Windowless airplanes, anyone?

How about this?
The Centre for Process Innovation is hoping to develop a technology that will allow windowless planes to be a thing of the present. The hope is to limit the use of fuel by reducing the weight of aircrafts. Rather than windows, flexible display screens would take their place by covering the entire wall of the cabin. Passengers would be able to see outside the plane. Terrifying or exciting? It depends of who you are. Some of us prefer to forget we are no longer on the ground.

CPI states that 80% of the weight of an airplane is actually the plane itself along with its fuel. “We had been speaking to people in aerospace and we understood that there was this need to take weight out of aircraft. Follow the logical thought through. Let’s take all the windows out— that’s what they do in cargo aircraft,” states Jon Helliwell of the CPI.

Reducing a plane’s weight by 1% means 0.75% less fuel is used. This leads to fewer CO2 emissions, lower costs and cheaper plane tickets.

So what would replace the windows - organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). This flexible display screen would allow a projected panoramic view from cameras attached to the outside of the plane. Passengers could adjust their views, watch videos and use the internet using this versatile technology.

CPI is hoping this technology will be available in the next 10 years. But we will have to see how the idea flies with the everyday passenger.

If you are wondering - from the inside, the plane will look like this

 

It would be like a flying coffin They are even talking about pilotless planes... would you fly on one ?

 

Looks rather damned cool to me. How awesome would they be in a thunderstorm!!!

We do most of the time already. The crew are just a safety measure really.

 

Ohhh my giddy Aunt

 

scary!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I like it for the novelty factor, but I can't help thinking they are barking up the wrong tree if the goal is to save fuel.

0.75% reduction in fuel consumption, 10 years from now? That's not a very ambitious target. I saw a documentary a while ago that pointed out that the only reason planes are the shape they are is because its easier to build and assemble the sections that way. They are far from aerodynamically efficient, but they're easy to build. Surely in the 21st century manufacturing techniques must have improved enough to build a plane that is actually the best shape? That would surely give more than 0.75% improvement in fuel efficiency, and they could still ditch the windows if they wanted that bit extra.

 

Not for me.I am scared of flying at the best of times

 

Would the camera lenses have some ice on them as some windows have at high altitude?wouldn't look good on a huge screen.
Everything may be reduced drag, fuel, time, etc but not the ticket price I bet!

 

@Sheal Don't even look at this thread...

 

I wouldn't mind if no windows as most times you cant see that much anyway, and a few of the cheapo hols that I had I wished I hadnt seen what I had from the air !!!!

Spruce