Glass bottomed plane

[227bhp]

Has there ever been one? If not, why not?

[Crush]

Because the cargo would get in the way?

https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/virgin-laun...

[Crush]

Sort of glass bottomed if you are the testicle gunner

[eharding]

227bhp said:

Has there ever been one? If not, why not?

Quite a few aerobatic aircraft have clear perspex floor panels, the better to gauge box position in competitions.

[Talksteer]

227bhp said:

Has there ever been one? If not, why not?

Plenty of WWII era bombers have glass noses and from the B29 onward some of these have had pressurised cabins too.

Why isn't it done much, because it's a niche requirement and it's really expensive to modify modern aircraft which haven't had this as a design requirement.

That said it would be awesome so I'm sure it will be incorporated into some rich persons private aircraft.

[NM62]

I saw a few of these Tupolev 134 and Ilyushin IL-76

which had a glass nose - for navigation purposes.

Also this Edgley which I think I saw at Farnborough back in the 80s.

Edited by NM62 on Saturday 2nd July 17:02

Edited by NM62 on Saturday 2nd July 17:07

[dr_gn]

The Brewster Buffalo had glazed panels on the underside of its fuselage.

[mybrainhurts]

This glass bottomed aeroplane of which you speak...would that include the toilet?

[jamieduff1981]

A glass bottom in a modern airliner would give people on the ground a nice look at the baggage bins. A glass floor in a modern airliner would give the passengers a good view of the baggage bins.

[shakotan]

jamieduff1981 said:

A glass bottom in a modern airliner would give people on the ground a nice look at the baggage bins. A glass floor in a modern airliner would give the passengers a good view of the baggage bins.

Welcome, Jimmy Two Times.

[944fan]

shakotan said:

jamieduff1981 said:

A glass bottom in a modern airliner would give people on the ground a nice look at the baggage bins. A glass floor in a modern airliner would give the passengers a good view of the baggage bins.

Welcome, Jimmy Two Times.

I'm gonna go get the papers, get the papers.

[andyr30]

I've wondered about this, and then thought about the above....so I came up with screens on the floor, with cameras on the outside pointing down to give the illusion of a glass bottom.

I can imagine some people who fear flying already would probably not be too keen on it though

[Composite Guru]

The only way I could see them doing this is covering the floor in flat screens and have a camera looking from the bottom of the plane. Would give the same sensation without the luggage being in the way.

[dr_gn]

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.

...so use acrylic, which isn't. That's what most aircraft "glass" is made of anyway, unless it's in an area that needs to be particularly impact resistant, or needs significant heating.

[IanH755]

shakotan said:

Welcome, Jimmy Two Times.

He's saying there's a difference between a glass bottom and a glass floor. So a glass bottom would only show people on the outside whats in the hold and if it was a glass floor then it would only show the people inside the plane whats in the hold as either way there is the baggage hold between the passengers and the outside of the plane.

Simple really

[dr_gn]

Nanook said:

dr_gn said:

...so use acrylic, which isn't. That's what most aircraft "glass" is made of anyway, unless it's in an area that needs to be particularly impact resistant, or needs significant heating.

Perhaps I misunderstood the question then.

Probably not, but I'm just assuming the o/p was using "glass" as a generic term for a transparent material.

[shakotan]

IanH755 said:

shakotan said:

Welcome, Jimmy Two Times.

He's saying there's a difference between a glass bottom and a glass floor. So a glass bottom would only show people on the outside whats in the hold and if it was a glass floor then it would only show the people inside the plane whats in the hold as either way there is the baggage hold between the passengers and the outside of the plane.

Simple really

Oh yes...

[jamieduff1981]

shakotan said:

IanH755 said:

shakotan said:

Welcome, Jimmy Two Times.

He's saying there's a difference between a glass bottom and a glass floor. So a glass bottom would only show people on the outside whats in the hold and if it was a glass floor then it would only show the people inside the plane whats in the hold as either way there is the baggage hold between the passengers and the outside of the plane.

Simple really

Oh yes...

Attention to detail

[kowalski655]

Composite Guru said:

The only way I could see them doing this is covering the floor in flat screens and have a camera looking from the bottom of the plane. Would give the same sensation without the luggage being in the way.

I'm sure I read somewhere about something like this for the pilots cabin, to help them see upon landing

[Tyre Smoke]

Would never be a commercial success. I don't mind flying, love travelling in fact, but hate heights - by that I mean edges, like death slides, cliff tops, that sort of thing. I got seriously jittery going up in the Eiffel Tower lift. A walk of death panel in the floor like the one at the top of the Blackpool Tower makes me feel sick just thinking about it.

A see-through plane floor (whether real or via camera/screens) would be a definite no-no.