Russian Aircraft

F

FloridaLarry

Well-Known Member
In what feels like an historic anomaly, I've noticed that most Russian heavy aircraft have lower windows in the nose of the aircraft. They look like WW II bombers with the bombardier up front. Modern instrumentation would seem to make these non-essential, and they have to weigh more and cost more than simple sheet metal and frames. I can see a reeason for this feature on helicopters, but on large transport A/C?

Can someone suggest a good reason for these?
 
FloridaLarry said:
In what feels like an historic anomaly, I've noticed that most Russian heavy aircraft have lower windows in the nose of the aircraft. They look like WW II bombers with the bombardier up front. Modern instrumentation would seem to make these non-essential, and they have to weigh more and cost more than simple sheet metal and frames. I can see a reeason for this feature on helicopters, but on large transport A/C?

Can someone suggest a good reason for these?
Click to expand...

For the navigator. Until fairly recently, there wasn’t a whole lot of nav aids in Siberia and eastern USSR so a lot of navigating was still done via dead reckoning and visual landmarks. Also, all transport category aircraft even if in civilian service were meant to be impressed into military service in the event of war.

navigators position in an IL-76



97CE8C37-CCE2-41DB-B446-2C2A4B8F4B90.jpeg
 
Last edited:
I was rockin’ a 196 during my early 135 days. Still have it, too. I bought it after essentially losing comms and navs in a POS 172 when I went to pick up another pilot. Oh yea, I’d lost my ASI earlier after sucking up a bug. I’m here today because I just happened to grab my DO’s Garmin 195 before walking out the door.
 
Haha, Capitalist Stooge Running-Dogs. We use how you say "TECHNOLOGY" against you, yes? Oh, LORAN not so accurate, yes? Degrade GPS signal, yes? WE BUILD BIGGER BOMB! Oh, only boom 2 miles, problem. Not problem, we build bomb that boom 5 miles! And window so if miss, have three bomb more!
 
deadstick said:
I was rockin’ a 196 during my early 135 days. Still have it, too. I bought it after essentially losing comms and navs in a POS 172 when I went to pick up another pilot. Oh yea, I’d lost my ASI earlier after sucking up a bug. I’m here today because I just happened to grab my DO’s Garmin 195 before walking out the door.
Click to expand...
That handheld I posted was the only thing that kept me from declaring once, that NRST button with family onboard and an airplane that was misbehaving was well worth the obscene cost of the thing.
 
Boris Badenov said:
Haha, Capitalist Stooge Running-Dogs. We use how you say "TECHNOLOGY" against you, yes? Oh, LORAN not so accurate, yes? Degrade GPS signal, yes? WE BUILD BIGGER BOMB! Oh, only boom 2 miles, problem. Not problem, we build bomb that boom 5 miles! And window so if miss, have three bomb more!
Click to expand...

fun fact: at least per the Russians, they keep so many tube powered avionics etc in their aircraft because they won’t be affected by an EMP from a nuclear explosion
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top