AIRCRAFT WITH A DRAG NEUTRAL VEHICLE WINDOW

An aircraft includes a fuselage defining a mold line, at least one frame disposed in the fuselage, at least one transparent pane suspended within the frame. The transparent pane is a deformable material that defines a first surface position hwhen not subjected to a differential pressure ΔP thereacross and a second surface position hwhen subject to the differential pressure ΔP thereacross. The first and second surface positions are defined with reference to the outside mold line. The first surface position hdefines a reverse curvature. In response to the differential pressure ΔP, the second surface position hincludes bulging of the transparent pane by a predetermined distance Δh. The frame is constructed to be positioned within the aircraft such that the transparent pane presents a surface, when subjected to the pressure differential ΔP, that is substantially consistent with the outside mold line of the vehicle.