Boeing 737NG "eyebrows"

[Jayden Laing]

Hi,
Just wondering, does anyone know why most airlines are painting over the so called "Eyebrows" on the Boeing 737NG.

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6377757
This photo shows them covered up with paint on this Boeing 737-86N

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6378308
This photo shows them not painted over on this Boeing 737-3Q8

[Bernie P]

I thought that it was replaced rather than painted over...

[Nick W.]

There a few reasons, ones that come to mind from an old thread on the old board is that advances in anti-collision equipment om aircraft has made them largely redundant compared to computers. Newer 737's are being rolled out without them as the eyebrow windows take up more weight then just a continuation of the panels around them (first one rolled out in 2005, although design began in 2004)

There are photos on airliners.net/JP.net of DC-9's and so forth that have these windows but are painted out now as the cost of getting them replaced is more than the fuel costs that would be saved from eliminating such weight.

As per wikipedia:

Most 737 cockpits are equipped with "eyebrow windows" positioned above the main glareshield. Eyebrow windows were a feature of the original 707. They allowed for greater visibility in turns, and offered better sky views if navigating by stars. With modern avionics, they became redundant, and many pilots actually placed newspapers or other objects in them to block out sun glare. They were eliminated from the 737 cockpit design in 2004, although they are still installed in military variants and at customer request. These windows are sometimes removed and plugged, usually during maintenance overhauls and can be distinguished by a metal plug which differs from smooth metal which appears in later aircraft that were not originally fitted with the windows.

N

[Greg F]

slightly off topic, and random but its 737 related, have a look at this photo, oviously they ran out of 'decals' for the Boeing 737-400 sticker :p

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6373976&nseq=3

[Joseph Saragozza.]

i think they look great without the eyebrows
off the topic but i couldn't help but notice the 707, 727 & 737 have the same noses.

[Nick W.]

Sure do!

As Section 41 [the nose section on a Boeing Aircraft] is a complex component, identical models are shared within two groups of Boeing aircraft:

The 707/720, 727, and 737 have a common Section 41. Newer versions of the 737 have a different avionics package while retaining structural commonality.
The 767 and 777 also share the frontal portion. These aircraft have vastly different avionics, however.
The forward-most section of the 787 encompasses more of the aircraft than in past models. This is due to the aircraft's modular design and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) construction (the first such design of its type)[1]

[Marty H]

Im fairly sure with B737's pre 2005 build they replace the 'eyebrow' glass if it cracks, you will notice VH-VBY VH-VBZ and alot of the VH-VU register aircraft in the virgin fleet dont have the 'eyebrows' but the VH-VO registered -800's and the rest of the -700's some have the 'eyebrows' others have had them replaced.

[Jayden Laing]

Oh Thanks. Replies were much appreciated

[Nathan Long]

Eyebrow window plugs shown clearly on an AA 738.

http://users.tpg.com.au/twr75/AA_B738_NOSE.jpg

[Marty H]

I noticed last night VH-VOX is now sporting 'green' eyebrow plugs, obviously still awaiting to be painted.