Cheap traveloptions such as cheapairplane tickets, and cheap vacation packages willnot be part of a plan to launch a supersonic jet that will fly up to 18passengers from London to New York in less than four hours at speeds up to1,370 mph.
Spike Aerospace is designing a supersonic plane (the S-512)without windows to avoid glare for the passengers and to lighten the planewhich otherwise has to be heaver to maintain cabin pressure and keep itswindows intact. A plane without windowscan move faster and save on fuel.
The S-512 is expected to be introduced in 2018 and willhave screens covering the walls that will be able to show the outside view,provide entertainment, or display documents for in air meetings. The passengers will be able to control whatis seen.
Spike Aerospace contends that within 20 years no new planeswill offer windows, claiming that most of the time while flying, passengerscannot see much anyway.
Boeing has a different point of view stating that it is notlooking at going windowless. Plans todaycall for Boeings 777 X, due out within the next decade, to come withwindows. Boeings research has foundthat passengers want windows.
One pilot observed Placing yourself in a sealed metaltube, flying faster than the speed of sound at great altitude with no specialawareness would prove disturbing for most, and as a pilot I can see huge safetyissues. He observed that windows arenot just there for passengers but also to allow emergency workers to see in.
Ultimately the future of windows on planes may well hingeon how significant the savings can be achieved by flying windowless planes.
www.cheapfares.com