AW Atlas

Data and hypothesis – other British open-cockpit types – (Hawker Hart (IIRC) and Avro 626) sent to Canada had ‘one off’ coupe tops fitted.

The Swordfish in Canada later were famously fitted with the canopy (locally designed?) which gave rise to the mythic ‘Mk.IV’ designation.

The Canadian produced Lysanders had proper (i.e. not British) heaters fitted for the somewhat draughty cockpit.

Canadian Tigers were the ones which got the canopy, of course.

In the period blind flying instruction was carried out under canvas hoods in the Commonwealth services – I’m not aware of dedicated ‘hard top’ covers being used – anyone?

Therefore there’s no good evidence for anything else, like blind flying (good suggestion though! Evidence to prove me wrong with that statement welcome too…) and ample evidence of winterisation efforts (unsurprisingly) carried out from ad-hoc examples to mass production.

Just eddicated guesswork, of course.

Don’t forget the RCAF’s Blackburn Sharks. They were fitted with a canopy, too.

Here’s a second photo of an AW Atlas RCAF 401 with canopy
http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/databases/image_bank/images/25663.jpg

Data and hypothesis – other British open-cockpit types – (Hawker Hart (IIRC) and Avro 626) sent to Canada had ‘one off’ coupe tops fitted.

The Swordfish in Canada later were famously fitted with the canopy (locally designed?) which gave rise to the mythic ‘Mk.IV’ designation.

The Canadian produced Lysanders had proper (i.e. not British) heaters fitted for the somewhat draughty cockpit.

Canadian Tigers were the ones which got the canopy, of course.

In the period blind flying instruction was carried out under canvas hoods in the Commonwealth services – I’m not aware of dedicated ‘hard top’ covers being used – anyone?

Therefore there’s no good evidence for anything else, like blind flying (good suggestion though! Evidence to prove me wrong with that statement welcome too…) and ample evidence of winterisation efforts (unsurprisingly) carried out from ad-hoc examples to mass production.

Just eddicated guesswork, of course.

The Ottawa Car Manufacturing Co did all of the Atlas and other AW work. It seems a pretty logical and common thing to do in Canada, to fit coupe tops.

John

Logical, yes… however, I’m still rather perplexed as this is the only photo I’ve seen of this mod. Eight diverse Atlas shots in this chapter – some with unique fits (floats, M/G on lower wing, message hook) but no reference to this hood. Oh well, hopefully something comes up in the second half of this chapter.

The Ottawa Car Manufacturing Co did all of the Atlas and other AW work. It seems a pretty logical and common thing to do in Canada, to fit coupe tops.

John

Could it possibly be for blind flying instruction?