Paris Air Show - Boeing 787 window shade demo by PPG

[boundaryzero]

Boeing should get RID of windows all together and use curved OLED displays on the passenger walls which are fed from external cameras.

The airframe structure can be made a lot lighter if there arent all these random holes in the fuselage (ie windows).

[ottomated]

@boundaryzero good idea although OLEDs are fucking expensive so not feasible

[MiLoTi85]

i need a set of 5 for my car please my side windows and rear. Thanks lol!!!! I hope they come out soon for cars.

[averredude101]

@knvbpaul language little boy

[21boxhead]

this tech is not ready it needs to be instantaneous like go from clear to black just a snap but this shadeless cover takes 1min to do that.

[MrKemal34]

My window could play gta iv

[jl3125465]

I have never seen or experienced one, so I am not sure if it is better. At first it seems to me like it is not worth it...

[joolima]

This guy says the word "window" more than Pacino in Scarface.

[tohiet]

witha boo booo boooo bo boooo bo obo

[Exagerative]

Why the fuck.. I'd rather just close a slider rather than see such money wasted (which the passenger pays for). Also why the fuck is all they talk about the stupid LED lighting wtf is this the 70's? It's hardly new, it's hardly necessary and it's hardly any use to the airline industry. Boeing is trolling or something... Airbus actually makes planes which can accommodate new numbers of people and are greener and more efficient in comparison to their Boeing counterpart... A330 vs 767? Obviously t

[faabound]

Here's my thing, i don't like the fact that they make the window look like it changes shade quicker than it obviously does. Look at the people walking by as the window dims, they look like they are running , so the process obviously takes a while.

[4crevis]

Then they'll start doing the window shading in different colours... Arrrgghhh! Fucking load of shit! Is it really that important in the whole scheme of things...? Fuck me!

[averredude101]

what a waste, why not the regular plastic shade, stupid boeing assholes

[fly4fun]

@averredude101 I have no doubt that in a letter to the editor of Flight International magazine in 1917 the following appeared:

"This throttle thing? What a waste. Why not the regular ignition interrupt switch? Stupid Curtis assholes."

[averredude101]

@fly4fun funny 

[netlord]

@averredude101

on your profile

"I just love technology and planes. In the future I want to be an airline pilot"

And yet you are bashing an innovation. Do you even know the price difference between the two systems?

[Mark96706]

@averredude101 I think the lady giving the tour in this video: /watch?v=d_4HMrem2ag& has a good explanation for the need of these window tinters.

[averredude101]

@Mark96706 some people dont want to look out the windows

[Jsd8675]

Did they forget that some people use the shade because they don't want to look out the window? 

[Cause2Just]

Wow. this looks awesome. Did you guys fix those damn annoying tray tables that come out of the arm rest!

[artyfartymusic]

hi enigma800. thanx for the typical american "the rest is up to the consumer"-policy :))

[Chris58851]

I know this dimmed window are innovation from Boeing. But still a shade would be a backup for passengers.

[RichieEaglefreak]

if there is problem with the electrical system, will the shades still work???

[sakhalin12]

doesn't that dimming of the window take very long?

[Diapason16ft]

Polarized elements? Lockheed had something like this in the L-1011 back in 1970. They called it a "sunglass window". I don't think it caught on though. Pretty nifty to see it return. Yay Boeing!

[win7sony]

is it just me or does the 787 look the same size as a 767?

[NoobSoldier2006]

how about spend time and research money into making the damn plane more stable during turbulence or more safety features instead of useless shit like a fucking shade window?

[fly4fun]

@NoobSoldier2006 Check, and check. They've made improvements to the stability in turbulence bit ly /heOw01. Built in dual HUDs and Class 3 EFB, autoscan weather radar, RNP .1.

I find it funny that people are complaining about this window shade which uses the technology found in auto-dimming rear-view mirrors. A safe and extremely reliable technology. Trust me, you'll love this.

[Nera320]

@NoobSoldier2006 I agree with you mate

[acslater017]

@NoobSoldier2006 Do you honestly believe that they're not spending hundreds of thousands of hours on engineering, design, testing, simulation, etc.? Someone's gotta do the windows, seats, air conditioning, etc. jeez

[NoobSoldier2006]

@acslater017 I do think that they are spending dollars on safety features. But I don't think the digital window shade is a high priority for majority of the passengers. I don't see any complaints about the current pull down one. If they really want to spend money on luxury feature like this, why not expand the seating space for fat ass people, double the armrest for people who sits next to each other, or more leg space to get up for bathroom? I think that's more priority than window shade.

