"JGalban via AviationKB.com" wrote

In the late 40s, when Northrop was building the YB-49 jet powered flying
wings, they put together a mock up of a civilian airliner version. I
remember seeing a promo film about it, which can probably be found
floating
around the web somewhere.

Northrop solved the problem of passenger claustrophobia by making the
leading edge of the wing transparent. The passengers were seated in a
theater-like arrangement and could see where the plane was headed.

That was back when passenger planes were very noisy, and not too fast.

I can see a leading edge bird strike at 250 knots +. It would bring a real
meaning to the word messy.

The noise of a transparent leading edge would be something else, too. All
of the wind whistling around the leading edge would really make some noise.
It might work if it were an inch or so thick, but we both know what that
would be. Heavy, and expensive.

All we need is transparent aluminum, like enough to replace the 16" of
Lexan, as they wanted in the Star Trek movie.

I think if the G loads were not too much for passenger's comfort while
banking, (I'm not convinced they would be, without some real good math
proofs that I'm not good enough to do) I think viewscreens in front of each
passenger would be a great trade for the window view. I hate to not have a
window seat, and it would make me happy to have a view out of any of the
several cameras I chose to view.
--
Jim in NC