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FalconX88 t1_iy5490u wrote

Reply to comment by jdmgto in 'Landmark achievement': Rolls-Royce and easyJet hail successful hydrogen jet engine test by Wagamaga

> commercial aircraft store most of their fuel in the wing structure.

I wouldn't expect planes to look like they do now. There are a lot of different concepts of planes, look at Airbus Maveric. That blended design would create a lot of volume that can be used.

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shwag945 t1_iy5rggt wrote

Commercial passenger planes will probably look the same as they do now because of windows. Windows are important for reducing passenger stress during flight and safety in case of emergencies.

Windowless planes have been a commercial dead end for a long time.

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FalconX88 t1_iy7zdsv wrote

Most long haul flights I've been on the past years basically had the windows closed for most of the flight anyway. And in a 10 abreast most people don't have window access right now. However, there are also solutions for that, like fake windows with screens or ceiling windows that let in some sunlight.

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jdmgto t1_iy7ucth wrote

MacDonald Douglas/Boeing’s original blended wing body BWB from the late 90’s early 00’s was toyed with but passengers hated it. Most of your passengers wind up in the middle of the plane, far from any windows. You’ve also got issues with trying to get everyone off the plane in an emergency. The FAA has some pretty stringent rules about how long you’ve got to do that. You could, in theory, turn the center of the plane into a giant cryo tank and seat people on the sides near the windows but… well you’re building a huge aircraft and then spending most of the volume on a giant thermos instead of things that make you money.

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FalconX88 t1_iy7z38a wrote

> Most of your passengers wind up in the middle of the plane, far from any windows

As they do now, but now we have personal inflight entertainment and on long haul you often got the shades closed almost all flight so not that big of a deal any more.

I agree that there are also challenges, but I wouldn't assume in 50 years planes will look the same

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