2007-03-24 14:29:52 · 11 answers · asked by W. F 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
As with many aviation terms, it has carried over from the nautical term for the steering station on a sailing ship. The crew member responsible for the steering was the Coxwain, so his station became known as the "Cox's Pit" shortened to "cockpit"
Other carry-overs from the nautical world include captain, first officer, purser, cabin, forward, aft, port, starboard, galley, tiller, knot, etc etc!
2007-03-25 00:37:19 · answer #1 · answered by Mojo Risin 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The place on an old sailing ship there the helm was (before they invented the "bridge") was called the cockpit, and the name carried over.
It was called that on the ships because it looked to sailors like the small arenas used for cockfighting, a brutal blood sport.
2007-03-24 21:39:19 · answer #2 · answered by ExSarge 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
On an airliner, the cockpit is usually referred to as the "flight deck." This term derives from its use by the RAF for the separate, upper platform where the pilot and co-pilot sat in large flying boats.
2007-03-24 22:57:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Seems as Wikipedia has answered you question,
Is Wikipedia always right?? Remember, anyone can edit its contents. go see what is says now under modern usage!
My belief is it comes from the Cockswain...The steersman of a boat; a petty officer who has charge of a boat and its crew .had a "pit" in which he manipulated the rudder. and it carried over to aeroplanes in the early days.
2007-03-25 01:15:37 · answer #4 · answered by cherokeeflyer 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Gotta go with the Coxswain myself
2007-03-25 02:51:45 · answer #5 · answered by Wolf of the Black Moon 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Remember, if the crew is all female, it's the Box Office.
2007-03-25 09:25:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
joey k is right! Women that fly upside down have crackup!
2007-03-25 13:08:45 · answer #7 · answered by billy brite 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockpit
2007-03-24 21:44:53 · answer #8 · answered by denbobway 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Only males used to be pilots.
Its sorta like prison
2007-03-24 21:37:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 7⤋
It is really just supposed to be a man's job, so it was only for cocks. Then women's lib came along, putting pusssies in the pit, and that's when all the crashes happened. They were too emotional. 55% of all plane crashes have happened while a female pilot was waiting for her nails to dry.
2007-03-24 21:34:00 · answer #10 · answered by joey k 3 · 0⤊ 14⤋