P-47 cockpit leg room?

[Stephan Wilkinson]

The P-47 was noted for having a huge cockpit, and the joke during the war was that you could evade an attacking fighter simply by running around the cockpit.

Its one failing, however, was said to be inadequate leg room. I have heard that the P-47's rudder pedals folded away, or down, in order to provide more leg room during long missions.

Anybody know if this is true?

[JohnB]

I think the rudder pedal feature could have been a feature on the long-range "N" model.

[marine air]

Sat in a P-47D and my memory was that it was snug, “like a glove.” Seemed to be smaller than a P-51 cockpit and the canopy is definitely smaller and more snug. Remember the P-63 and TBM as roomy and the Skyraider less roomy than the TBM.

[OD/NG]

Sat in a P-47D and my memory was that it was snug, “like a glove.” Seemed to be smaller than a P-51 cockpit and the canopy is definitely smaller and more snug. Remember the P-63 and TBM as roomy and the Skyraider less roomy than the TBM.

You have it exactly backwards. The P-47D cockpit is much larger than the Mustang, particularly with respect to room on the sides. It is a much wider cockpit than the Mustang. The P-63 is perhaps the smallest cockpit of any standard production W.W.II fighter I've ever been in or seen, with possibly the 109 as an exception. It is extremely small, with virtually no room whatsoever. The TBM is very roomy and the Skyraider less roomy as stated.

[Cvairwerks]

Had the opportunity to sit in the ME-262 at Dayton long years ago. At 5’ 11” and 205 lbs then, it was very cramped to me. Made the -109 cockpit feel spacious.

[Taylor Stevenson]

Remember the P-63... as roomy.

The P-63 is 110% NOT roomy.

Most comfortable I've experienced so far is the P-40.

[dollar65]

As JohnB said, the folding rudder pedals appeared on the N model, the N-5 to be more precised (the N model was equipped with an autopilot).



Laurent

[Stephan Wilkinson]

Thank you, dollar65, that's the exact authoritative answer I needed.

[OD/NG]

Thank you, dollar65, that's the exact authoritative answer I needed.

Just to add a little bit of clarity to what was discussed. The "foldable" rudder pedals that hinge down is only available on the "N" model and not the "D" model. As everyone knows from history, the "N" model was specifically developed for long range service in the Pacific to escort the B-29's on the long range missions from Saipan, etc. to Japan. No "N" models were used operationally in combat in Europe. I confirmed that the "D" models did not have the same hinge setup as the "N"'s by looking in several P-47 manuals I have ranging from early war until post VE-Day. The "D" model rudder pedals have a locking mechanism which allow the rudder pedals to move forward and aft, but not to fold down as on the "N" model. My guess is that this was an intentional design for the "N" model for pilot comfort since it was to be used for very long range missions, much greater than was used in Europe.

[marine air]

I was going from memory over about 40 years. Glad to be corrected.