The Race for the First Windowless Plane Heats Up

Yahoo Travel
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The windowless plane will be lighter and more fuel efficient. (Photo: CPI)

People often squabble for the window seat on a plane, but with a new windowless cabin concept, every seat will come with a stunning view.

The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) has released a windowless plane concept that has travelers excited about the future of flying. Instead of traditional windows, the walls would be fitted with ultra-thin, flexible screens. These screens would display 360-degree panoramic exterior views in real time using cameras mounted on the outside of the plane. 

Related: Coming to an Airplane Near You: Windowless Cockpits

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Turn your airplane wall into your own personal web center (Photo: CPI)

The U.K. company says that the design will allow passengers to choose panoramic views of the world and even check their email using the wall as a monitor. Without windows, the plane will also be lighter — meaning fuel and maintenance fees will be lower. 

This announcement is just the latest in a new trend of windowless airplane concepts.  

In August, Technicon Design released plans for an Ixion windowless jet, which has similar features. The plane will use flexible screens to cover the walls and ceilings of the cabin. In addition to displaying the current exterior environment, the screens can also be programmed to show any scenery the passengers want. The technology also allows for onscreen display, meaning that in-flight video conferencing will be possible, too. 

Related: The Future of Airplanes Could Be a Windowless Jet

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No windows? No problem. (Photo: Technicon Design)

U.S. engineering firm Spike Aerospace is also planning to launch a windowless cabin on its luxury Spike S-512 Supersonic Jet in 2018. The jet, which will travel at Mach 1.6, will also feature display screen technology.

While these announcements are exciting, there’s still a long way to go before we see one of these planes in action. Certain technologies still need improvement, and only the super-rich will be able to afford seats. 

Until then, prepare for a battle over the window seat. 

Related: Windowless Plane Would Let Passengers See the World Around Them

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