Cockpit Designs

[Michael Skeet]

I'm with Darryl. Every WWI a/c I've seen has the main fuel, etc., controls mounted on the left -- anything that would need to be manipulated during flight. This suggests to me that cockpit layouts were optimized for right-handed pilots. And the practise of forcing south-paws to become righties continued (in North America, at least) into the early sixties. There probably weren't too many left-handed pilots in WWI.

Watched the Y2K celebrations from Auckland and Sydney this a.m. -- much impressed. Hope everyone has a splendid New Year.

[Reinout]

When Berthold suffered his serious wounds that would result in the right arm becoming virtually useless, he asked Fokker to alter the controls of the DVII so he could fly it in combat with his left arm.

Bernert had lost the use of his left arm in the infantry but he never asked (by my knowledge) Albatros to alter the controls layout for right arms only. I think the layout was intended for right arms.

Kind regards,

Reinout

what excatcly was on a wwi control pane? something to measure altitude, speed and fuel?

[PeterL]

Paul, the answer to your question is, not a lot. Certainly prior to 1918 cockpits were to say the least spartan in this regard, and such as were fitted would more likely be engine instruments than flight instruments, some didn't even boast an ASI. Neither were they conveniently grouped in a purpose made panel, typicaly they would be clamped to a fuselage member or even to a strut, or anything which happened to be handy. Very late war stuff faired slightly better, but peer into the office of even the much vaunted DVII and your first reaction will be "is this it??"

Peter L

[Vigilant]

Paul,

Here's a (composite) pic of the Sopwith Pup kept at the Shuttleworth Collection, England. I should say I don't know if this is an authentic 1916 layout though. Could be post-war.

The rev counter is on left, then compass, below that a turn & slip indicator, then ASI and altimeter on the right. I presume the brass cylinder on the right wall is the fuel pressure pump. I wonder if the button on the joystick is a gun trigger or the blip switch?



I like the way none of the dials read in the same sense as each other!

Regards,

Vig.

[cam]

Note the Pup's tachometer is twisted so that 1200 rpm is vertical.

The Rhinebeck Camel and N11 have one dial each in their cockpits. Think pictures of them too are on the Museum Aircraft page with the Bristol Fighter cockpit.


cam