The Surprising Reason Why Airplane Windows Are Round

You wouldn't want to fly any other way! 

rounded airplane window

Airplane windows, with their uniquely round edges, can be very annoying. Say, for instance, you're flying over a gorgeous beach...but those silly corners are cutting off your view. Or you can just barely make out whether the mechanic is walking along the tarmac with good news or bad. Well, chin up — because it turns out today's windows are specifically designed with your safety in mind.

You see, in the years shortly after 1903, when airplanes were first invented, square windows were the norm. Once commercial jetliners became popular in the 1950s, the speeds and altitudes at which planes flew became faster and higher to the point where two aircrafts tragically "disintegrated" in the air. It was discovered that square windows were to blame. 

Here's why: The sharp corners on squares are natural weak spots, so when they are paired with higher air pressure it leads to disaster. Meanwhile, curved designs don't have a focal point; they distribute weight and stress evenly, therefore reducing the potential for breaks or cracks. As a result, airplane windows have been redesigned into the oval-like shapes that we've come to know today. You can bet we're never going to complain about an obscured beach view ever again. 

[via Travel + Leisure

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