Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
When you consider that the Bf109 was the highest scorer of the war, and even with the Galland hood it went to late war, still had limited rear visibility.
I think the USA's aircraft with the most air to air kills, was the Hellcat, it also had not the best rearward visibility too.
Some pilots had rearview mirrors, not that effective maybe, but even civilian pilots know to S-turn to check their rear.
Most of the aircraft pretty early in the war started getting ever increasing back armor, sometimes very thick glass, but usually armor, that they couldn't see thru straight to the rear anyway.
So just how important was this good rearward vision ? You're still blind as far as downward vision in any low wing aircraft anyway, you can't see thru the wings or fuselage. You're dead meat if you're dumb enough to fly straight and level in hostile skies.
Have you ever noticed how much can be hidden by the A-pillar, or windshield post in your car ? It'd be the same with all the framework to look thru.
You have better visibility towards the rear and abowe, that should be considered one of the most dangerous directions.When you consider that the Bf109 was the highest scorer of the war, and even with the Galland hood it went to late war, still had limited rear visibility.
I think the USA's aircraft with the most air to air kills, was the Hellcat, it also had not the best rearward visibility too.
Some pilots had rearview mirrors, not that effective maybe, but even civilian pilots know to S-turn to check their rear.
Most of the aircraft pretty early in the war started getting ever increasing back armor, sometimes very thick glass, but usually armor, that they couldn't see thru straight to the rear anyway.
So just how important was this good rearward vision ? You're still blind as far as downward vision in any low wing aircraft anyway, you can't see thru the wings or fuselage. You're dead meat if you're dumb enough to fly straight and level in hostile skies.
Actually just strapping in isn't enough. Use your hands and elbows to push off one side to see out of the other. Once you have done it a few times, particularly with a grade sheet attached, you will get remarkably better in a very short time.Strap yourself into a seat and see how far aft you can usefully see: on that basis alone a 360-degree view is pointless, so the 'issue' isn't necessarily an issue.
As a fighter pilot the knowledge you bring to this forum and to its members is worth it's weight in gold.Actually just strapping in isn't enough. Use your hands and elbows to push off one side to see out of the other. Once you have done it a few times, particularly with a grade sheet attached, you will get remarkably better in a very short time.
Of course, it had tail warning radar.One of the most extreme lack of rear vision fighters to come out of the 1950s.
View attachment 729100