At the Kalamazoo Air Zoo this past weekend, I was able to sit in the cockpit of a (is it Spanish or Italian built?) 109...it was one of the types that has a larger front end and the 4 bladed prop. I could not believe how cramped the cockpit is. In fact it was so small, I would not have been able to fly it. The rudder pedals were so close, my knees were bent so far that I would not have been able push on the pedals. Also, there was so little room between the seat and the canopy that I would've had to crouch down to get the canopy closed. I would say you'd have to be 5' 5" or less in order to fly this plane...my 6' frame simply would not fit...I'm guessing all the 109 pilots had to be small guys or they just wouldn't fit...any American fighters of the time that I've sat in had much roomier cockpits...
I sat in the cockpit of an ME-109
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bobbysocks
Chief Master Sergeant
cool.....i am going to have to venture up that way someday.
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Very cool!
fubar57
General
Very nice. I could slide right into that cockpit though I may not get the lap-belt together.
Geo
Geo
How big was the seat cushion? When flying with a parachute, you take the cushion out and sit on the chute pack, so could sit a few inches lower.
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Nice one. I think I would fit in OK, as nowadays, my legs are already bent, and my shoulders stooped, so that I'm now around 5 ft 8 ins or less, instead of the 5 ft 10.5 ins I used to be. However, a crane would be needed to get me onto the wing to start with !
BTW, it's a Hispano 'Buchon', a Spanish, licence-built '109G, with a Rolls Royce 'Merlin' engine.
BTW, it's a Hispano 'Buchon', a Spanish, licence-built '109G, with a Rolls Royce 'Merlin' engine.
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
It changed from the E-3 onwards, and was actually more 'roomy' than the original, curved - top canopy of the earlier models, with better visibility - although still very limited - due to the re-location of the upper horizontal frame, from roughly eye-level, to the top of the canopy. It also allowed easier mounting of the head armour, with a curved top plate which, although possible to mount in the earlier canopy, made visibility, and room, even more restricted.
The windscreen on the later canopy also offered better visibility, although again still restricted, with less distortion particularly through the side-screens.
Later still, the so-called 'Galland Hood', or Erla canopy was introduced, offering marginally better visibility and head room and, on much later Czech-built (Avia) aircraft, a 'blown' canopy was at last introduced.
The windscreen on the later canopy also offered better visibility, although again still restricted, with less distortion particularly through the side-screens.
Later still, the so-called 'Galland Hood', or Erla canopy was introduced, offering marginally better visibility and head room and, on much later Czech-built (Avia) aircraft, a 'blown' canopy was at last introduced.
T Bolt
Colonel
Very cool! I wish I could try it out but if I had the chance I'm sure I'd be too tall and also like George, too big for the seat belt.
Here's a picture I took of it several years ago
Here's a picture I took of it several years ago
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During my time in the USAF in the late 60s, I saw a lot of fighter pilots, plus one of my cousins was one also.
Most of these guys were not big guys, but they were well muscled, like high school football stars maybe, but not big hulking brutes .
Medium to approaching even short in height.
Most of these guys were not big guys, but they were well muscled, like high school football stars maybe, but not big hulking brutes .
Medium to approaching even short in height.
There are height limits for jet pilots, to do with losing your knees when ejecting, I hear.
As for muscular, good muscle tone helps with G tolerance. the lack of height helps too.
I've also heard the average USAF fighter pilot is extremely intelligent, attractive, and well endowed.
Except for me of course...
Cheers,
Biff
PS. Sorry I couldn't resist!
GregP
Major
Go Gabby!
- Thread starter
- #17
There's no way a guy that's 6'2" would fit in this cockpit...I'm only 6' and I don't fit...
I don't know anybody else's age or weight on here, but I was much more agile 50 years ago, and 30 lbs lighter.
Most pictures of WW2 pilots I've seen show them to be usually from the trimmer part of humanity.
Except maybe Pips Priller, I've seem pictures of him being helped into a 109. It looks like quite a squeeze, but because of his width, not his height.
Cutaways of the Bf109 shows a seat adjustment lever, and a lot of aircraft have adjustable rudder pedals, maybe the 109 you sampled had everything adjusted for a small guy.
Most pictures of WW2 pilots I've seen show them to be usually from the trimmer part of humanity.
Except maybe Pips Priller, I've seem pictures of him being helped into a 109. It looks like quite a squeeze, but because of his width, not his height.
Cutaways of the Bf109 shows a seat adjustment lever, and a lot of aircraft have adjustable rudder pedals, maybe the 109 you sampled had everything adjusted for a small guy.
Bf 109s had an adjustable seat, later models only on the ground. They did not have adjustable rudder pedals unless I'm remembering wrongly. As I said before, some tall men flew 109s, so they could fit. I don't think any, tall or short, were exactly comfortable, but think of a US air gunner in a ball turret if you want serious discomfort. They were there for much longer too.
Cheers
Stve
Cheers
Stve
