why is a cockpit in a plane so called?

Answer 1

originally the term was cockswain the officer that was incharge of rudder control and area of the sailing ship cockswain's pit. Then in 1914 pilot's area if an aircraft Cockpit and it stuck Even automobile use the term for drivers control area. 10 points please

Answer 2

At one time rooster fighting was legal. People would put two roosters into a ring an make bets on which one would win. The ring was called a cockpit.
When airplanes first came out, the tiny area for the pilot made them think of the rooster fighting ring, so it was label the cockpit.

Answer 3

The term is most likely related to the sailing term for the coxswain's station in a Royal Navy ship, and later the location of the ship's rudder controls.

Answer 4

Its starting to be called a flight deck now more than cockpit. At least at the airline i work at it is.

Answer 5

I suspect that the explanation of coxswain's pit was the politically correct version at the time with a nudge nudge wink wink to the fact that most of the fighters and bombers of WWI had a stick coming up from the floor between the (male) pilot's legs for aileron and elevator control. As such, he was always wiggling it around (playing with it). Clear?

Answer 6

Explanation from the "on-line Etymology Dictionary" -
1587, "a pit for fighting cocks." Used in nautical sense (1706) for midshipmen's compartment below decks; transferred to airplanes (1914) and to cars (1930s).

Answer 7

Its the HEAD of the plane

Answer 8

you don't want to know!

Answer 9

Duh! it's a pit they put COCKS in mmmmmm!!