The world’s first windowless plane is now ready to take off

Windowless Plane: Passengers Would See The World Around Them

Is this the future of flying?

UK developer working on switching heavy aircraft windows with uber-light smartscreen panels (windowless plane) that allow passengers to see what’s going on outside and to cut fuel utilization and reduce air fares. CPI said, it could lead to less costly flights for consumers. According to its calculations, each time plane weight reduces 1%, there’s a 0.75% savings in fuel cost, so the passenger, manufacturer and the airline will save money.

The Full-length screens allowing constant views of the sky and space outside would replace the windows. Passengers would be able to switch the view on and off according to their preference, identify prominent sights by tapping the screen or just surf the internet.

Scientists and engineers at Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) called it “the windowless cabin with a view”. The early-stage concept for the windowless plane, based on technology used in mobile phones and televisions, hails from the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), an organisation with sites across north-east England that works with companies to develop new products. It imagines how large, hi-definition, ultra thin and lightweight displays could form the inside of the fuselage, displaying images of the exterior from cameras mounted on the plane’s exterior.

They said, “The days of glimpsing the world through a tiny plastic porthole when you fly are soon to be a thing of the past; future aircrafts will offer a crystal clear panoramic view without any windows at all. We are developing ultra-flexible, high-definition display technologies that could line the interior walls of cabins and display live footage from external cameras.”

 

As well as surrounding passengers with a panoramic view of the skies, this interactive ‘digital wallpaper’ will allow travellers to personalize their environment providing options to adjust lighting or change the view. It could also be used as a multimedia device for in-flight entertainment.

Using OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology, the thin, bendable and lightweight displays screens will blend with the fuselage and surfaces such as seatbacks optimizing space and reducing the weight of the aircraft.

Weight is a constant issue on any aircraft with over 80% of the fully laden weight being the aircraft itself along with its fuel. For every 1% reduction in weight the approximate fuel saving is 0.75%.  

They added, “If you save weight, you save fuel. And less fuel means less CO2 emissions into the atmosphere and lower operational cost. Windows currently require meticulous construction to ensure that their structure maintains cabin pressure and resists cracking at 35,000 feet. Fully integrated OLED technology is still in development across the globe.”

Simon Ogier, research and development manager at CPI, said, “Our role is to turn innovative technology concepts such as OLED displays into manufactured products.”

Of course, what the company said will happen and what actually happens could be very different things, but if you aren’t flat-out terrified of this plane model, it could be a fascinating development for commercial aircrafts.

Share your thoughts on this windowless plane in the comment.

The world’s first windowless plane is now ready to take off