I have a pretty bad fear of heights. I guarantee you I will never set foot in anything like this.

I like the pictures posted with the thread, looks like good background pics for my monitor.     -- Ace --

Actually cheaper, since windows on airplanes require special metals and support. Also, it's not really flying by instruments. That refers to being in zero visibility conditions. If anything, observation is enhanced. Also, radar guided landing isn't necessary...any more than any regular aircraft.

Quoting Jafo,

reply 7

It'd be very unlikely the cockpit wouldn't still have glass.  Windowless cockpits were tried a few times...for supersonic military aircraft....forward view via periscope...[aerodynamic/tech necessity]... but convincing wobbly Joe Public to travel in a plane at the best of times doesn't always go well...and to think the potential existed where-by the pilots could be BLIND would be an absolute commercial deal-breaker....

I agree. Windows will always remain for pilots because in the worst case scenario where your instruments fail you want to know the pilot can at least see where he is going.

Cameras also make a vulnerable point. a small lens is easier to foul up than a window. While structurally stronger, if something goes wrong with it you end up blinded.

As a replacement for passenger windows I can see it working, but I doubt they'd ever use it for the pilots.

Once they invent transparent aluminum structural integrity won't be a problem. As for cameras I agree with Jafo. When all else fails being able to see where you are going is a good thing.