Realism: Open cockpits

[Thud]

Many planes, especially early war planes, flew often with their cockpits open. It would be very nice and add to realism if it would be possible to open the hood up to a certain speed when in rides with rearward sliding hoods and lose some knots to additional drag but gain a easier view. Of course the sideways head movement would have a wider margin and you would be able to stick your head sideways out the cockpit.

Besides that all planes with rearward sliding hoods should have the open cockpit feature because in RL almost all taxiing was done while hanging out of the side of your cockpit. So on the ground it would really be a nice addition!
             

Bring the functioning hood to AH!


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Thud1/Bies

Bring the Hurricane (MKIIC) to AH! (together with the Invader!)



[This message has been edited by Thud (edited 04-11-2001).]

[StSanta]

I wonder if that wouldn't increase drag?

It'd create some turbulence and not make the plane streamlined.

Any aeronautical engineers out there?

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Baron Claus "StSanta" Von Ribbentroppen
9./JG 54 "Grünherz"
"If you return from a mission with a victory, but without your Rottenflieger, you have lost your battle."
- D. Hrabak, JG 54 "Grünherz"

[Ripsnort]

 

Originally posted by StSanta:
I wonder if that wouldn't increase drag?

It'd create some turbulence and not make the plane streamlined.

Any aeronautical engineers out there?

Santa, with a head like yours, absolutely it would create drag! (G,D,R)  

[tofri]

Yes, an open hood would create a drag. I think in most planes the nose would pitch up. (The nose of the plane not the pilots, that is high enough   )

I also saw open hoods with smiling movie stars before the blue screen, saluting to the next academy award.
But the WW2 pilot in Europe theatre was happy to close the hood, with all that beautiful and warm weather outside.  

TMO its not worth the time HTC would spend on it.

[funked]

I've read in a couple of places, and seen some photos to back it up, that many Soviet pilots flew always with the hood open, particularly in La and LaGG aircraft.

[Eagler]

 

Originally posted by funked:
I've read in a couple of places, and seen some photos to back it up, that many Soviet pilots flew always with the hood open, particularly in La and LaGG aircraft.

that was a body odor issue  

Eagler

[Jigster]

P-38 is the only plane I'm familiar with that had windows that was not suppose to fly with them open.

OTOH I know alot of the pilots of bubble canopy planes would fly with the canopy slid back...mostly P-51D pilots who had just had to have a smoke on the way back from bomber escort missions. This was generally at cruise speeds. Same with F4U-1D pilots in the Pacific.

[Toad]

I know of one aircraft in particular that restricts T/O and Landing with the rear cockpit open. The Vultee BT-13 has a warning that it must be closed.

It can be open in flight, however. I find, even at about 120 MPH that cracking it open about 1/2 inch is all that is necessary (or desired) to keep things cool and breezy.

[SFRT - Frenchy]

 

Originally posted by Jigster:
P-38 is the only plane I'm familiar with that had windows that was not suppose to fly with them open.

OTOH I know alot of the pilots of bubble canopy planes would fly with the canopy slid back...mostly P-51D pilots who had just had to have a smoke on the way back from bomber escort missions. This was generally at cruise speeds. Same with F4U-1D pilots in the Pacific.

They were the Sissy P51 pilots, who were ready to bail as soon as Santa's FW was in seight.

[Jigster]

I always thought of them as just plane stOopid...oxygen bottles and gas fumes and all that jazz.

[clouds]

Hi guys.
I don't know if you have noticed a small detail on the superior frame of the Hurricane on top of page,......I'm speaking about the REAR VIEW MIRROR, present in some aircrafts but......unfortunately so much not represented in the great majority of flyght simulators, why not implement that usefull device ??????  

[Xjazz]

Open cockpits? Why not? I could put two blowers aside of my monitor and get nice wind blast. That would be nice in heat of fight too :-)

Xjazz

[StSanta]

Ripsnort said:

Santa, with a head like yours, absolutely it would create drag! (G,D,R)  

<Watches a fountain of life elixir (Coca Cola) interfere with monitor>

ROFL!!!

Hahah, I guess I had that coming  

But it's hard to be humble when I'm so damned good.

 

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Baron Claus "StSanta" Von Ribbentroppen
9./JG 54 "Grünherz"
"If you return from a mission with a victory, but without your Rottenflieger, you have lost your battle."
- D. Hrabak, JG 54 "Grünherz"

[-lynx-]

 

I've read in a couple of places, and seen some photos to back it up, that many Soviet pilots flew always with the hood open, particularly in La and LaGG aircraft.

I don't think they always flew with open canopy   but there were fears that the canopy would jam due to combat damage or freezing and the pilot wouldn't be able to bail out when necessary. It did affect planes performance - max speed was below factory specs.

As for sticking head our "to have a look" - I'd love to see anyone sticking his head out at 200kts .

[Tilt]

 

Originally posted by -lynx-:
I don't think they always flew with open canopy   but there were fears that the canopy would jam due to combat damage or freezing and the pilot wouldn't be able to bail out when necessary. It did affect planes performance - max speed was below factory specs.

As for sticking head our "to have a look" - I'd love to see anyone sticking his head out at 200kts  .

When Lavochkin was sent to the front line (on Stalins orders) to find out why the La 5F was under performing, he did indeed discover that some pilots flew all the time with the hood in the "half back" position. (This was not the only reason)

Many VVS pilots had had ample combat and training experience in open cockpit I-16's, Further early La5's (as with later la7's) had problems with the cockpit filling with exhaust gases and condensation.

Beyond this I do not see what opening the cockpit hood brings to the game unless you want to stick your head out!!!! and I agree it would then waste development time modelling what happens when you try it at faster speeds.......

Tilt