Awesome cockpits

[TechMan]

Photos of:  SR71, Oasis of the Seas, Hydrogen ICE Streamliner, Grave Digger, Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and Triton 1000/2.


http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/06/ff_cockpits/

[230RN]

I was starting to collect images of WWI aircraft cockpits, then I hit google and decided to quit collecting them because there were so many:

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&q=wwII+airplane+cockpits&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

[RevDisk]

Wow, the SR71 has a LOT of switches!

Check out the new S76D cockpit.  Much more minimalist.  While not anywhere as impressive, it's a heck of a lot more comfy.

[S. Williamson]

K, two questions.

1) How much of the SR-71's cockpit has been modified for the photo op?

2) Regarding the Dreamliner, I thought analog altimeter, analog artificial horizon, and analog airspeed gauges were mandatory for all fixed-wing aircraft despite how many MFDs the cockpit has.  Am I incorrect?

[Boomhauer]

K, two questions.

1) How much of the SR-71's cockpit has been modified for the photo op?

2) Regarding the Dreamliner, I thought analog altimeter, analog artificial horizon, and analog airspeed gauges were mandatory for all fixed-wing aircraft despite how many MFDs the cockpit has.  Am I incorrect?

I think you're incorrect on the second one. I've seen backup instruments going to computerized. Big thing is separate, "failsafe" power source (usually a sealed battery, sometimes supplemented by a ram air generator, I think)

I'm not sure if I'm OK with that. I'm just barely beginning to warm up to glass cockpits myself.

[taurusowner]

I guess I should know better, having seen the inside of plenty of military vehicles, but I was surprised at how run-down the SR71 looked.  I know it's a old plane with thousands of hours of use, but still it was not quite what I had in mind.  Very dilapidated.

[Fly320s]

I think you're incorrect on the second one. I've seen backup instruments going to computerized. Big thing is separate, "failsafe" power source (usually a sealed battery, sometimes supplemented by a ram air generator, I think)

I'm not sure if I'm OK with that. I'm just barely beginning to warm up to glass cockpits myself.

Correct. Even the stand-by stuff is going to glass. Glass cockpits are the shiznit.

I'm surprised that the 787 still has a yoke. Seems pointless in a fly-by-wire pla e.

[TechMan]

I don't believe the SR71 cockpit has been modified, as I did a little google-fuing and found this.  There does appear to be slight differences between cockpits, but they all do appear to be consistent.  I do agree the Wired picture does appear to be a little run down.   RevDisk, the cockpit of S76D is cool.

[RevDisk]

I don't believe the SR71 cockpit has been modified, as I did a little google-fuing and found this.  There does appear to be slight differences between cockpits, but they all do appear to be consistent.  I do agree the Wired picture does appear to be a little run down.   RevDisk, the cockpit of S76D is cool.

I poked my head into the first S76D on the line to have a look.  Beautiful cockpit, and not just the dash.  Most of cockpits today are all function, moderate comfort and no aesthetics.   This one was functional, very comfort and very pretty.  It looks like the interior of a luxury car.

Fly320s can testify how rare that is.

[Stickjockey]

I can't help it; I like my cockpits on the traditional side:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spitfire_cockpit.jpg

http://futurshox.net/aeroview.php?level=image&id=1637

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cockpit_HA_1112-M1L_Buchon_G-BOML.jpg

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Avon_Sabre_A94-974_cockpit_2.jpg

spitfire, Mustang, Messerschmitt, and Sabre, respectively.

[MillCreek]

I was curious about the red sealant surrounding the bolt heads on the windshield frame of the SR-71.  I wonder if it is for corrosion protection, the high temperatures, locktite, or what.

[kgbsquirrel]

Correct. Even the stand-by stuff is going to glass. Glass cockpits are the shiznit.

I'm surprised that the 787 still has a yoke. Seems pointless in a fly-by-wire pla e.

Familiarity for ease of transition of pilots to the new craft? I seem to recall reading that they added springs to the yoke of the B-52 to simulate the control resistance from the previous bombers that were wire and pulley, resistance in the controls that was absent with the "new" hydraulic assistance (1950's new).

[S. Williamson]

I was curious about the red sealant surrounding the bolt heads on the windshield frame of the SR-71.  I wonder if it is for corrosion protection, the high temperatures, locktite, or what.

None of the above.  What you're actually seeing is the pure awesome seeping out of the pores of the airframe. 

[Fly320s]

Familiarity for ease of transition of pilots to the new craft? I seem to recall reading that they added springs to the yoke of the B-52 to simulate the control resistance from the previous bombers that were wire and pulley, resistance in the controls that was absent with the "new" hydraulic assistance (1950's new).

Good possibility.  I know that Southwest requested round dials, a.k.a. steam gauges, in their new 737s even though those planes come equipped with glass cockpits.  It saves on training costs.

[Perd Hapley]

round dials, glass cockpits, what's the connection?

[Fly320s]

round dials, glass cockpits, what's the connection?

Round dials are old school, like the SR71 in the above link.  Glass cockpits are the new thing; more information can be presented in an easier to understand format.  Think DOS vs. Windows 7.

Southwest has primarily older, round-dial planes, but Boeing is now building only glass cockpit planes.  So, Southwest asked Boeing to make the LCD screens show the info in the round dial format instead of the newer format.  IIRC, Southwest also had Boeing use fewer LCD screens.  The reason is so that Southwest can save money on training costs and type ratings and make it so that each pilot can be qualified in all the airplane types (variants) with one training session.  IOW, each pilot can fly any plane Southwest has without having to worry whether he is qualified on that plane.  Saves lots of money and headaches.

[kgbsquirrel]

Round dials are old school, like the SR71 in the above link.  Glass cockpits are the new thing; more information can be presented in an easier to understand format.  Think DOS vs. Windows 7.

Southwest has primarily older, round-dial planes, but Boeing is now building only glass cockpit planes.  So, Southwest asked Boeing to make the LCD screens show the info in the round dial format instead of the newer format.  IIRC, Southwest also had Boeing use fewer LCD screens.  The reason is so that Southwest can save money on training costs and type ratings and make it so that each pilot can be qualified in all the airplane types (variants) with one training session.  IOW, each pilot can fly any plane Southwest has without having to worry whether he is qualified on that plane.  Saves lots of money and headaches.

Any word on the actual stability of the new MFD's, say numbers of system crashes per hours of use? I'm wondering if replacing all the old mechanical analog backups with yet more MFD's is the right course of action at this time.

[Fly320s]

Any word on the actual stability of the new MFD's, say numbers of system crashes per hours of use? I'm wondering if replacing all the old mechanical analog backups with yet more MFD's is the right course of action at this time.

I don't have that info, but if they aren't "reliable enough" the FAA, manufacturer, and airlines wouldn't use them.

[Fly320s]

Old:


New:

[RevDisk]

Any word on the actual stability of the new MFD's, say numbers of system crashes per hours of use? I'm wondering if replacing all the old mechanical analog backups with yet more MFD's is the right course of action at this time.

Never heard of one crashing without a secondary cause.  Bullet holes, shrapnel, dropped during maintenance, etc.

You really don't need the LCD's to actually fly.  They're not hardwired into the flight controls or anything like that.  They're primarily information displays.  You'd be damn near suicidal to fly without them functioning, granted.  If they would crash in flight, you'd just immediately set down in the first safe location possible.