Airbus toys with idea of transparent fuselage

[Flashback]

See-through planes of Airbus on anvil - International Business Times

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has come up with the idea to build a passenger flight with a completely transparent fuselage.


The central body of the aircraft will allow passengers to the see the stars above and city lights below.

 

[opusman]

That's one way to find out who's really scared of heights I guess!

 

[MatF]

I've often thought how cool it would be to have windows like on a bus (pressurisation issues aside) ..... not sure about a fully transparent fuselage though!

 

[tuapekastar]

Could be interesting using the lav while still at the gate! :shock:

 

[samh004]

There’s some good ideas in that article, though how many will see the light of day is the question, as everything has to pass some sort of certification that I can’t see being too easy for them.

It’s a good way os saying, look, we’re being green, we’re thinking green, but that’s about it

The walls that change transparency you can already get in the real world though, I remember the toilet doors in Ally McBeal as an example. When a current is applied they go see through, or they don’t, can’t remember which. I’m surprised certain airlines don’t already use them in their premium cabins anyway.

As for the see-thru fuselage, I could see skylights up and to the side (down would go into a luggage hold wouldn’t it?) in premium cabins, but I doubt it’d be an experience airlines would want to give to every seat on the plane. Then again, carefully places cameras might just be easier…

 

[NYCguy]

Gulfstream's new G650 has the classic oval windows, except they have been increased in size to an astonishing 710 x 520mm. I can't imagine why windows of this magnitude couldn't be incorporated in commercial airliners, other than ushering in a whole new dimension of shade-up v shade-down arguments... Or rather, transparent v opaque arguments.

 

[docjames]

Gulfstream's new G650 has the classic oval windows, except they have been increased in size to an astonishing 710 x 520mm. I can't imagine why windows of this magnitude couldn't be incorporated in commercial airliners, other than ushering in a whole new dimension of shade-up v shade-down arguments... Or rather, transparent v opaque arguments.

I would have thought weight is the reason. :idea:

 

[thompg]

I think I remember a flight where there was a camera which showed the landing through the IFE system. I thought it was pretty cool watching the runway appear to get closer and closer as we landed. It might have been a CX flight, but I've forgotten all the details now...

Would've been pretty cool to see the landing when I flew into Norfolk Island about this time last year when the runway jumped (OK, seemed to jump) 10m sideways under the plane.

I guess they'd make the plane opaque for take-off and landing (maybe for the same reason that the camera view of the landing is no longer available - or is it available?).

Transparency would also allow a good view of engines blowing up which would add to safety.

Sadly, most of the pilots I've seen wouldn't really do justice to a Wonder Woman uniform :shock: