Quote:
Originally Posted by Furio
Me too. But here is one of the instances in which to have the choice would be great. Taxing is actually part of flying, especially with taildraggers, and it’s simply impossible to taxi realistically with your head blocked in a centerline view.
Planes with sliding canopy were almost invariably taxied with the canopy open, in some case (F4U, for example) with the seat raised. Most Russian pilots flew routinely with canopy open (or removed), so this is an issue that deserves some consideration, in my opinion.
However, we should be aware that we talk of very limited head movements. Once pilot is strapped in, often with the aid of ground personnel, his shoulders are effectively blocked, and all he can move is his neck. Take a look from outside to an I16 pilot and you’ll see easily what I mean.
I even doubt that a full six DOF could be considered realistic. How much you can really lean forward or backward? And how much up and down? So, perhaps a different solution can be explored, that of having four fixed head position: default, slightly leaned forward, slightly leaned left or right. Enough to peer around cockpit frame without messing up with present cockpits limitations.
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I could be wrong here - in which case flame away.
I thought that a lot of pilots in WWII would only strap themselves across the lap if they were expecting action on the sortie? ie they left the shoulder straps of their harness undone. This was so they could sit forward more easily if they wanted to look out of the plane to the side or rear.
I think Paul Richey described doing that in his book "Fighter Pilot" about his experiences flying Hurricanes in 1940. Some modern photos of WWII birds show the pilot hunched forward in the cockpit. I'll try to find one if anyone thinks its important.
I'm not trying to argue that you should be able to stick you head out of the side window, but that 6DOF is quite reasonable within the cockpit.
S!