Spike Aerospace’s S-512 supersonic jet is still many years away, but when (if) it does arrive it will have an $80 million price tag and no windows in the cabin! The company announced that they are ditching windows and replacing them with displays that will provide passengers a panoramic view of what’s outside. The displays will work in conjunction with multiple exterior cameras or passengers will be able to choose from a library of images as well. Hmm, I think I’d prefer looking at what’s actually outside the plane rather than pictures of what’s out there…
Here’s the press release from Spike’s blog:
Spike Aerospace, designers of the Spike S-512 Supersonic Jet, has just announced another innovation in aircraft design they plan to incorporate into the jet. The new supersonic jet will feature a revolutionary windowless passenger cabin so no more glaring sun and no more shades to pull down or push up. Instead, the interior walls will be covered with a thin display screens embedded into the wall. Cameras surrounding the entire aircraft will construct breathtaking panoramic views displayed on the cabin screens. Passengers will be able to dim the screens to catch some sleep or change it to one of the many scenic images stored in the system. There are several reasons for removing the windows from the cabin. It has long been known that the windows cause significant challenges in designing and constructing an aircraft fuselage. They require addition structural support, add to the parts count and add weight to the aircraft. But until recently, it has not been possible to do without them. With the micro-cameras and flat displays now available, Spike Aerospace can eliminate the structural issues with windows and reduce the aircraft weight. In addition, the very smooth exterior skin will reduce the drag normally caused by having windows. The supersonic jet design already incorporates the latest technologies including composite material, advanced avionics and propulsion system. The interior design and windowless cabin is one more innovation the company is incorporating into the design.
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2 comments
What happens in a crash and you need to exit on the side without a fire? No pilots or windows to indicate.
I was fine with the thought until I read the first few lines of the press release. I feel they should justify this with the comments on design first; not the elimination of those pesky “shades to pull down or pull up.” Really reaching for a benefit there…