...line of sight. that is, in small ga planes, the pilot usually has to lean "up" in order to see above the top of the instrument panel == particularly on the ground.
2006-11-13 09:46:22 · 9 answers · asked by need_help002 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
You can adjust your seat front and back and up and down to see over the panel in GA aircraft if you need to. The reason the panel is so big and right in front of you is for instrument flight. If you ever get in the clouds you will encounter a fun effect called "The leans". When you enter the cloud your brain will tell you that your not flying straight and level. You will think you are in an unusual attitude. You must trust your instruments or you will be in some deep do doo ha ha.
2006-11-14 10:33:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It isn't really, you get a good view over the nose. The eye line of the pilot is always well above the top of the glare shield (the lip at the top of the instrument panel).
Take a look around the web, I've posted one link below and you can clearly see that the pilot's head is well clear of the instrument panel.
I'm afraid you are mistaken.
If the pilots really couldn't see over the glare shield they wouldn't be able to taxi safely. They do sometimes have to crane their necks to see something close to the aircraft though.
In a Panavia Tornado, at least for me, bottom of the canopy is at or below waist level and the HUD is at eye level, you can see past the HUD left and right.
The second link, below, shows the view from the pilot's perspective in a SAAB Gripen on the ground, again there's loads of visibility over the instrument panel.
The third link should show a lovely shot of an A320 landing from the pilot's eye level. At this point the plane has a nose up pitch and yet, clearly, the pilot can still see the runway well below the glide slope.
2006-11-13 10:09:07 · answer #2 · answered by Chris H 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I fly a Beech Sundowner 180 that has about the largest panel of any GA aircraft but it has loads of visibility, way more than the Cherokee 140 I used to fly that has a smaller panel.
Most aircraft have a height adjustment for the pilot's seat. Also since many GA aircraft are IFR capable so they need the space for the instruments. Compare these to a purely VFR aircraft like a J3 Cub or Aeronca.
Also, it depends whether it is a taildragger or tricycle gear for visibility.
2006-11-13 12:34:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This has always been the way that aircraft were designed since avionics and gages and dials were the primary focus of the pilots. The only time you really need to see in front of you is during landing and takeoff. Other than that you watch your radar for objects in front of you and the rest of the gages to see that you are on course and altitude. Charles Lindbergh's plane had no windows to the front at all for his trans-Atlantic flight.
2006-11-13 09:52:12 · answer #4 · answered by yes_its_me 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
In a single engine aircraft with a nose wheel when you start the aircraft it pulls the nose down making ground operation much easier in a tailwheel aircraft you can see a distance in front of you. for tight areas a ground spotter or ramp agent is a must
2006-11-13 10:19:14 · answer #5 · answered by Tom 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Navigation is dependent on the instrument panel, but they need to see out for any obstacles or storms.
2006-11-13 09:53:38 · answer #6 · answered by curiositycat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well it seems like my explanation was too advanced for some people to grasp, so here is a revised version. The pilots are still able to see ahead of them on the ground. It is a taildragger, they'll have to zig zag their way. Other than that, adjust the seat and off you go. Nevermind about the rest.
2006-11-13 09:56:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 6⤋
well i think it is because they have to see the skies during and after take off so i gess thas why.
2006-11-13 11:55:07 · answer #8 · answered by ROBIN F 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
MAYBE BECAUSE THERE IS 150 INSTRUMENTS...DUH!!!
2006-11-13 09:52:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 8⤋