Reverse slope windscreens

Did some Control Towers have sloping windows?

Yes, but it didn’t improve their top speed!!!!

Did some Control Towers have sloping windows?

Possible practical applications are reduced internal reflections with night flyingthereby better visual cueing? Also on some applications did this not have a benefit of better FOV by putting the pilot nearer the downward slope of the nose?

I cannot see any (aircraft) performance benefit at all.

JDK,

Although I cannot think which one, I am sure there were some very stylish open coupes of the 1920’s with unframed split front glass that leaned forward. The problem is that if you opt for that, attaching a soft hood poses a bit of a problem.

Much nearer to home, my old stomping ground of the Military Vehicle Engineering at GM, there was a Danish version of the Bedford ‘R’ type military 3 tonner that had a reverse slope FRONT windscreen.

Mark

Images courtesy of The Danish Army Vehicles Homepage.

Falcon Major

Here’s a few pics I took of the Falcon in 2003. I was hoping to build a 1/4 scale flying model, but I think current health issues will prevent that. The measuring stick has 2 inch squares on it which gives you an idea of the rake forwards.

Steve

ps Thanks again Pete for the Falcon flight, it was magic

In the case of army trucks, it makes sense – they’re not normally famous for their high speeds 😀 In the case of cars… There were enough in the thirties with upright screens, or opening windscreens etc, but that’s not quite a forward slope for styling.

Considering many of the mall attack vehicles beloved of the middle class women of the world, perhaps we could start a fashion for forward sloped windscreens there? It’s only nearly as stupid as the rest of that urban tank design is… [/RANT]

FRONT reverse slope glazing

Good thought Mark, but did anyone try it on the FRONT of the car’s screen?

JDK,

Although I cannot think which one, I am sure there were some very stylish open coupes of the 1920’s with unframed split front glass that leaned forward. The problem is that if you opt for that, attaching a soft hood poses a bit of a problem.

Much nearer to home, my old stomping ground of the Military Vehicle Engineering at GM, there was a Danish version of the Bedford ‘R’ type military 3 tonner that had a reverse slope FRONT windscreen.

Mark

Images courtesy of The Danish Army Vehicles Homepage.

did anyone try it on the FRONT of the car’s screen?

There was a slight forward slope to the Chevrolet 15CWT truck’s windscreen. These photos are not the best to demonstrate with, but it is there:

http://www.4wdonline.com/2000/PiCs37/ad12.jpg

http://www.4wdonline.com/Mil/GM/PiCs37/Chev1943C8A.jpg

Good thought Mark, but did anyone try it on the FRONT of the car’s screen?

Reverse slope glazing

Methinks this is a ‘styling’ thing.

I am reminded of the the Fords of the early 1960’s.

Mark

Image courtesy of Consul Classic 315.

MMMmmm…..Falcon

Scathing?

I love it!

I just have a view on why it happened and have a view, or rather lack of it, on the legacy that Blossom Miles left me in her decision at her Woodley drawing board that day in 1935. OK, she only had one eye but she was otherwise all there ( baaaaaaah!)

Sadly, so few of us are sufficiently motivated to acquire and operate these things (let alone embark on a lengthy and costly restoration).

This is why you can buy such important pieces of history for so little money (shhhhhhh!).

I have a photo of my actual plane in Sweden in 1939 with a Nazi Swastika fluttering in the background. Contemplate that for a minute….and all at 30 year old spam-can money.

HP

Thanks for the response, HP, and yes, I’m with Moggy that we’d love to see those pics. I do recall your scathing remarks on the screen – I did rather think it was a fashion thing…

When I’m back in the UK, I’ll hold you to that ride – and wash the other wing!

Thanks for the pic Guzzineil.

probably a case of ‘form over function’ as it looks good and the technical ‘excuse’ came afterwards! :rolleyes: it does fit with the ‘deco’ look of the period.. lovely!!!!

Neil

Photos

Hi Moggy C,

I have all the kit and more to do this, I have simply never learned how to post a photo.

When MotF returns from his US Sojourn, I’ll ask him to come here, post the pictures and show me how to do it.

When you consider that my Falcon came with 2 bits of paper and I now have 3 lever-arch files full of fascinating stuff… we’ll…I’m embarassed that I havent shared them.

I promise to put that right, just give me a bit of time.

A lame excuse I know but I’m a bit sidetracked with the impending R44 arrival in September – I need to learn to fly it and also pass those difficult exams beforehand!

VBR

HP

On the subject of the Falcon, I am fortunate enough to have some period internal shots, good enough in fact to prompt me to restore it to original, hide the radio etc.

HP

Any chance you could scan and post these? I’m sure we’d all appreciate seeing them – possibly with a current image for comparison?

Moggy

Forward sloping windscreen

Hi JDK,

How are you?!

My Falcon ( a Major not a Six btw – the only 6 is in Spain) is one of several miles machines that had a raked forward screen ( Hawcon, Witney Straight, Nighthawk, Monarch etc.)

Read the literature of the day and ‘a 5mph speed increase over a standard screen is achieved’.

Also, the ‘double teardrop’ shape achieved in this way is apparently supposed to streamline the airflow over the tail and thus achieve a smaller ( ie less drag) tailplane.

Now for the owners view: Its all bunkum.

I reckon Blossom Miles, who penned the undeniably gorgeous Falcon back in ’35, cribbed this ‘latest design feature’ from the Americans and simply ‘borrowed’ their claims. I reckon that the 5mph claim was just a wet finger in the air and had no real foundation. It was just a styling issue.

The resultant fin and rudder is too small. Had it been developed further it would almost certainly have had the later Magister unit ie it already shares the same wing and tailplane with the Maggie.

We are therefore very careful in operating the Falcon out of wind and also have the benefit of excellent differential brakes.

Next time you see it fly, watch the rudder inputs on landing, invariably almost, if not full control deflection either way to prevent a swing.

In the display you get some annoying reflections. Looking ahead is like looking through a letter box. In formation, the upper horizontal frames are just where you dont want them.

Oh yes, in the wet, the rain seems to stick to the screen, adding further to the charming character.

The Falcon is a wonderful old girl, a design icon that set new standards back in 1936. Think what else was around at that time.

On the subject of the Falcon, I am fortunate enough to have some period internal shots, good enough in fact to prompt me to restore it to original, hide the radio etc.

We are also pretty certain that the interior would have been red, to match the original red fuselage.

I am therefore tempted to commission this whole job.

What do you think?

As handsome as the SkySport scheme is, it aint period…

I owe you a ride in the Falcon JDK – come and see me at OW and we’ll put that right. You will loooove it!

HP