Taxiing with Canopy open

I like to keep my canopy open, during the ramp starts & taxi's. I just like to hear my engines, and everything else... :) Heck, even after I land, and I"m taxiing around the airfield as well.

For the ex-military, flight line folks & pilots, was curious if I'd be in violation of some ground operations protocol. :)

Regardless, it's my bird, and I'm gonna do what what I wanna do in the sim. :thumbup:

Not that I know of. Many aircraft do it. Many aircraft environmental control system takes some time to cool the cockpit, specially at engine idle.

Flying out of Davis Monthan, in the Summer, might be a little different. ;) Though as you note, if the cockpit cooling takes a bit, then open up that bird.

Seen many an A-10 at Davis-Monthan AFB taxiing with canopy open. Of course, that's Tucson and it can get mighty toasty in them pits with the sun glaring down.

Seen many an A-10 at Davis-Monthan AFB taxiing with canopy open. Of course, that's Tucson and it can get mighty toasty in them pits with the sun glaring down.

10-4 buddy! It's pretty frigging hot here in AZ, in June, July, August... ugh!

Happens all the time, more so than not.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I really get a charge out of pulling out of the hangar with the canopy open (recently I've had to close it because its just too loud to hear ts3), just taxiing out kind of feeling the groove... Arm out the window sort of thing. I'll keep it up right about to the point where either I'm at the last turn onto the runway or I get annoyed with people telling me my canopy is up lol.

Glad I'm not the only one.

I was up one morning at 4am after a night shift... Sleeping pattern all wonky. I logged in and noticed that one of crews missions was still running and the time in game was 4am. The way the hours lined up with the season in game was reaaaaaaally close so as the sun was coming up around the same time. The sky outside looked the same. The morning was just delightful. And I was going in to blow some ish up!!

Anyway for all my griping about some things- the stuff this sim does well, it does really, REALLY well.

It's okay to taxi with it open just don't forget to close it before takeoff and don't ask me how I know that cause I won't tell.

I HATE cliffhangers!

:music_whistling:

If you like the sound of the engines you should just leave it open and take off. T-34 stereo

If you like the sound of the engines you should just leave it open and take off. T-34 stereo

love this comment. back when I started flying this bird, I used to forget and have no idea it's still open until I hear the "bam" noise as it blows off while on take-off, then I look down and see the open canopy light is still on.

Used to like the engine spooling up and pulling back to idle then spooling up through the 7.1

 

For the ex-military, flight line folks & pilots, was curious if I'd be in violation of some ground operations protocol. :)

 

:thumbup:

Not a problem and most pilots used to do it (depending on the aircraft). Harriers used to taxi with canopy's open right up to the runway. Tornado's were incapable of it as their canopy is long and heavy and flexes quite badly. That had to be shut before they taxied out.

I once saw a Phantom taxi out to the runway, line up and heard its burner kick in then cancel immediately. When I looked up the nav hadn't closed his canopy!! and the pilot was eager to go.....

Right after the first gulf war I was working an airshow in Oklahoma City-one of the A-7 drivers landed after a performance and immediately popped his canopy-forgot about the speed limitation and it folded back over the fuselage like a can opener. Seems he had meet a young lady the night before and was trying to impress her :>

Just watch your speed when opening the "pit"

LW

Right after the first gulf war I was working an airshow in Oklahoma City-one of the A-7 drivers landed after a performance and immediately popped his canopy-forgot about the speed limitation and it folded back over the fuselage like a can opener. Seems he had meet a young lady the night before and was trying to impress her :>

Just watch your speed when opening the "pit"

LW

Canopies aren't so good as an alternate/back-up air-break then eh?

It's okay to taxi with it open just don't forget to close it before takeoff and don't ask me how I know that cause I won't tell.

I'll tell, 'cause I took off with it like that :) Heard a 'bang' and looked around trying to figure out what it was. Didn't see anything wrong and kept climbing. This was on multi, and sure enough, someone saw it and told me that my canopy just flew off.

My co-worker sitting next me worked crew during GW1. Per their BDA rules, if necessary, fly w/o the canopy.

Many moons ago a RAF jaguar pilot had the canopy cracked slightly open whilst taxiing out for a pairs take-off. When he landed back after a very short flight, his nickname was changed to 'cabriolet'.

Many moons ago a RAF jaguar pilot had the canopy cracked slightly open whilst taxiing out for a pairs take-off. When he landed back after a very short flight, his nickname was changed to 'cabriolet'.

Origins of callsigns can be quite entertaining, this one made me roll! :megalol:

Only to show how it is specified in real air traffic, not to know it better: Configurations for taxiing is regulated in almost all wings in the LOP (Local Operating Procedures). It depends on the outside air temperature first. The commander may decide 'open canopy' from 25 Deg C on. But the most important reason comes from the technical side. Most canopies of the fighter jets are unsecured in the open position. The actuator mechanics are not designed for absorbing shocks which can be experienced during taxi procedures. The Tornado, for example, was additionally secured with a strut, mounted manually as soon as the canopy was in the open position. But I have to admit, it's simply cool to taxi with the canopy open.

To me its a very romantic and exciting feeling holding short of the runway, hearing that motor whine, bringing the canopy bow down around you, the shrill engine noise fading, the transparent shroud finally slowing and sucking into position as the cabin seals and you configuration for take off, ready to ride into hell.

All that'd be ruined closing it too early.

8)

Exactly! it adds to my immersion that I have it open, all the way up until I taxi onto the runway.

I just need a scarf, and a fan on my desk/pit, blowing the wind into my face. :thumbup:

Here are a few pictures of A-10's taxing with the canopy open. This was when I was in Alaska, I didn't take these pictures.

nice pics! I presume if these were in Alaska, those Hawg's were shuttling either to/from Korea?

nice pics! I presume if these were in Alaska, those Hawg's were shuttling either to/from Korea?

No, there were stationed at Eielson AFB, Alaska near Fairbanks. I was stationed there from Sept 1999 to Sept 2005. I think they lost their A-10's around 2006-2007, because when I went back in 2008 they were gone.

Just be careful not to get too close to any C-17's or you'll lose it pretty quickly!

Just be careful not to get too close to any C-17's or you'll lose it pretty quickly!

Large aircraft are always bullies

:D