The design of aircraft windows goes beyond offering a beautiful view or serving as a backdrop in music videos. There's a reason for the hole in the window and the requirement to keep the shades up during takeoff. However what often puzzles people is why aircraft windows are not square like windows.
In the past aircraft windows were indeed square. This changed tragically after catastrophic accidents involving the de Havilland Comet, an early commercial jet model. Investigations revealed that square windows couldn't withstand the pressure exerted by cabin pressure during high altitude flights. Airlines prefer high altitude flights for their drag and fuel consumption as well as providing a smoother ride with less turbulence.
This safety concern led to a shift from square to oval shaped windows. This new design allows for distribution of pressure across the window significantly reducing the risk of fractures. The oval shape, with its section is strategically designed to minimize stress on the surrounding material.
While modern designs have somewhat returned to rectangular shapes rounded corners are still maintained for safety reasons. Apart from ensuring safety oval windows also provide the added benefit of offering a field of view allowing most seated passengers to have a better sightline.
In terms the rounded shape of airplane windows is an impressive engineering feat that was implemented to enhance safety during high altitude flights. This clever design element has captured the curiosity of travelers. Today we know that its main objective is to distribute pressure, across the window surface thus reducing the likelihood of cracks.
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