Integrated aircraft windshields and associated methods

A cab portion for an aircraft, comprising:

• an external flow surface having a generally rounded nose portion with a forward extremity, the external flow surface further having a windshield aperture positioned only above and aft of the forward extremity of the rounded nose portion, the external flow surface being shaped for cruise flight at a subsonic Mach number of at least 0.85;
• and
• a windshield disposed in the windshield aperture, wherein a first contour of the external flow surface and the windshield intersecting a generally vertical plane passing through the external flow surface and the windshield extends from a position on the external flow surface beneath the windshield, aft over the windshield to a position on the external flow surface aft of and above the windshield and has a generally continuously smooth, unkinked shape, and wherein a second contour of the external flow surface and the windshield intersecting a generally horizontal plane passing through the external flow surface and the windshield extends aft over the windshield to a position on the external surface aft of the windshield and has a generally continuously smooth, unkinked shape.

A method for manufacturing an aircraft system, comprising:

• fabricating an external flow surface having a generally rounded nose portion with a forward extremity and a windshield aperture positioned above and aft of the forward extremity of the rounded nose portion;
• and
• positioning a windshield in the windshield aperture, with a contour of the external flow surface and the windshield extending from a position on the external flow surface beneath the windshield, aft over the windshield to a position on the external flow surface aft of and above the windshield having a generally continuously smooth and unkinked shape.