Canopies, Canopies and more Canopies ...

[Mark Allen M]

Sure that Hellcat isn't a higher # version? You know the one with the four bladed prop.
(prop distortion looks like it has four blades in that photo)

[eze240]

Just wondering.....in part 5, the 6th picture is marked as a TBF-1....Why does it have no turret? might it be one converted for COD service?

[Mark Allen M]

Just wondering.....in part 5, the 6th picture is marked as a TBF-1....Why does it have no turret? might it be one converted for COD service?

Correct you are again ... Here's a thread that includes a COD conversion Avenger.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=52608

[avenger2504]

yes it is a TBF-1 but as you say modified for COD service. Did they have another designation or did they leave them as TBF-1?

[Mark Allen M]

Even a movie called "Canopy" ... Looks interesting and promising

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2232578/?ref_=nv_sr_1

[airmanual]

Mark,

Excellent photos as usual!

Can't we have an equivalent one on "cockpits, cokpits and more cockpits ..." ?

Cordially,

Laurent

[Mark Allen M]

I found this to be interesting ...

"As an experiment to improve the rearward visibility, the USAAF fitted a standard P-47D-5-RE airframe (serial number 42-8702) with a bubble canopy taken from a Hawker Typhoon. In order to accommodate the bubble canopy, the Republic design team had to cut down the rear fuselage. This conversion was redesignated the XP-47K, and was tested in July 1943. This modification was immediately proven to be feasible, and was promptly introduced on both the Farmingdale and Evansville production lines.

Ordinarily, the USAAF would have given such a radical modification as that which produced the bubble-canopy Thunderbolt a completely new variant letter (or perhaps even a new type number). However, the USAAF chose instead to designate it simply by giving it a new production block number in the D-series. Consequently, the first batches to feature this new bubble canopy were Farmingdale's P-47D-25-RE and Evansville's P-47D-26-RA." Duggy Axis & Allied paintworks.

[raconnel]

Your photos demonstrate that the XP-47K canopy was much larger and differently shaped than the Typhoon canopy. Perhaps the idea came from the Typhoon, but not the actual canopy. It is indeed interesting that the USAAF chose not to change the variant designation. It may have made it easier to continue funding under the existing contract. Congress would never notice the difference.

Richard

[Mark Allen M]

I'd say you are correct as the idea indeed came from the Typhoon's bubble canopy. Quite obvious the two types were different sizes etc.