[acslater017]

@NoobSoldier2006 Everything's got tradeoffs. Remove one seat per row (1/7) and suddenly everyone's paying 15% more per flight (Rough calculation obviously). It's not really luxury, to my understanding it's the same basic technology as auto-dimming rearview mirrors. Window shades are neat touch - people can get a view to the outside without waking up their neighbors with a shaft of God-beams to the face.

[mafacdf]

@NoobSoldier2006 I'm assuming you do not have an aeronautical engineering degree. Turbulence is unavoidable. And the little "fins" on the wingtip (winglets) are designed to minimize turbulent eddies forming off the wing tip.... increasing efficiency and maximizing smooth flying. However, turbulence is part of flying and there is nothing that can be done about that.

[Nicshooter]

@NoobSoldier2006 if you don't want or like turbulence, then don't fucking fly for fuck's sake... stop complaining.

[jaffacake1578]

@NoobSoldier2006 because planes are designed tto fly throught terrible weather already, and planes are far safe enough.

[jahurz93]

This would be good for their Boeing Business Jet. However i don't see it being beneficial for airlines and especially low cost carriers.

[stopthehatechild]

Electronic window shades just sound like one more thing that could cause a fire. The manual shades don't require any extra wiring and work perfectly well.

[allcityauto]

OK, lets outsource this American innovation to the rest of the world. Japan gets blasted by China we have no wings, you know where I am going. This thing is nothing but a flying speedboat (Fiberglass hull with Carbon fiber strands) They are way over designing this spaceship. Bring back Mulally so this thing can actually fly. My god it's been three years since it was supposed to be delivered. The US government must be involved, no other explanation is plausible.

[my235]

I think they should improve the seats on an airplane rather than screw around with the windows.

[deathshadowmage]

@my235 that is the best comment yet i've read today, not that i mind all the fancy bells and whistles, but come on, make the damn seats comfty. Now upon saying that, I've never flown, ever. But you think they would work on the seats too in all of this...oh well.

[VIPBaller]

And then airbus went and copied every bit of it -.-

[jamiewhittle]

Just on other thing to go wrong and joe public will moan like shit

ESP the Americans

[olliethc1]

looks cool but that glass took ages to dim as the footage was speeded up.. check out the people walking past outside lol... benny hill anyone ha ha......!

[thegeckoproduction]

isnt continental getting alot of these planes for over seas flight and country flight?

[bunchalinks]

i wonder if the 787 will end up like the concorde.......

[w67]

Hi Kent,

I hope you'll fly 787 very soon ;-)

[TheAirvisionist]

But the shades dim so slowly, wouldn't that be annoying.

"HONEY CLOSE YOUR WINDOW"

"Okay" *presses button*

"HONEY, I SAID CLOSE THE WINDOW"

"It's closing!" *slowly dims*

"CLOSE IT ALL THE WAY"

"I think my window is broken..."

[sanghiraghav]

What if I want complete darknes inside the aircraft?

[HolySpaghettiMonster]

Next time you see me I hope to be cheesing it with my face pressed to the window of one of these!

[GGGunitNextLevel]

Only 787 ? -,-

[vboredv]

haha, look at the sun with just tinted glass, you won't feel anything but your retinas will be cooking.... lawsuits incoming!

[TheJockman117]

Oh ya! My dad weld at Phoenix gateway airport (william's gateway) and it just landed in Phoenix for the first time! I got to go on the tower's catwalk and look at it, inside it, plus a free tour :D

[khizar129]

thats great..... no disturbance during day time......

[pete5668]

The shade is interesting, but if it breaks you are out of luck.

[evilbonesman666]

Some people are so afraid of change and technological advancement, that they'd rather sit there and whine and nitpick than propagate constructive ideologies.....people...this is a beautiful aircraft built by the leaders in the industry (not bashin' Airbus)....the future is here.....ACCEPT IT!!!

[jerarbel]

tell me whats new here??? plenty of entertainement and cables makes less secure; see the swissair crash because of entertainement system cables.

who need light blue yellow or red? thats the future?

the future was the Concorde; the A787 is like the others airplanes and its bring me back into the past

[ELOA23]

@jerarbel maybe you should look at all the advancements made on the 787 before you decide to write something. the only reason concorde and supersonic flight has never been successful for commercial aircraft is because of the costs and complaints from people because of the shock waves caused by an aircraft traveling faster than sound. Imagine hearing the sound of a bomb keeping you awake all night long because there's so many "concordes" flying overhead.

P.S.> it's 787 not A787<---- only airbus

[artyfartymusic]

Do passangers become blind by looking through dimmed windows directly into the sun?

[venichen1]

i dont think so

[bules72]

@artyfartymusic A very good point.

