Patent ID: 8262823

Claim:
A method of forming a structural window panel for an airborne mobile platform, comprising: using a plurality of non-fibrous, metal sheets to form a frame structure, wherein the metal sheets define a continuous peripheral edge forming an opening therein; providing a plurality of layers of generally optically transparent fiber pre-impregnated resin tape, where a resin of the tape comprises an aliphatic epoxy resin, and has an index of refraction that generally matches an index of refraction of a plurality of fibers of said tape; interleaving said plurality of layers of generally optically transparent, fiber pre-impregnated resin tape between the metal sheets to substantially cover an entire surface portion of each one of the metal sheets and to fill the opening, the layers of pre-impregnated resin tape extending substantially to outer peripheral edges of the metal sheets; heating the metal sheets and the fiber pre-impregnated resin tape layers as a unitary assembly within a tool such that the resin in each said pre-impregnated tape layer melts and substantially covers the metal sheets and fills the opening, said layers of optically transparent fiber pre-impregnated resin tape, said metal sheets and said aliphatic epoxy resin imparting a needed degree of structural strength to the window panel; and once cured, the generally transparent, fiber pre-impregnated resin tape layers and metal sheets form a structural panel having a see-through window portion in the frame structure.