The odd reason airplane windows are round
Round windows are as synonymous with air travel as peanuts, turbulence and the in-flight safety demonstration. But have you ever wondered why they’re round?
Well, there’s a good reason why this is the case. As a recent article in Travel + Leisure explains, early models of airplanes featured designs with square and rectangular windows, not dissimilar to what you’d expect to see in a home or automobile.
In the 1950s, as the commercial jetliner started to rise to popularity and prominence, two tragic incidents would change the face of aviation design forever.
The incidents, in which two planes fell apart mid-air, were examined strenuously by scientists and it was found that the cause was square windows. The sharp corners created natural weak spots, concentrating the stress that was further weakened by the pressure in the air, and at high altitudes this spelt absolute disaster.
Curved windowpanes distribute this stress evenly, reducing the likelihood of cracks or breaks occurring. They’re also stronger and more resistant to deformations, allowing them to survive the extreme pressure differences on a flight.
So there you have it. Did you realise why plane windows were round?
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