Author Topic: F4U question (Read 1666 times)

SunTracker · « **on:** March 13, 2005, 04:09:38 PM »

People keep saying that there was not a cockpit floor in the F4U. So the pilots seat just hung in an empty space?

frank3 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2005, 04:30:37 PM »

I think they mean there wasn't a supporting floor to stand on, instead they'd just plant their feet at the rudders.

To think of it, why did fighter planes need floors anyway?

SELECTOR · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2005, 05:17:38 PM »

need floors to keep the sides apart

Bodhi · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2005, 06:16:56 PM »

In the early F4u's there was no floor in the cockpit, just foot troughs below and aft of the rudder pedals and a seat which is suspended from the radio shelf aft of the cockpit and in the rear fuselage. (1 major readson why pilots generally do not fair well when an f4u ditches and breaks apart... ie, pilot stays attached to the rear fuselage and gets smushed.)

Anyways, when the F4u-4 arrived, it was standard production with a cockpit floor. Seat remained attached the same though.

Will try to dig up some photos I have somewhere.

Bodhi · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2005, 06:24:46 PM »

OK, here's the -4's cockpit floor.

keep in mind that the open spaces on the left and right take the consoles and the spot in the rear is for the seat.

Here are those parts: (note the instrument panel does not go on floor)

Bodhi · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2005, 06:31:03 PM »

here's the difference of the FG-1 floor.

note the foot troughs and open floor.... bad if you drop say a pen light or chart.

bunch · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2005, 11:32:56 PM »

Many f4u crew cheifs became loose change millionaires

frank3 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 14, 2005, 05:28:52 AM »

When one pukes in it, you'd need to hold the thing upside down to clean it

storch · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2005, 12:32:41 PM »

I don't remember where I read an account of a hog driver saying he hated to go inverted cus of all the crap that flew around the interior.

GtoRA2 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2005, 12:49:42 PM »

I have read that in many places Storch, lol.

Roll inverted in a -1,-1A, -1C, or -1D and you never knew what was going to come hit you. Everything from dust and dirt to the wrench the mechanic dropped.

The tamia models for the corsair have the correct cockpit with no floor so you can see the window.

Widewing · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2005, 05:14:29 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by GtoRA2
Everything from dust and dirt to the wrench the mechanic dropped.

Uh oh, sounds like the Tool Control P.O. is gonna have some explaining to do....

My regards,

Widewing

GREENTENERAL · « **Reply #11 on:** March 14, 2005, 05:44:45 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by GtoRA2
I have read that in many places Storch, lol.

Roll inverted in a -1,-1A, -1C, or -1D and you never knew what was going to come hit you. Everything from dust and dirt to the wrench the mechanic dropped.

The tamia models for the corsair have the correct cockpit with no floor so you can see the window.

I used to drive a D40D Caterpillar articulator at a rock quarry a few years back. The first day I started stockpiling, I thought it would ok to put a can of soda in the cup holder. The first stretch of ridges proved me very wrong as the soda hit me in the head so many times that it exploded. I'm not sure if it would be the same in an aircraft, but I sure wouldn't want to find out.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2005, 09:30:18 PM »

That's hilarious.

I'd wet myself if HT modeled a wrench flying around in the cockpit.

Kweassa · « **Reply #13 on:** March 14, 2005, 09:35:14 PM »

IIRC, Galland installed an ash tray in his 109E.

ATA · « **Reply #14 on:** March 14, 2005, 11:58:23 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by lasersailor184
That's hilarious.

I'd wet myself if HT modeled a wrench flying around in the cockpit.

Author Topic: F4U question (Read 1666 times)

storch