Spacious Cockpit???
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'Course, if you cast your mind back many many years....the 'ole Boeing 377 Stratocruiser comes into view. Room for seven folks, and a dance band to boot, as I recall.. .Those were the days....
Join Date: Sep 2001
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The C-141A (& I assume B models) would seat 10 in the cockpit, plus a sleeper. Pilot, CoP, Obs (centered behind center console), F/E, Nav, lower bunk seating 4 (against aft bulkhead), upper bunk for sleeper, & 2nd observer seat. I went from the 141 to the L-1011, & thought it was cramped (never having seen the 737, where to sit up straight means a hole in the head from hitting a switch, of which I have many!). Lockheed RULES!
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Saw the inside of a C5 Galaxy cockpit, and it is huge. But since russian aircraft operate with 5 man cockpits, my guess would be the IL79/86/96. The AN124/225 with it's upperdeck cockpit are a bit more cramped.
On russian jets, the captain only flies the thing. No R/T, no throttle handling, no flaps or gear no touching any of the buttons. That's what the F/O, F/E, Radio Operator and Navigator are there fore.
On russian jets, the captain only flies the thing. No R/T, no throttle handling, no flaps or gear no touching any of the buttons. That's what the F/O, F/E, Radio Operator and Navigator are there fore.
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I cant imagine anything more cramped than a C152. But if we venture further on to gliders I should think the LS1 takes the price.... . It's odd you people find find any airliner cramped. As to placement of control levers, gauges etc, that's another story!
regards/lns
regards/lns
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Those suggesting Boeing or Airbus flight decks really have no idea how large some flight decks are! As a current 747 operator, I can confirm that the 747 (400 or 200) has one of the least spacious flight decks in the sky. Neither the 777, 75, or 76 can hold a candle to any of Lockheed's products, of which the C130 and C141 have probably the most useable room - including a flight deck galley on the C130. The luxury of getting in your seat from the outside, and with a bloody fine view of the outside world, is fabulous. The C130, I believe, hold the record of the most documented people on the flight deck at 32 ('The last C130 out of Vietnam') - I've certainly sat in front of over 20, including a BBC camera crew!. .But I repeat my assertion that the Shorts Belfast has by far and away the largest flight deck in the Western world, and probably the Eastern as well - certainly the AN124 doesn't compare. Not only was the flight deck huge, but just aft of it was a dining/rest room large enough for 6 to eat comfortably at the table, a galley able to feed the 6 flight crew and the 17 passengers on the 'Minstrel's Gallery' (a stub deck above the main freight deck), and a separate and genuine porcelain bog! As your stately progress around the world was measured in fathoms per month (at a cruising altitude only marginally higher than a Newfoundland fog), all this luxury was very necessary!
[ 18 February 2002: Message edited by: Scroggs ]</p>
[ 18 February 2002: Message edited by: Scroggs ]</p>
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The Guardsvan was pretty big.. I went up front once and a fairly large orchestra was playing in the corner.. although I'm not sure what because it was too far away to hear.
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Dont Sink,. .I cant agree with you about MD-80 vs. B737, I've spent a lot of time on both machines and found the MD-80 had far more room than a 737. I can only just get a standard size brief case in the 737 case space but the MD could have taken 2....... .. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" />
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The B-52 bomber has a really weird flightdeck...you have to climb over everything just to get in the pilots' seats. The ceiling is really low aswell.. .. .Still not as cramped as an MD80 though.
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I'll add a vote for the VC10 as well - just last weekend was at the Brooklands Museum near Weybridge, and the Sultan of Oman's old ship is there - once they put in Inertial Nav, the navigator's position was surplus, so there's a four place flight deck with only three seats - and there was plenty of room to begin with!. .. .Great museum if you're at Heathrow with time on your hands; all volunteer run, and well worth a visit. (Sorry for going off-topic there)
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I've been on a few flt decks in my time and I have to agree the Belfast wins it hands down.. .. .Those who have not had the (dubious) pleasure of standing on that cavernous deck have not lived. from the flt deck door to the pilot or co-pilot seat required at least 5 full paces and a step to negotiate. If the flt eng or navigator wanted to hand a note to either pilot (when sat at their enormous desks) it was necessary to get out of the seat to do so. It is also one of the few a/c where intercom is truely necessary, not so much because of cockpit noise, but because of the distance between crew members.. .. .I do however recall going on a 747 flt deck with a bunk section on the port side at the back of the flt deck which made for a fairly big flt deck.. .(still not as big as the Bel-slow though). .. .Cheers. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />
Easy226,
As Traveller pointed out, a roomy flight deck requires a fat tube with a blunt end - as accurate a description of the DC-10 as you'll ever get. Accordingly the Diesel 10 flight deck is one of the more spacious although it can be a bit tight getting around the centre pedestal if the seats are in the wrong position.
MD11 should be about same. 737 flight deck is very cramped, you'd better be really good friends with the other crewmember and you have to go outside to change your mind.
As Traveller pointed out, a roomy flight deck requires a fat tube with a blunt end - as accurate a description of the DC-10 as you'll ever get. Accordingly the Diesel 10 flight deck is one of the more spacious although it can be a bit tight getting around the centre pedestal if the seats are in the wrong position.
MD11 should be about same. 737 flight deck is very cramped, you'd better be really good friends with the other crewmember and you have to go outside to change your mind.
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Most cramped has got to be the CRJ200. Honestly it's bloody tiny. Have to swing yourself into your seat over the radios. The overhead pressurisation switches get bent or snapped off and bloody hurt when you bash your head on them. Jumpseat slides out and rider perches over centre consul with their knees on your elbows.
But is quite fun to fly...despite the ludicrous pitch changes on flap 45 selection !!
But is quite fun to fly...despite the ludicrous pitch changes on flap 45 selection !!
