Photo: GIII Window Pane Cracked Inflight

[User546]

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=821229&size=L

"Failed our outer pane at FL450 just about 30 West enroute to Paris. Made for an interesting afternoon... The windshield heat element failed to begin this process."

 

[Yank McCobb]

I've had two panes crack in flight to a similar degree. One outer, one inner. Both times we diverted to a nearby airport without further incident.

 

[bafanguy]

Those type failures are not unheard of. I've seen several. It gets your attention. Saw an MD80 FO actually dive under the yoke when his windshield failed in an even more dramatic manner. Pretty cool, actually.

 

[kingairyahoo]

been there too. one of my first maladies in a king air...mine failed at FL290 in a brand new 200...while doing a postflight after landing, the pilot seatcover was found to be mysteriously missing

 

[Makesheepnervus]

Had it happen to me in a Westwind at night. Heard a loud bang and was shining a flash light around the cockpit trying to figure out what the source the of the noise might be. Once I saw the completely shatered windshield I had the O2 mask on in about 1 second flat!