Why Do Airplanes Have Rounded Windows?

turn out there ’s more purpose to the design of an airplane window than give up for esthetically pleasing birds - eye - view photos or staring out of them pretending you ’re in a music video . There ’s a reason why they have thatlittle holeand why we have to keep theirshades upduring takeoff . But what about their most characteristic feature : Why are plane windows rounded ?

If you enquire a minor child to draw an airplane , they ’ll more than likely draw the passenger window as little ovals , but planes have n’t always bet that direction . The de Havilland Comet , an early commercial super acid design , had straightforward windows . But within just five years of their institution , three Comets had aseries of tragical crashes .

After the third clank in 1954 , investigating determined that all three crashes had been get by crack window frame , as a result of their square purpose . It was unveil that square windows deal very bad with the stress stimulate by the increasing cabin press that come with eminent - height flying .

However , high-pitched ALT is a necessary element of commercial-grade escape – up high in the sky , there ’s less drag , which in good turn mean less fuel used . That ’s ideal for airlines because it hold open them money and foreshorten the impact of flight on the environment ( although scientist are await intoalternativesto traditional fuel ) . There ’s also less Sturm und Drang at high EL , which makes for a more comfortable flight .

So what was the solvent ? Swap those squares out for ellipse . This helps to equally distribute the pressure exerted on the window and thus reduce the likeliness of crack .

“ The narrow-minded part of the oval will be design to ensure the curve does not engender unsafe emphasis in the surrounding material , ” explained Dai Whittingham , chief executive of the UK Flight Safety Committee , speaking toMailOnline Travel . “ Recently we have started to see some interior designer opting for more rectangular form , but these will always have curved corners . ”

Besides the component of increased safety , there are still some more trivial welfare . “ Designers opt ellipse windows because they can get a larger look at area which suits the biggest range of rider seat heights , ” said Whittingham .

Check out this TV by the YouTube channelReal Engineering , which explains the cathartic behind this engineering oddity that has puzzled air travelers ever since .

An earlier version of this article was published inJanuary 2016 .