[dylanhelmer]

@artyfartymusic i can imagine no, as long as it's fully dimmed, because it would be like looking through very very dimmed sun glasses at the suns. i think the window most likely blocks alot more light out to the point where the suns not as bright

[artyfartymusic]

The Sun can be viewed directly only when using filters specifically designed for this purpose. Such filters usually have a thin layer of aluminum, chromium or silver deposited on their surfaces that attenuates ultraviolet, visible, and infrared energy.

[enigma800]

@artyfartymusic I don't know, why don't you test it and see?

[scaremengaviation]

@artyfartymusic Do you become blind when you look at the sun through sunglasses? No.

[applesweeter]

Dear All,

I have some questions about psychology:

(1)Why do we love flying?

(2) Why do we always want to build new aeroplanes?

(3) Why do we think that building new aeroplanes is a representation of our success?

(4) Why do prove the process of designing and building new aeroplanes?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for your creative ideas and brainstorm!!! :)

[artyfartymusic]

(1) its convenient, fast and exciting to fly

(2) to make tham saver more economical and more comfortable

(3) because it is a challange to make planes saver, more economical and more comfortable

(4) to speed up the process to make planes saver, more economical and more comfortable

easy questions :-)

[RobertsDigital]

artyfartymusic people are so dumb that they dont even know why they complain. People invent new aircraft and you see morons come to youtube and complain about it and complain. Some try to imitate others in complaning for no good reason.

[JorWizzi]

I fly a lot, and there's nothing more pissing than a person who wants to watch as you fly over the Atlantic for 8 hrs during the day and ur trying to sleep!!! This is a VERY welcome imrpovement!!!

[eltrip50]

I fly a bit and have never had a window shade fail. Seems like a silly feature that could easily be more unreliable than a mechanical shade. Gimmicks on planes dont' attract me. Reliability and comfort are what I'm looking for. Too many bells and whistles on this platform..

[astronoman11]

@eltrip50 yea i agree. plus it didnt go all the way black! just like 80% how bogus is that!

[ELOA23]

@eltrip50

5 bucks says as soon as you fly on one you won't complain anymore

[eltrip50]

@ELOA23 Nevertheless it's a needless bell and whistle that doesn't work as effectively as what it is trying to replace. Would prefer tried and true technology rather than some bell and whistle an engineering grad student wanting to show his training came up with. Like I said I fly occasionally and haven't run into it yet but would like to collect the $5 anytime.

[ELOA23]

@eltrip50 you know, they said the same thing about computers in the 1950's and about the internet in the early 90's i'm sure you probably said those were needless bells and whistles compared to a pen and paper or just a typewriter, right?

[eltrip50]

Not really, computers were looked upon as they key to the future of labor saving devices and the internet fueled the 90's economy. Electric window shades are silly in comparison.... I'll avoid the obvious ageist attacks you seem to want to draw this into.

[myndenway]

How is this an improvement over a shade which blocks out ALL light instantly? Gimmicks.

[fly4fun]

Those shades fail often. They tend to get stuck up behind the sidewall. These use the same technology that's in an auto-dimmable rear view mirror, which have excellent reliability.

Not to mention that you can still make out objects through this one if you'd like, as opposed to the open or closed window shade.

[magknight]

@fly4fun AND You don't have the weight of the window shades. ;-)

[ChRIs23696]

@fly4fun yeh, as part of my job i travel to london every month (and back) which is 42 flights a year and i cannot recall that ever happening to me. its a stupid pointless idea just to show off a useless feature. BOEING'S DONE IT AGAIN!!

airbus is the way forward. better technology, more economic, newer and more manoeverable for that matter

[ELOA23]

@ChRIs23696 airbus takes too much control away from the pilot with its control systems. I think having a control system that doesn't allow a pilot to do his job when his plane is going out of control is a far more useless feature than making a more reliable shading system. over the years Boeing has made more reliable aircraft than airbus.

[IngazZagni]

I think it's a neat idea. It would be useful when it's very bright outside and maybe the sun is reelecting off the wing, you can limit the amount of light coming through but still see outside.

On a side note does anybody know if Airbus are planning this for the A350's?

[darwinpolice]

I totally agree. Just like sunglasses... those things are so useless! Why pay for sunglasses when you can just close your eyes and block all the sunlight for free?

[theknightlynews]

The point of sunglasses is to block out the sun's glare. The point of a window shade is to block out the light completely. That's why sunglasses instead of a shade makes no sense at all. Surely you can understand the difference?

[darwinpolice]

My god, people's ability to completely and utterly miss sarcasm never ceases to amaze me. My point was that while a traditional window shutter's purpose is to entirely block out light, the electrochromatic shade adds the option to dim the incoming light so that you can still look outside without being bothered by excessive sunlight.

