Video•Apr 30, 2026
Plane WITHOUT Cockpit Windows
A Russian design team has unveiled a concept for a next‑generation supersonic passenger jet that would ditch the traditional forward windshield, replacing it with a camera‑based visual system projected onto cockpit displays.
The proposal relies on high‑resolution external cameras, including infrared sensors, to give pilots a real‑time view in all lighting conditions. Removing the large forward window allows a stronger, lighter nose structure and eliminates the complex droop‑nose mechanism used on the Concorde, promising weight savings and higher thermal resilience at Mach 2‑plus speeds.
While passengers would retain side windows, they would be reduced to Concord‑size apertures for structural reasons. The concept remains a study, and economic pressures could delay or cancel development, but it underscores a renewed global push—by Russia, the United States and private firms—to revive commercial supersonic travel.
If realized, the window‑less cockpit could set a new standard for high‑speed aircraft design, influencing certification standards and prompting competitors to adopt similar sensor‑driven flight decks, potentially reshaping the economics of future supersonic routes.
