Comments for Let's see who the geeks are.

Let's see who the geeks are.

2005-03-08T15:44:30Z

Which aircraft cockpit is this?

Really busy day today. But if you know your airplanes... there are enough clues to get this. If you don't, well, have fun anyway!

Comment from cw4billt on 2005-03-09

2005-03-09T16:55:41Z

Or, in my case, if either of them stop spinning...

Comment from J.M. Heinrichs on 2005-03-08

2005-03-09T04:05:53Z

Little boy: why are there four propellers on your airplane? Herc Pilot: Well son, we need them to keep the pilot cool. LB: Huh? HP: If more than two of them stop spinning, the pilot gets really hot and sweaty. Cheers JMH

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2005-03-08

2005-03-09T01:06:48Z

Yeah, next time I'll play smart and turn off the comments and make ya email answers.

Comment from Casey Tompkins on 2005-03-08

2005-03-09T00:29:23Z

Blast! I came by too late today! Sean beat me to it. :( Yes, the steering-wheel style yoke is that did it for me. I knew it wasn't a P-38 'cuz it was too roomy. :) And -unlike some people, I didn't need to Google it, although I did whip out my A-20 Havoc in action reference to verify, because that photo looked darned familiar. Not the same shot that I have, although that's an A-20G cockpit as well.

Comment from cw4billt on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T23:58:03Z

Technically, a HUD conveys flight information as well as target solutions. "Reflex sight" is the proper term in this instance.

Comment from cowboy blob on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T21:10:42Z

I only used Google to confirm my guess. My scarf-wearing Zoomie Brain did all the rest.

Comment from Montieth on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T20:50:34Z

So the A20G deleted the forward firing MGs allowing the deletion of the HUD? Ahh. More googling and I see that the HUD was removed from that sample cockpit. There are some brackets to either side for the HUD glass. Sneaky....

Comment from cw4billt on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T20:36:27Z

If it had a cyclic and collective, and if the instrument panel was different, and if it had a HUD, and if the pedals were different, and if it had a gunner's station up front, and if the seat was air-cooled, it would be a Cobra. And if a frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his ass when he jumped.

Comment from John of Arghhh! on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T19:57:25Z

Dude - you took the easy way out. I like Monteith's approach. But yeah, it's an A20G. And now that I googled it, I see my source prolly swiped these...

Comment from cowboy blob on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T19:48:03Z

It's definitely a Douglas A-20G "Havoc," confirmed at Google Images.

Comment from Montieth on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T18:06:02Z

Details of note: 1. Wheel vs Stick 2. Twin engine controls/gauges 3. No Hud so not a fighter 4. Single front seat, and there's a coaming above/behind the pilot so probably not a second seat I'm leaning towards a later Douglas A-20 Havoc (perhaps the Invader?) but the A-20 had a gunsight for the forward firing MGs.

Comment from Neffi on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T17:44:20Z

Bristol Beaufighter?? Whatever, I want it...

Comment from mike mariani on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T17:09:17Z

sky warrior or perhaps skywarrior

Comment from John of Arghhh! on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T17:02:53Z

An A3 what, Mike?

Comment from mike mariani on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T17:00:14Z

Well ... my boss says "it's an A3, no doubt about it".

Comment from Larry on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T16:50:53Z

Yeah, I'd have to go with an A-20 as my second guess. It's obviously a US plane and seems to be of that era, though the throttle handles themselves and even the panel in front of and below that seems to be more modern. It's definitely not an F-7 Tigercat or P-61 Black Widow. If it's not an A-20, I'm baffled.

Comment from Chris Denny on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T16:49:37Z

P-39 Aircobra, the part that gives it away is the fact that the canopy is closed when the photo was taken because you enter the Aircobra through a door on the left side of the fuselage.

Comment from Sean on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T16:44:27Z

Douglas A-20 Havoc. The yoke/controls, throttles and no gunsights are clues.

Comment from mike mariani on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T16:37:31Z

Fie and piffle. I tried. Scarf wearers? How polite. My *enlisted* AF chums refer to 'em as "stick actuators". (Hee!)

Comment from John of Arghhh! on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T16:11:53Z

Though it would appear at this point, we're overrun with ground-pounders!

Comment from John of Arghhh! on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T16:10:44Z

Mike - it will be *much* cooler if one of us ground-pounders scores it vice the scarf-wearers.

Comment from Sgt. B. on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T16:04:55Z

Spitfire or Hurricane?

Comment from John of Arghhh! on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T16:04:02Z

Good tries, guys. But the P-38 control column didn't rest between the pilot's legs... it comes up on the right side of the cockpit and then over. Like this. Or this.

Comment from Mike Mariani on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T16:00:37Z

twin throttles, wheel vs stick, poptop vs sliding canopy (look at the registration holes) - P38. Gunsight? Dunno 'bout that, I'm an old sleep-in-the-mud type.

Comment from Larry on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T15:52:45Z

Probably a P-38, but there's no gunsight, so possibly an F-5 (unarmed photo-recon variant).

Comment from Rod Thorsen on 2005-03-08

2005-03-08T15:46:28Z

P-38 Lightning?