A window arrangement for a vehicle subject to pressure changes may include a first transparent member and a second transparent member spaced apart from one another. A flexible seal may be interposed between the first transparent member and the second transparent member. A hermetically sealed variable volume enclosure is sealed off from a cabin interior. The hermetically sealed variable volume enclosure may be bounded by the first transparent member, the second transparent member, and the flexible seal joining the first transparent member and the second transparent member around a perimeter thereof. The flexible seal may have an elastically mobile body structured and arranged to permit relative movement between the first transparent member and the second transparent member to change a volume of the enclosure in response to a pressure change in the cabin interior to equalize a pressure differential between the enclosure and the cabin interior.

The integration of a hinged door with a door leaf in a non-pressurized aircraft. The non-pressurized aircraft includes a canopy frame with a canopy frame cross-section profile. The canopy frame cross section profile has first and second canopy frame faces that are arranged at a predetermined angle relative to each other, and a third canopy frame face that is arranged between the first and second canopy frame faces. The non-pressurized aircraft further includes a hinge that is entirely arranged within the outline of the non-pressurized aircraft and pivotally mounts the door leaf to the third canopy frame face.

A system for monitoring performance of an aircraft windshield includes a sensor comprising a sensory contact and an evaluation unit. The sensory contact is in physical contact with one or more components of the windshield, and generates a signal representative of the performance of the component(s) of the windshield. An electrical connector is secured to the surface of the windshield facing the interior of the aircraft. The signal from the sensory contact passes through the connector to the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit acts on the signal to determine the performance of the component(s) of the windshield, wherein the evaluation unit is spaced from and out of physical contact with the windshield and the electrical connector, and is in electrical contact with the electrical connector.

A coated substrate includes: a substrate; an electrically conductive multilayer stack on the substrate; and a coating on the electrically conductive multilayer stack. A thickness of the coating is 5 to 10 mils and the coating includes a conductive, anti-static tiecoat on the electrically conductive multilayer stack; and a conductive, anti-static topcoat on the conductive, anti-static tiecoat. The conductive, anti-static tiecoat and the conductive, anti-static topcoat are formed from a coating composition including a hydrophobic first aliphatic polyisocyanate, a second aliphatic polyisocyanate including a hydrophilic portion, a polyester polyol, a hydrophilic polyol, and a fluorinated polyol compound is disclosed.

Methods systems and apparatuses for reducing or substantially eliminating distortion in a transparent substrate in situ are disclosed.

A window for an aircraft, the window including a first transparent layer, and a first plurality of light detectors arranged around a circumference of the first transparent layer to measure the intensity of light refracted upon entering and exiting the first transparent layer. An aircraft and a method for determining the point at which a laser beam impacts a window of the aircraft are disclosed.

A system for monitoring performance of an aircraft windshield includes a sensor comprising a sensory contact and an evaluation unit. The sensory contact is in physical contact with one or more components of the windshield, and generates a signal representative of the performance of the component(s) of the windshield. An electrical connector is secured to the surface of the windshield facing the interior of the aircraft. The signal from the sensory contact passes through the connector to the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit acts on the signal to determine the performance of the component(s) of the windshield, wherein the evaluation unit is spaced from and out of physical contact with the windshield and the electrical connector, and is in electrical contact with the electrical connector.

An aircraft is provided that includes a passenger service unit for a passenger seated in a seat in its cabin. The aircraft includes a camera configured to acquire an image of the passenger, and a control module configured to at least receive the image of the passenger. The control module is configured to receive non-tactile gesture preference data and dominant hand data, and access a non-tactile gesture data store that includes a plurality of images of non-tactile hand signals or non-tactile hand gestures. Based on the foregoing, the control module is configured to generate non-tactile gesture data in accordance with and indicative of a non-tactile hand signal or a non-tactile gesture made by the passenger. And the control module is configured to control one or more cabin systems including in at least one instance the passenger service unit based on the non-tactile gesture data.

An aeronautical glazing unit includes at least one sheet of modified acrylic, wherein the sheet is combined with at least one other sheet of modified acrylic, and/or at least one sheet of cast poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and/or at least one sheet of another transparent polymer such as polycarbonate (PC), and/or at least one sheet of glass in particular that is chemically strengthened, as a laminated and/or multiple glazing unit.

An aircraft viewing platform system and method that enables passengers to view the exterior of the aircraft while in flight includes a canopy assembly, a platform assembly supporting at least one seat, and an elevating mechanism to facilitate raising the platform into a volume of the canopy assembly extending through a fuselage cutout beyond the fuselage periphery. The system and method may include an actuating mechanism such as a jack screw or a telescoping system. The platform can have integrated rollers slide configured to roll in guide rails. The system can include a control panel that regulates the elevating mechanism motion. The control panel allows the viewer to move the platform. The platform can include a rotating pedestal to allow passengers have a 360-degree view of the aircraft exterior.