"bubble cockpit" ?
"bubble cockpit" ?
Which fighter aircraft had the first "bubble cockpit" with 360 (or nearly) degree view? Was it FW 190 and whos invention was the "bubble cockpit type"?
Wasnt FW 190 there way before P-51?
http://www.bibl.u-szeged.hu/bibl/mil/ww ... w190_1.jpg
And it does have high-visibility cockpit as you can see..
http://www.bibl.u-szeged.hu/bibl/mil/ww ... w190_1.jpg
And it does have high-visibility cockpit as you can see..
The Fw 190 prototype first flew on June 1,1939 and production deliveries began in late 1940.
And as far as i can recall, only the late Mustangs had high-visibility cockpits, early and mid series models having similar to those of early Bf 109 and Spitfire being build of multiple panels..North American Aviation originally designed the Mustang in response to a British specification. They agreed to produce the first prototype only 4 months after signing the contract in April 1940. By the end of 1941 North American had delivered the first Mustang to England for test flights.
P-51 had only from the D-model so called "bubble cockpit" and that was from June 44 onwards..
http://www.acepilots.com/planes/p51_mustang.html
http://www.acepilots.com/planes/p51d_mustang.html
Before that this is how P-51 cockpits were:
"Birdcage" / "bulbous Malcolm hood"
And only in June 1944 with the D-model
"Bubble canopy"
So who did originaly invent it? Was it the Germans or Britts?
http://www.acepilots.com/planes/p51_mustang.html
http://www.acepilots.com/planes/p51d_mustang.html
Before that this is how P-51 cockpits were:
"Birdcage" / "bulbous Malcolm hood"
And only in June 1944 with the D-model
"Bubble canopy"
So who did originaly invent it? Was it the Germans or Britts?
http://www.aviation-history.com/focke-wulf/fw190.htmlThe 190 was also one of the first fighters to feature a clear rear canopy, allowing pilots to keep an excellent lookout for enemy fighters.
No, no, no...
First WWII fighter with 360 degree vision was:
Japanese Ki-27 'Nate' fighter from 1937. Still operational in China and Burma front, 1941-1942.
http://www.ijaafpics.com/JB&W2/Ki-27-23.jpg
First WWII fighter with 360 degree vision was:
Japanese Ki-27 'Nate' fighter from 1937. Still operational in China and Burma front, 1941-1942.
http://www.ijaafpics.com/JB&W2/Ki-27-23.jpg
- Cantankerous
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Re: bubble cockpit
Even though this thread is 18 years old, I should note that the Miles M.20 was the first fighter aircraft built with a bubble cockpit canopy, and it first flew on September 15, 1940. Two prototypes were built, and the M.20 was intended as an emergency fighter design in case that Luftwaffe air raids on the UK disrupted production of the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire. However, Luftwaffe air raids on Hawker and Supermarine factories failed to seriously affect production of the Hurricane and Spitfire, so the Miles M.20 was not ordered into production.Uninen wrote: ↑29 Dec 2004, 03:28Wasnt FW 190 there way before P-51?
http://www.bibl.u-szeged.hu/bibl/mil/ww ... w190_1.jpg
And it does have high-visibility cockpit as you can see..
The Fw 190 prototype first flew on June 1,1939 and production deliveries began in late 1940.And as far as i can recall, only the late Mustangs had high-visibility cockpits, early and mid series models having similar to those of early Bf 109 and Spitfire being build of multiple panels..North American Aviation originally designed the Mustang in response to a British specification. They agreed to produce the first prototype only 4 months after signing the contract in April 1940. By the end of 1941 North American had delivered the first Mustang to England for test flights.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_M.20
Re: "bubble cockpit" ?
I believe the Mitsubishi A6M Zero was the first operational fighter fitted with a Bubble canopy.
The prototype first flew on 1 April, 1939. It was first employed on operations in July 1940 when 15 were shipped to China. It's first combat occurred in August 1940 over Chungking.
The prototype first flew on 1 April, 1939. It was first employed on operations in July 1940 when 15 were shipped to China. It's first combat occurred in August 1940 over Chungking.
- ShindenKai
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Re: "bubble cockpit" ?
I believe you're correct. Though the Ki-27 in later versions did also have a "bubble-top", it was not initially designed with such, as the Zero was.Pips wrote: ↑25 Dec 2022, 00:26I believe the Mitsubishi A6M Zero was the first operational fighter fitted with a Bubble canopy.
The prototype first flew on 1 April, 1939. It was first employed on operations in July 1940 when 15 were shipped to China. It's first combat occurred in August 1940 over Chungking.
Re: "bubble cockpit" ?
I think, the "bubble cockpit" refers to a one piece canopy without bracing and in this case Miles M.20 seems to be first indeed.
In case of teardrop canopies with bracing, the Zero was clearly not the first aircraft with such a feature, as e.g. Westland Whirlwind was first flown in 1938 already.
In case of teardrop canopies with bracing, the Zero was clearly not the first aircraft with such a feature, as e.g. Westland Whirlwind was first flown in 1938 already.
- ShindenKai
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Re: "bubble cockpit" ?
You're indeed correct https://www.merriam-webster.com/diction ... e%20canopyGrzesio wrote: ↑30 Dec 2022, 23:07I think, the "bubble cockpit" refers to a one piece canopy without bracing and in this case Miles M.20 seems to be first indeed.
In case of teardrop canopies with bracing, the Zero was clearly not the first aircraft with such a feature, as e.g. Westland Whirlwind was first flown in 1938 already.
-I've always loved the Westland Whirlwind, such a great looking aircraft. Its a shame that it had such a short service life.
-Its also a bummer that the M.20 never went any further.
-Here's a cool full-size Whirlwind replica project- https://www.whirlwindfp.org/
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Re: "bubble cockpit" ?
One could say the Seversky- P-35 had one of the firstGrzesio wrote: ↑30 Dec 2022, 23:07I think, the "bubble cockpit" refers to a one piece canopy without bracing and in this case Miles M.20 seems to be first indeed.
In case of teardrop canopies with bracing, the Zero was clearly not the first aircraft with such a feature, as e.g. Westland Whirlwind was first flown in 1938 already.
"There are two kinds of people who are staying on this beach: those who are dead and those who are going to die. Now let’s get the hell out of here".
Col. George Taylor, 16th Infantry Regiment, Omaha Beach
Col. George Taylor, 16th Infantry Regiment, Omaha Beach