open an close cockpit

[bagrat]

what if this was enabled, it would allow people to get a better view if obscured and it would "even out" because it would cause drag while open.

also its not like they didnt do it in real life

people would fly to a fight closed cockpit, then open it while turn fightin to get better view.

[Mr No Name]

might help landing when oil is hit

[hammer]

Originally posted by bagrat
people would fly to a fight closed cockpit, then open it while turn fightin to get better view.

 


What's your reference here?  Black Sheep Squadron episode 14?

[Saxman]

I remember reading one account from an F6F pilot where they'd leave the canopy slightly open so that, when diving, the sudden change in airpressure wouldn't crack or shatter the canopy glass (another account in the same book, from an F4F pilot, told how after a dive out from high altitude his canopy DID shatter). Carrier pilots also frequently kept their canopies open during takeoff so they could escape the plane in a hurry if something went wrong.

[Toad]

Since just about NONE of the fighters were pressurized, so it wouldn't be a change in pressure that cracked canopies. And the canopies were much more structurally sound when closed than when open, so I doubt it was dive speed that would crack a closed canopy but would leave an open one untouched.

As far as flying with the canopy open, ask yourself why the change to canopies in the first place? Why wasn't everyone flying around open cockpit just like in WW1?

[Klum25th]

I would like to be able to open my canopy to see better. Get a nice breeze when i fart, and stuff like that. Just be great to open your canopy.

I think the reasons for a full closed canopy cockpit was either to make there planes look better, like more modern becuase during that time alot of the countries were trying to build better planes than the other country. When Russia came out with the I-16 it was a mono wing fighter, had a retractable gear, and had guns in the wings. So when that came out, all the other countries with Bi-planes wanted something like the russians had, but better. So they come out with planes with guns in the wings, mono wing planes, retractable gears in planes and maybe the first plane to have an inclosed cockpit made other countries want to stick it on their fighters so their fighters would look better.

Or the canopy was just to make the plane more Aerodynamic and create less drag.

Maybe both

[Karnak]

Trust me, it wasn't so the planes would look better.

And the I-16 was basically unknown outside of the USSR.

[Easyscor]

Naw, the canopy was so my hair wouldn't get mussed before I go to the Pub looking for a date.

[Rolex]

Originally posted by Mr No Name
might help landing when oil is hit

So we could poke our heads out the left side and get our goggles covered with oil? Then take our goggles off and get oil in our eyes?

"Carrier pilots also frequently kept their canopies open during takeoff..."

Prior to ejection seats, it was standard procedure (not an option) to have canopies open and locked during landing and take off to make egress faster, if necessary. Feet were (are) flat on the floor and off rudder pedals so toe brakes are not jammed on during the trap.

[BlueJ1]

Originally posted by Rolex
So we could poke our heads out the left side and get our goggles covered with oil? Then take our goggles off and get oil in our eyes?

"Carrier pilots also frequently kept their canopies open during takeoff..."

Prior to ejection seats, it was standard procedure (not an option) to have canopies open and locked during landing and take off to make egress faster, if necessary. Feet were (are) flat on the floor and off rudder pedals so toe brakes are not jammed on during the trap.

Your mention of cv takeoffs reminded me of a bug in the game. If the cv is moving in a strait line you can auger your plane off the front end of the ship and the ship will push you for as long as it is moving in a strait line.

[Saxman]

Did you get a look at his plates?

[bagrat]

someone earlier asked what my reference was.  my reference for this idea was .......why wouldnt a pilot fly with an open canopy, he'd get better view and im pretty sure they knew that 3/4inch of glass wasnt gonna stop a bullet.    

also the movie midway, because they wouldnt put it on tv if it wasnt true (a smilie would be put here but couldnt decide)

[Toad]

Well, if you ever get the chance, go to an airshow and ask one of the hi-performance fighter pilots how they like flying open canopy at 300 mph.

I think the look you get will pretty much explain it all to you in an instant.

[B@tfinkV]

riding my old 125cc kawasaki KH125 at 70mph with the visor up was not much fun for my face or my eyes.



this being said, i am all for openable canopies.

[hubsonfire]

I'd support this idea, but only if the following countermeasures were installed:

Headshots: Instead of a pilot wound, an open canopy would leave it's pilot vulnerable to having his head removed with a cannon strike, causing a geiser of blood to spray up in the air, and a huge red message to flash saying "HEADSHOT!", and of course resulting in sudden unexpected death.

Jams: Open canopies could be damaged like flaps or gear, resulting in the canopy being stuck open, or shot completely off. In either case, I want the resulting windnoise to deafen, at least temporarily, the pilot, and/or possibly freeze him to death should he exceed a certain altitude.

Increased drag: Having a 2' diameter scoop with no outlet sticking off the top or front of your plane should cause drag. Hinged canopies should rip completely off, and ideally also find another way to decapitate the pilot.