Why are plane windows not bigger?

Windows on aircraft are small to maximise the areas of hull between them, to increase the strength of the air frame. The air frame would be stongest if the hull had no windows.

Why are there windows in planes?

It turns out when airplane windows were square, up until the 1950s, the planes flew slower and lower. As flying became more popular, airlines began to fly at higher altitudes to cut costs (there’s less drag up there, which limits unnecessary fuel use).

What airplane has the largest windows?

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is generally accepted as the aircraft with the largest windows for passengers in the industry.

Why do aircraft windows have to be so small?

This is more resistant to fatigue, and therefore allows larger windows to be installed. Fatigue is the main reason windows have been kept smaller in the past. The aircraft fuselage is continuously expanding and contracting with changing pressures, and, over time, this can lead to defects.

Why do plane windows have to be rectangular?

If that window is rectangular, the interruption in stress flow is more significant, and pressure builds up on the sharp corners – pressure that can eventually smash the glass and crack the plane body. If the window is oval, the stress levels are more evenly balanced out.

Should passenger windows be removed from aircraft fuselage?

Whilst passengers like, and are used to, windows on aircraft, they remain a point of weakness in fuselage construction. Removing them would save money, both in maintenance and aircraft operation. But would passengers be able to cope with it?

Why do airplane windows have holes in them?

As Robbie Gonzales at io9 explains, each window is actually made up of three layers, and the hole allows the air pressure between the outer and middle panes to equilibrate. As a result, cabin pressure is only applied to the outer pane, with the middle pane preserved for emergencies.