[theknightlynews]

That's why it does not do the job of a shade. Yes, I got your point and addressed it. It was flawed logic. Blocking out all light is important if you want to sleep and the sun is shining in on that side of the plane. Even with sun glasses on, the sun is too powerful to be blocked out by some tinted window. A shade blocks it out completely, instantly, and a lot cheaper.

[Weirdo10o4]

It'll save your eyes, Greenland is bad for your eyes.

[georgeh1231]

@myndenway when you fly on crappy air new zealnd planes you will really appreciate the auto dimming function!!!!!! if ur ever going to new zealand and ur flying around nz use air new zealand it is an amasing airline the service is absolutely amasing. it is the best company in nz by far

[DonLoki]

@myndenway this weighs less than the shade and its 200 fewer moving parts on a plane.

[deepseaskate]

Then Nazi Flight attendants will get centrally controlled shades and eventually 'choice' will be taken away from passenger.

[bradmc10]

i love this window shad but lets hope to god they dont stop working im a flight attendent and when your doing a long flight and the sun comes up early we like to kkep the shads down so it dosnt wake up the passangers one broken sjade can let alot of light into the cabin

[jbird0168]

Lets just get the bird off the ground, then we'll worry about window shades

[sukiesoya]

Boeing>Airbus

[steamfitter123]

very cool!!!

[Ryan198416]

Very cool idea, but I think I would rather the shade, it seems like it takes less time. Can't wait to see the 787 flying!

[jvillan85]

you mean it takes less time to pull down a shade than it does to push a button??

[Ryan198416]

No, i mean it takes less time for it to block out the sun. the tint goes gradually.

[fuddlynn]

This is great. Is this technology SPD or Electrochromic? Judging by the slow switching speeds I'm guessing it is Electrochromic but not sure.

Does anyone actually know?

[fly4fun]

From their site: Alteos interactive window systems by PPG Aerospace are the worlds first electrochromic window systems for commercial aircraft passenger cabins, according to Tom Clark, PPG Aerospace general manager for transparencies.

[pinoyaggie]

I rather fly on a delayed but very safe aircraft than a rushed and unsafe one.

[bladeere14]

cant wait to fly this beast :D i'll jumpseat on this plane just to get to exeperience the new tech in the cabin, amazing plane.

[ro7477]

amazing. by the way, how did you get that "short url" for your blog link? thats very cool too!

[smartbotX]

what if the windows fails or electrical failures, no piracy? Lol joking

[imitchellg5]

That's so cool. Thanks for the great vid. I CANNOT wait to fly on a 787!

[asmomolefou]

If each window has a big LCD screen to control this thing, I doubt it will bring a weight save.

I propose instead to get rid of the windows altogether, and replace them with big LCDs and some TV cameras to film the outside.

[dhammerindy]

Can it go completely black and block all light?

[fly4fun]

It ranges from 70% of the light allowed through all the way down to only .1% that gets through. See the blog post in the description for more details.

[NNJ007]

I hope we see something similar on the XWB

[d2gizzo]

It seems to me like Boeing are thinking out absolutely everything with the design of the Dreamliner. This is such a great idea - it definitely opens up the cabin and gives passengers a greater experience of flying. I just can't get my head around how these actually work?!

[Falkirion]

Boeing didn't think it out well enough. The aircrafts fuselage has recently been determined to need strengthening knocking back the first flight until later in the year. And the Dreamliner is already 2 years behind schedule at this point.

Nothing against Boeing themselves though, all new aircraft designs will encounter trouble. Airbus's answer the XWB will probably go through the same thing

[d2gizzo]

I didn't realise that. Thank you for the information :).

[boomshel23]

Not everything... the one thing that they didn't think out was how on earth could they get all thin done in the timeframe they had originally set to release this jet. Already 2 years behind schedule at this point and still have yet to take it's first test flight. I saw delays in this project coming a long time ago, when Airbus had it's own trouble with the A380. I hope they learned from their mistakes and will do better with the XWB, but I'm certain it will be de ja vu all over again! ;-)

[jvillan85]

well boomshel what's technology without trial and error? better safe than sorry.

[boomshel23]

@jvillan85, I hear you.

[jasleil]

I think Boeing is tryin' everything they could to get this plane as perfect as possible.

[Aviat92]

Duh!? That's why all the delays.

[krizmsf]

Excelente ideia

[SeanBreen]

Great Idea ,,,,,

[britheguy]

Great stuff. Shedding useless weight. Too bad Boeing is having problems releasing the 787 on time. I do hope to see it soon.

[ferociousfrankie]

That's so cool. I can't wait to fly in a 787 in the future.

[iranair777]

I can't wait to fly one :p

[thehellraizer]

Pretty cool :)