Relative Rolling Characteristics of WWII Fighters

[Aozora]

A pilot's account of the method for abandoning a Typhoon....not entirely clear.

"The jettisoning was an odd operation, you had to cross your hands and grab rails both sides and pull inwards to open, then release the harnesses and remove the oxygen mask, put the airplane upside down and drop out."

I know that both doors and the hood could be jettisoned.

Steve

Typhoon Pilot's Notes:

PART IV _ EMERGENCIES
54. Door and roof jettisoning (Early aircraft)
The levers (13 and 49), one on each forward doorpost, jettison the doors when pulled smartly down and inwards simultaneously. Considerable leverage may be obtained on them by crossing the arms, that is to say, by releasing the port door with the right hand and the starboard with the left hand. The roof panel is released automatically by this operation.
IMPORTANT. - Both door latches must be released before operating the jettison levers.

55. Hood jettisoning (Later aircraft)
The sliding hood and cockpit starboard panel can be jettisoned by pulling the handle at the bottom of the instrument panel, to the right of the blind flying panel.

The pilots must have paid a lotof attention to the EMERGENCIES section of the PN's! My main question is what is happening to the control column while the pilot is crossing his arms?

Both the Typhoon and P-39s normally had the port side doors sealed and used the starboard side for normal entry and exit, while the port doors were "emergency only" mainly because of the throttle controls etc getting in the way:

This P-39 photo http://data3.primeportal.net/hangar/scott_dimmick/p-39q/images/p-39q_17_of_17.jpg shows the throttle controls and trim wheels (there's also a note above the central T shaped handle saying "Do not open window"), whereas the starboard door was relatively clear http://data3.primeportal.net/hangar/scott_dimmick/p-39q/images/p-39q_15_of_17.jpg apart from the doohicky at the bottom.

 

[stona]

Cheers

Steve

 

[GregP]

Hey Aozora,

Neat post. Is the P-39 manual available online somewhere or is that from your own personal copy?

Thanks!

 

[tomo pauk]

Greg,
Several manuals for the P-39:

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/other-mechanical-systems-tech/manual-index-american-36322.html

 

[GregP]

Thanks, Tomo!