Abstract: An improved hypersonic aerodynamic configuration which has a nose portion and cavity formed at the bow of the nose portion. An optical window arrangement is provided at the base of the cavity such that during flight, temperatures at the optical window are reduced as a result of maintaining the cavity substantially within a subsonic region of the bowshock. The cavity can be gas pressurized in order to maintain a stable pressure and reduce the amplitude of shock oscillations in front of the cavity produced by movement of the bowshock. The cavity configuration also achieves a reduction in optical aberrations about the optical window by maintaining a line of sight near normal to the bowshock. The cavity also produces reduced heat and turbulence about the optical window compared to a window location equidistant from the nose to the side of the cone.