'Windowless planes' could be a reality in the next 10 years

http://abc13.com/367798/

In a concept design created by UK product and technology research company, Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), an airplane's windows are replaced with floor-to-ceiling screens displaying seamless panoramic views of the sky captured by cameras mounted outside the plane. Take a look.

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CPI believes that by removing the plane's windows, the fuselage could be made thinner and lighter, providing more space and saving on fuel costs.

"We had been speaking to people in aerospace and we understood that there was this need to take weight out of aircraft," CPI's Dr. Jon Helliwell told The Guardian. "Follow the logical thought through. Let's take all the windows out - that's what they do in cargo aircraft - what are the passengers going to do? If you think about it, it's only really the people that are sitting next to windows that will suffer."

However, what was meant to be simply an alternative to the glass windows is now far cooler than the initial intentions set forth by the project.

In addition to the wondrous displays, the screens would also be used for entertainment purposes: displaying detailed information about the objects seen outside the plane, and playing recorded media. The screens would also double as touch-screen displays for in-flight services. The video even teases that if you don't like the view you're looking at, you may be able to select another pre-recorded one, such as flying by Tokyo, Japan.

CPI believes the windowless plane could be become a reality within then next ten years.

"We are talking about it now because it matches the kind of development timelines that they have in the aerospace industry," said Helliwell.

The project is not the first of its kind, however. Just last year, IXION proposed a similar windowless jet design, shown at the 2013 NBAA business aviation show. In 2014, the same design won in the Exterior Design category of The International Yacht & Aviation Awards. Check out the concept in the video below.

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