Why Are Airplane Windows Oval Shaped Instead of Square or Rectangular?

For you, the question that everyone is very curious about is “why are airplane windows round?” We answered the question in detail.

Rectangular and square windows are what we often see in most buildings today. Of course, there are also round windows that add character and interest to the design. Now think about airplanes and jets. From the smallest plane in the sky today to the largest, one important element is the same: the shape of the windows. Why don’t the small, round windows on the body have a different shape? Wouldn’t large, square windows offer better viewing opportunities? This is due to the aerodynamic structure of the aircraft and a dangerous example. Let’s find out together why airplane windows are round.

The reason airplane windows are round is because they manage pressure better

Even if you’ve never been on a plane, you’ve probably wondered why airplane windows are round. The reason why round windows are used in today’s aircraft is; is to manage the air pressure inside and outside the aircraft. While cruising above 10,000 feet, airplane cabins are pressurized to 11-12 PSI, while outside air pressure may only be 4-5 PSI. This large variability causes great stress on windows that must withstand repeated pressurization cycles.

The reason why round windows are used as standard in airplanes is that the oval shape allows the pressure to be distributed evenly throughout the panel. Additionally, the oval design resists deformation better, making it stronger for long-term use. This explains why for more than 70 years all aircraft have used round windows. However, this was not the case at the beginning of the jet age and some accidents had to occur before a new design was introduced.

At first, square windows were used in airplanes

With the onset of the jet age in the 1950s, airplane windows became more important. Until then, airplanes had square windows similar to those in everyday life. Airplanes that used square windows in their design were slower and flew at lower altitudes. However, this changed with the de Havilland Comet, the first jet aircraft.

In 1954, two planes broke up in the air, killing 56 passengers, and scientists began to investigate what could have caused this situation. It was determined that the reason was the square window design. Especially the edge of the square was under a lot of pressure, causing the plane to crack and be destroyed. The window’s four sharp edges withstood up to 70% of the stress, causing it to shatter when the aircraft was used repeatedly.

To prevent more such incidents from happening, designers turned to finding a new shape to withstand the pressure, and circular windows have since been used in aircraft.

Protection layers on airplane windows

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But that’s not the only shape engineers use to ensure windows remain intact throughout flight. You may have noticed that windows consist of three layers of acrylic. The outer one is the thickest and takes all the pressure from the outside, while the middle one is thicker again and has a small hole used to equalize the pressure and protect the inner glass. The layer we encounter as passengers is the thinnest and takes relatively little cabin pressure.