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Hi MiTasol, Thanks for that but I'm afraid that's well after midnight for the time-scale I'm interested in. WW1 (or before), WW2 is well-trodden territory. Early days, we'll see what else might turn up. Cheers.A great question
The earliest I can think of with the concept is the Ki-43 but I am sure many will respond with much earlier examples
We have to keep in mind that from WWI through the inter-war period, the vast majority of of aircraft cockpits were open, with little more than a windscreen to provide protection to the pilot, from the elements. Even at the start of WWII, aircraft like the the TB-3, Hs123, I-16, He112, Gladiator and such, were open cockpits.
It was typically racing aircraft in the late 20's and early 30's that employed a canopy which was not for the pilot's benefit, but rather for the sake of aerodynamics.
This is where you should be looking in your search.
The search goes on.......
Thanks Graeme, good man! That's what I'm looking for! The initial SE.4 as first issued to frontline pilots (as I understood it) had a transparent wind-deflector surround so maybe the fully-enclosed hood illustrated was a another experimental prototype they tried and discarded. I don't have much proficiency with the patent database but perhaps someone reading this who does may be able to do a search from this early 'pre-historic' period. It may fill-in a lot of otherwise 'missing' technical history. Thanks again.Have a look at the RAF S.E.4 of 1914. At one point it was fitted with a moulded celluloid cockpit - but pilots distrusted it and removed it.
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.4 - Wikipedia
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Thanks "Shortround6", That last photo was most useful to my research. As you've read, I've one or two naysayers (no doubt they're now choking down a large piece of humble pie!) but I've learnt from long experience in researching these obscure technical subjects to never underestimate just how early these ideas emerged. Thanks again.Dayton Wright RB-1 fully enclosed but hardly a "bubble" 1920
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Curtiss-Cox Texas Wildcat 1920
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At least the pilot could look up.
quick look at the pre WW II race planes shows very few (including these) had fully enclosed cockpits until the early 30s. 1932-34 seems to the transition era.
It doesn't appear that any Schneider Trophy racer used a fully enclosed cockpit let alone a bubble
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Many racers had truly horrible vision from the cockpit.
But the canopies showed much more emphasis on reduced drag than vision
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Canopy of the Caudron 460 replica, original won the 1936 Thompson race.
The 1916 this plane existed for a very short period of time.
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but hardly a bubble canopy. However the actual technology to build a WW II style bubble may not have existed.
They managed to collapse or have ripped off an number of more conventional canopies.
Great photo! But sorry to disappoint: the S.E.5 is still the first. The combat issue version had an open-top wrap-around 'wind-deflector' but prior to this they test-flew a prototype with a fully-enclosed hood. Seen a drawing but would still like to see a photo. Cheers, Xylstra.It's later than the target period, but the Curtiss XP-31 Swift is apparently the first enclosed canopy figher/pursuit plane.
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Thanks Fubar, it's not uncommon (and sadly frustrating) that many publications that present as authoritative aren't nearly as well researched as perhaps they should be. I had previously seen photographs of the final open-top version some time ago but only the drawing of the prior closed-top canopy. Who knows, maybe someone will pull a rabbit out of the hat! Cheers, Xylstra.Going through the Windsock book and this book....
So far, no drawing or photo