Pane barrier
Question: The two outer panes of a passenger aircraft cabin window have a
tiny piece of cylindrical metal separating them. It is always near the base of
the panes, not in the centre, and is frequently surrounded by condensation. What
purpose does it serve and what is it made of?
Answer: Airline windows typically comprise three or more layers of glass (or
acrylic) to provide insulation from the very cold atmosphere at altitude. The
tiny silvery cylinder is really the edge of a small hole drilled in the middle
layer to allow the pressure to equalise between the…
