OT - B-29 Cockpit

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

OT - B-29 Cockpit

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> OT - B-29 Cockpit

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/15/2011 3:43:26 PM

vonTirpitz

Posts: 511
Joined: 3/1/2005
From: Wilmington, NC
Status: offline

A friend had sent this link to a 360 degree internal cockpit view from inside the Enola Gay at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Just thought I would share.

You can use the panel controls at the bottom of the screen to manipulate your view.

_____________________________

Post #: 1

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/15/2011 5:53:21 PM

Pascal_slith

Posts: 1651
Joined: 8/20/2003
From: back in Commiefornia
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: vonTirpitz

A friend had sent this link to a 360 degree internal cockpit view from inside the Enola Gay at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Just thought I would share.

You can use the panel controls at the bottom of the screen to manipulate your view.

Thanks! Nice shots!

_____________________________

So much WitP and so little time to play.... :-(

(in reply to vonTirpitz)

Post #: 2

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/15/2011 6:18:24 PM

Sredni

Posts: 705
Joined: 9/30/2004
From: Canada
Status: offline

Are those seats just bare metal? No wonder our bomber pilots get fatigued.

(in reply to vonTirpitz)

Post #: 3

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/15/2011 6:34:50 PM

Mac Linehan

Posts: 1484
Joined: 12/19/2004
From: Denver Colorado
Status: offline

von Tirpitz -

very nice and informative! Thank You!

Mac

_____________________________

LAV-25 2147

(in reply to vonTirpitz)

Post #: 4

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/15/2011 9:01:27 PM

ChezDaJez

Posts: 3436
Joined: 11/12/2004
From: Chehalis, WA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sredni

Are those seats just bare metal? No wonder our bomber pilots get fatigued.

The seats were designed to accomodate parachute seat packs. You literally sat on your parachute.

I never realized how poor the forward visibilty was with all that bracing. Note also that the throttles are at the engineer's station behind the pilot. That must have made it a pain to jockey the throttles to maintain formation.

Chez

_____________________________

Ret Navy AWCS (1972-1998)
VP-5, Jacksonville, Fl 1973-78
ASW Ops Center, Rota, Spain 1978-81
VP-40, Mt View, Ca 1981-87
Patrol Wing 10, Mt View, CA 1987-90
ASW Ops Center, Adak, Ak 1990-92
NRD Seattle 1992-96
VP-46, Whidbey Isl, Wa 1996-98

(in reply to Sredni)

Post #: 5

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/15/2011 9:42:08 PM

rockmedic109

Posts: 2390
Joined: 5/17/2005
From: Citrus Heights, CA
Status: offline

This game is AMAZING! It even simulates pilot constipation from hard lumpy seats by calling it Fatigue!

(in reply to ChezDaJez)

Post #: 6

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/16/2011 1:41:22 AM

zace

Posts: 183
Joined: 3/22/2010
Status: offline

Many modern seats are still bare metal. I know none of our F-16s used the seat cushions I have seen but never seen used. I know from experience that you don't mind so much when in one though...

(in reply to rockmedic109)

Post #: 7

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/16/2011 2:06:08 AM

Bullwinkle58

Posts: 11302
Joined: 2/24/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: ChezDaJez

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sredni

Are those seats just bare metal? No wonder our bomber pilots get fatigued.

The seats were designed to accomodate parachute seat packs. You literally sat on your parachute.

I never realized how poor the forward visibilty was with all that bracing. Note also that the throttles are at the engineer's station behind the pilot. That must have made it a pain to jockey the throttles to maintain formation.

Chez

There are throttles to the pilot's left, down low. I think the FE's are back-ups.

_____________________________

The Moose

(in reply to ChezDaJez)

Post #: 8

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/16/2011 4:36:43 AM

stuman

Posts: 3907
Joined: 9/14/2008
From: Elvis' Hometown
Status: offline

Very interesting, thanks.

_____________________________

" Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room. " President Muffley

(in reply to Bullwinkle58)

Post #: 9

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/17/2011 10:39:59 PM

LeeChard

Posts: 1099
Joined: 9/12/2007
From: Michigan
Status: offline

Great site, Thanks!

(in reply to stuman)

Post #: 10

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/18/2011 3:56:01 PM

Brady

Posts: 10701
Joined: 10/25/2002
From: Oregon,USA
Status: offline

A few years back I spent about 20 min inside Fe Fe's Cockpit and thought the view despite the bracing was prety good.

_____________________________

Beta Team Member for:

WPO
PC
CF
AE
WiTE

Obi-wan Kenobi said it best: A lot of the reality we perceive depend on our point of view

(in reply to LeeChard)

Post #: 11

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/18/2011 4:47:13 PM

LoBaron

Posts: 4776
Joined: 1/26/2003
From: Vienna, Austria
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

quote:

ORIGINAL: ChezDaJez

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sredni

Are those seats just bare metal? No wonder our bomber pilots get fatigued.

The seats were designed to accomodate parachute seat packs. You literally sat on your parachute.

I never realized how poor the forward visibilty was with all that bracing. Note also that the throttles are at the engineer's station behind the pilot. That must have made it a pain to jockey the throttles to maintain formation.

Chez

There are throttles to the pilot's left, down low. I think the FE's are back-ups.

I don�t think these are throttle levers at the flight mechanics position. From the colour code I�d assume its prop pitch and mixture levers.

_____________________________

(in reply to Bullwinkle58)

Post #: 12

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/18/2011 5:12:19 PM

Bullwinkle58

Posts: 11302
Joined: 2/24/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: LoBaron

I don�t think these are throttle levers at the flight mechanics position. From the colour code I�d assume its prop pitch and mixture levers.

