[skymstr02]

Originally Posted by hharney

I don't understand why Cessna didn't just use holes here instead of cutting out slots.

The slots are there to compensate for the expansion/contraction in the windshield. The acrylic plexiglass has a greater coeffecient than the surrounding structure. This assures that the windshield will not be under stress with temperature changes.

Originally Posted by hharney

I wonder if they would have used holes they may have been able to eliminate the center strip (it is not really a true center post because the w/s is one piece) because the holes would secure the windshield to the cabin without the center strip. Must be a reason, Cessna is smarter than the average, right?

Actually, that center post keeps the windshield from being sucked out, not to hold it in. The natural forces around the windshield tend to suck it out, not blow it in. This is from some engineering data that I saw at Cessna. This is why it is easy to throw something out of the hinged DV window.