Best cockpits for fighter pilots...

[Mister Fork]

I've been and seen in a lot of WWII aircraft - what gets me is how small and tight spaces some of the cockpits are.  For example, the Spitfire is meant for a dude who is 5'7". The P-51 had a good cockpit but a lot of functions built into it. The 109 is cockpit is tiny but highly adjustable depending on the pilot height and leg length. The Hurri could seat a tall pilot easily - think there was one RAF pilot who was 6'5" who flew the Hurri during the BoB.  I've personally have sat in a Lancaster, Harvard, Me-109, and a P-51D and seen inside dozens like the P-47, F4U-1, Spitfire V, Fw-190, and a Mosquito, with the 190 with the best layout (and good space) - the 109 second but man it was tight.

So, which aircraft were limited by high for pilots?  I heard that any Russian aircraft were built around the function, not the pilot. Who had the best all-around cockpit design for pilots during WWII? Anyone have a top 3?

My #1


My #2


My #3

[KrzyIvan]

I can't really give you a top 3 but, what in game initially comes to mind in fighters is the Typhoon/Tempest.
They have  almost a traditional "6 Pack", nice easy to read flap and engine instrument gauges that are laid out in plain view.

[Vulcan]

When you use VR with AH the first thing you notice is the differences between the cockpits (size etc). Some of them are downright awful.

[Mister Fork]

When you use VR with AH the first thing you notice is the differences between the cockpits (size etc). Some of them are downright awful.

I know! It's what brought up this topic for me.

The P-47 and the Tiffy surprised me - lotsa elbow room in there for a picnic kit and a slurpee from 7-11. And I am surprised how claustrophobic I feel in the 109 or any Spitfire. At least with the 109 it's designed well from a pilot perspective.

Heck - with the Bf-110, if I ditch the tail gunner, could throw the kids and the luggage behind me in the back with the wife on the tailgun and fly out to the cabin on the weekends. 

[Vulcan]

If you think the Spit and 109 are bad... try the 205.

[Dawger]

The game cockpits are awful. I wouldn't fly a real airplane that put the instruments at eye level.

In a real airplane you look DOWN to see the instruments.



Tight cockpits aren't bad if you have full range of motion for all the controls.

The P38 cockpit with its control wheel arrangement is a good example of maximizing the space.

Large cockpits that put stuff out of reach when the harness is tight are a royal pain. Small is good to a point.

[DaveBB]

The game cockpits are awful. I wouldn't fly a real airplane that put the instruments at eye level.

In a real airplane you look DOWN to see the instruments.



Tight cockpits aren't bad if you have full range of motion for all the controls.

The P38 cockpit with its control wheel arrangement is a good example of maximizing the space.

Large cockpits that put stuff out of reach when the harness is tight are a royal pain. Small is good to a point.

An example of a large cockpit with a bad layout was the SB2C.  In order to retract the gear, the pilot had to loosen his shoulder harness to reach the handle.  On more than one occassion, while trying to retract the gear during carrier operations, the plane would ditch, and the pilot would be killed from the trauma of hitting his head on the gunsight.  Source: The Pacific by Ambrose.

[Devil 505]

I always thought the A6M was a cool cockpit with it's throttle handle mounted weapon triggers.

[PR3D4TOR]

Yes it would have to be the 190 and 109 cockpits for their automation and ergonomics. Another factor that speaks in their favor is the enhanced pilot survivability by having explosive bolts jettisoning the canopy, and a one button harness release. How many times have we read about allied pilots getting trapped in the cockpit due to damage... That must have weighed heavily on some pilots' minds. The snug fit in the 109 is not necessarily a negative in a short to medium range fighter. As Rall put it the close confines made you feel at one with the plane.



https://youtu.be/7Sz5t-m9IOE

[fracca]

Not a fighter, but you mentioned the Lancaster up there. I sat in the pilots seat of one years back at a museum and was terrified about how difficult it was to get in and out of, around the control yoke. And I was a kid in jeans and a t-shirt. Ive only sat in a couple of fighters but neither the spit, hurri, or 109 had that same feeling of being trapped.

Considering getting out of the seat wasn't even half the battle of getting out the plane, I'm amazed any pilots managed to bail from lancs.

[Mister Fork]

Not a fighter, but you mentioned the Lancaster up there. I sat in the pilots seat of one years back at a museum and was terrified about how difficult it was to get in and out of, around the control yoke. And I was a kid in jeans and a t-shirt. Ive only sat in a couple of fighters but neither the spit, hurri, or 109 had that same feeling of being trapped.

Considering getting out of the seat wasn't even half the battle of getting out the plane, I'm amazed any pilots managed to bail from lancs.

Most didn't sadly - at least not quickly. Sad to say it, most allied aircraft weren't easy to bail out of. If the control was jammed, and your aircraft is spinning cause it's missing a wing, you're doomed.   I was in the Lancaster we have here on display in Calgary. Curator at the time was a Aces High fan himself...dang..what was his name... 

A good friend of mine, Marie, her dad was a 109 pilot (he was from Austria).  I don't know their real last name because her dad changed his name when he immigrated to Canada. Anyways, he was shot down three times and survived all three.  Last time he was captured by the allied forces.  He attributed that amazing feat when I asked him as a kid on the fact that he just did - I didn't know about explosive bolts or anything else...now it makes sense how easy is was to bail out of his 109. Just thought he was lucky.  As an adult, wish I had the sense to record conversations with him before he passed on. And his experience was the norm for most German 109/190 pilots...no?

[PR3D4TOR]

There were pilots who survived a dozen bailouts from 109s and 190s. In the final months of the war Heinkel also developed the ejection seat which was used on the He 219 night fighter and the He 162 Volksjager.


https://youtu.be/5-DnqEbARL4

[Karnak]

Fw190, best.

Bf109, worst.

All others somewhere in between.

[PR3D4TOR]

What characteristics of the 109 cockpit make it the "worst" in your opinion Karnak?

[pipz]

The Corsair has the best cockpit view. After that a kinda close second is the F-16 !