Why would you want to have the FE play with pitch independant of the other flight characteristics? Prop pitch ought to be the pilot's and others keep their cotton-pickers off.

If they're back-up pitch controls for battle-damage, I'd think they'd be pretty worthless without throttes to accompany. Any prop pilots here?

FWIW, I thought they were throttles specifically FOR battle-damage backup use. You could maybe get home without prop pitch controls, but throttles are going to be needed to land. Although the co-pilot is going to be busy if the pilot is dead and he has to make throttle changes on final approach with voice commands to the FE.

_____________________________

The Moose

(in reply to LoBaron)

Post #: 13

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/18/2011 6:05:07 PM

Panther Bait

Posts: 654
Joined: 8/30/2006
Status: offline

I would think the FE would be adjusting prop pitch and mixture to keep other operating parameters (engine speed, manifold pressure, etc.) within tolerances based on the throttle settings set by the pilot. This frees up the pilot to concentrate on flying the plane (especially during landing, climb out, dealing with damage, descent, and landing).

What the pilot most needs to worry about is airspeed for the current flight regime. To do that, he's probably moving the throttle as a block most of the time (maybe tweaking individually during cruise). He doesn't need to split brain time remembering that no. 2 needs a little more prop pitch than the other 3 because it's in bad need of an overhaul.

Likewise if the port inboard just caught fire from flak, he'd probably appreciate a little help from the FE to shut it down and retune the other 3 rather than having to do it all himself.

At least that's how my Dad described it. He did some FE duties on cargo planes in USAF in the 50's/60's.

_____________________________

When you shoot at a destroyer and miss, it's like hit'in a wildcat in the ass with a banjo.

Nathan Dogan, USS Gurnard

(in reply to Bullwinkle58)

Post #: 14

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/18/2011 6:08:49 PM

LoBaron

Posts: 4776
Joined: 1/26/2003
From: Vienna, Austria
Status: offline

I think the levers�color codes are generic:

Black = throttle
Blue = Prop pitch
Red = Mixture

Thats a FSX screenshot but the model of the plane (Piper Seneca II) is pretty accurate.

Dependig on altitude, throttle setting, and whether you are in level flight, climb or descent, there is always an optimum setting for prop pitch and mixture.
I imagine it is to reduce the workload on the pilot. Its just a guess though, I could be wrong.

< Message edited by LoBaron -- 1/18/2011 6:09:53 PM >

_____________________________

(in reply to Bullwinkle58)

Post #: 15

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/18/2011 7:45:37 PM

Bullwinkle58

Posts: 11302
Joined: 2/24/2009
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Panther Bait

I would think the FE would be adjusting prop pitch and mixture to keep other operating parameters (engine speed, manifold pressure, etc.) within tolerances based on the throttle settings set by the pilot. This frees up the pilot to concentrate on flying the plane (especially during landing, climb out, dealing with damage, descent, and landing).

At least that's how my Dad described it. He did some FE duties on cargo planes in USAF in the 50's/60's.

I bow to your superior knowledge, sir. My impresion was that prop pitch and throttle degree were intimately tied together in establishing airspeed, not just fuel efficiency, etc. And the pilot is very interested in tight control of airspeed.

_____________________________

The Moose

(in reply to Panther Bait)

Post #: 16

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/18/2011 7:50:13 PM

LoBaron

Posts: 4776
Joined: 1/26/2003
From: Vienna, Austria
Status: offline

Bullwinkle your impression is partly right.

The BF109 types for example had an automatic pitch and if I am not completely wrong even automatic mixture which was higly favoured by
the pilots in combat situations.

And I also have to admit that I did not look to the sides of the pilots seat where obviousely throttle levers with a blue knob are located.
I still think that the FE levers are pitch and mixture but I was definitely wrong with the colour code.

_____________________________

(in reply to Bullwinkle58)

Post #: 17

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/19/2011 2:57:29 PM

Panther Bait

Posts: 654
Joined: 8/30/2006
Status: offline

Unfortunately my info is second-hand, so it's always possible that I'm not 100% correct.

Certainly all three combine together to control airspeed, but my impression has always been that throttle is the master control and prop pitch and mixture settings are based on matching the throttle setting to engine performance.

Therefore, if the pilot needs to off-load some responsibility, prop pitch and mixture are the ones to transition to a new guy, especially if they require the operator to look at gauges, readouts, or anything else outside the forward view. Of course, I bet that an experienced FE could tune by vibration and sound as much as by gauges.

_____________________________

When you shoot at a destroyer and miss, it's like hit'in a wildcat in the ass with a banjo.

Nathan Dogan, USS Gurnard

(in reply to Bullwinkle58)

Post #: 18

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/19/2011 11:01:30 PM

Cap Mandrake

Posts: 23184
Joined: 11/15/2002
From: Southern California
Status: offline

When you realize the thing is over 65 years old it is quite impressive. I believe the Japanese got their hands on at least one downed B-29. You just know one of them had to say, "Hory ****, we in big trouble" after seeing the technology.

Only the graphical stuff looks really dated (logos and such)

(in reply to Panther Bait)

Post #: 19

RE: OT - B-29 Cockpit - 1/20/2011 6:16:26 AM

TheElf

Posts: 3870
Joined: 5/14/2003
From: Pax River, MD
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: zace

Many modern seats are still bare metal. I know none of our F-16s used the seat cushions I have seen but never seen used. I know from experience that you don't mind so much when in one though...

you can't have a cushion on an ejection seat because of seat slap. Imagine the effect on your Femur as an ejection seat travels with upward force of ~20g's and before it hits your leg it travels 1 inch (of cushion) before assuming the weight of your body....

_____________________________

IN PERPETUUM SINGULARIS SEDES