cabin where you can work, watch movies, sleep - and on the other, a world that would kill you in minutes if you were exposed to it. When you're in flight, the only thing separating you from the minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit and unbreathable, thin air outside is an airplane window.
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