Present and Future Developments in the Use of Organic Materials for Aircraft Transparencies Available to Purchase

The use of organic materials in the construction of aircraft transparencies is introduced by discussing their properties in relation to the requirements of strength and vision of the different types of transparency in the variety of environmental conditions in which they have to operate. The advantages and disadvantages of the particular currently manufactured materials are examined and the way in which their individual properties may best be utilized in the design and construction of transparencies is described and demonstrated by showing examples of proven designs. Present and future developments of both rigid sheet and flexible interlayer materials are discussed, particular reference being made to the development of ‘high temperature’ materials and the use of plastic main plies in combination with glass face plies to form hard‐wearing lightweight laminates. With the present availabilty of the improved acrylic materials, the author looks forward to the possibility of a reduction in the required design factors and a change in the interpretation of the fail‐safe requirements enabling simpler, lighter windows using organic materials to be designed in the future.