Originally Posted by
Geriaviator
Pulse1
Please do try to coax/help your neighbour's story. I have a book by a former Beau observer and I would have been terrified to have been stuck under that dome halfway back, never mind the glasshouse effect under Med sun.
Re the story of the observer taking control, I think my old friend Maurice told me the seat back folded down. The pilot entered via the hatch, walked forward, then swung himself into his seat via the red handrails in the fine pictures on the previous page. Getting out in a hurry ... never thought about it, said Maurice.
The pilot had his own hatch, just aft of his seat. We were standing on it when looking at the office, but didn't use it because a) it would have been more difficult for Dad, and b) we couldn't find the key for the padlock!
Dad also commented that he had
never used the rear (observer's) hatch before
