360 view of DeHavilland Comet Cockpit

[johneeb]

http://www.kenmcbride.com/comet/index.html

[db99577]

Impressive cockpit.
I thought modern airliners had an amazing amount of bewildering buttons.
Computers in today's planes have reduced the button/switch/gauge quantity to half? A third?

[voorheesh]

The design and layout of the Comet cockpit really reminds me of the De Haviland Twin Otters I spent many years flying. The yellow/black checkered outline in the DH6 directed you to the fire bottles/fuel shutoff handles and the design of the yokes and instrument panels look familiar. The padding around the side walls is almost identical. Obviously, the 2 aircraft were completely different and from opposite sides of the Atlantic but that was my first reaction to this great picture. Thanks.

[johneeb]

Have you noticed there appears to be two Gear Handles one down low on either side of the center Console.

[voorheesh]

Both are labled U/C for under carriage. I wonder if they were linked. The radar screen seems identical to what we had in the DH6s. That radar worked but it took patience to get it aimed properly and it did not like you to change range. The Comets continued to be manufactured as Royal Air Force reconaisance aircraft until the 1980s I believe. I think they were called Nimrods (Typical British deal). They had 4 engines but there only seem to be 2 thrust levers unless I am missing something like maybe each one is split. That 360 degree view is awesome. I've never seen that before.

[johneeb]

............ That 360 degree view is awesome. I've never seen that before.

Here is another 360 Cockpit view, this one is a P-51.
http://www.stclairphoto-imaging.com/360 ... 1_swf.html

[GAHorn]

Both are labled U/C for under carriage. I wonder if they were linked. The radar screen seems identical to what we had in the DH6s. That radar worked but it took patience to get it aimed properly and it did not like you to change range. The Comets continued to be manufactured as Royal Air Force reconaisance aircraft until the 1980s I believe. I think they were called Nimrods (Typical British deal). They had 4 engines but there only seem to be 2 thrust levers unless I am missing something like maybe each one is split. That 360 degree view is awesome. I've never seen that before.

Nimrods are AWAC developments from Comet 4's using RR Spey engines. (Comets started out with deHavilland Ghost engines, then switched to Avons, but finalised with Speys. For maritime patrol they would takeoff with all 4, then shut down and run on 2. They could actually accelerate and climb on one engine. The Handley-Page Vulcan used a similar wing-root engine arrangement.)

[russfarris]

The Lockheed L-188 Electra also had dual gear handles; those were mechanically linked together. Russ Farris

[GAHorn]

Looking at that Comet 4C cockpit ...I was impressed by the number of items found in current-descendants of deHavilland's. I see magnetic indicators ...still found on the latest-models of Hawkers (originally known as DH-125's) and DV (Direct-Vision) windows that operate identically.

Those are four throttles, piggy-backed into two pairs each. (Zoom in to see what I mean.)

Looks for all the world about the same sophistication as Mercury-Gemini-Appollo capsules. (Ugly upholstery, tho', no? Apparently the leather was found uncomfortable for the F.O. and F.E.)

(I noticed the registration-number reflects the probable anatomy of the pilots. BDIX)