Malcolm hoods and the P-40

Steve · **Joined:** Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:35 pm **Posts:** 80

I have a quick question in a bet with a friend I said the P-40 never used the Malcolm hood. He claimed the Malcolm hood was used on early Kittyhawks. Has anyone heard this and if so are there any photos

Thanks

Steve

The Inspector · **Posted:** Thu Dec 22, 2011 1:19 pm

The XP-40Q had a cut down rear deck and a bubble canopy

Fearless Tower · **Joined:** Thu May 26, 2011 5:14 pm **Posts:** 366

Does he have pictures?

The Malcolm hood was made by the Brits and depending on the fit, they theoretically could have after-market installed it on their planes, but......lacking any photos......what does he have to back up his claim?

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 22, 2011 1:59 pm

Never heard of such a thing! :drink3:

Steve · **Joined:** Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:35 pm **Posts:** 80

There is nothing to back up the claim. I don't remember anything in the way of a P-40 with a Malcolm hood. This is the first time anyone has brought it up I have been in Warbirds since 1967 never heard of one being fitted. Altho if it was done it would be early British.

Steve

shrike · **Posted:** Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:18 pm

I've only ever seen them on Mustangs, Spitfires and a few P-47's.
I wonder if there is something about the way the canopy moves that make it an option or not. I've never seen one fitted to a Hurricane either,and you'd think that it would be a prime candidate for such a modification.

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

cooper9411 wrote:

Never heard of such a thing! :drink3:

Quote:

The canopy was manufactured by the British company R Malcolm & Co which gave its name. Instead of taking a straight line between the canopy frames, the hood was bulged outward. This gave the pilot a better view to the rear.

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 22, 2011 6:53 pm

the330thbg wrote:

cooper9411 wrote:

Never heard of such a thing! :drink3:

Quote:

The canopy was manufactured by the British company R Malcolm & Co which gave its name. Instead of taking a straight line between the canopy frames, the hood was bulged outward. This gave the pilot a better view to the rear.

I've heard of the Malcom Hood, just not on the P-40 is what I meant. :drink3:

Invader26 · **Joined:** Wed Aug 11, 2010 7:56 am **Posts:** 843

Later model P-40N's had a frameless clear view canopy so little need. The earlier P-40's were basically phased out of combat by 1944 in most theatres of the war.

seabee1526 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:18 pm **Posts:** 459

Would the Malcolm Hood need to be modified for use with P-40's equiped with the Flux Capacitor?

ltdann · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2011 1:26 pm

A very few F6F-5 Hellcats also had Malcom style hoods. The XF6F-5 had it and perhaps a couple dozen that went to the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm

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Malcolm hoods and the P-40

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