Me 109 canopy with slot at the top?!

[George Hopp]

Molders' a/c and the last two pictured make it pretty clear that there is a separate clear panel in the front half of the canopy top section. It opens by pulling back the perpex ridge at the front. Now, why would they want it?

[David Ransome]

Hi,

Thanks for the pics Lynn!

George, could the panel just be for cooling /ventilation as with the side windows, firing flares out of etc? The 109 having a side flipover canopy maybe wasn't as easy to ventilate as, say, the Fw190 where it's canopy could be rolled back almost any chosen distance up to it's stops. The operation manual/handbook for the aircraft may possibly indicate it's use.

Regards,

David

[WEISNER]

Hard to say? But would it be possible for the pilot to squeeze out through the top panel if slid back in an emergency? say if the canopy was damaged in combat and would not open?
Kevin

[stephen f. polyak]

Boy, we're having a run with this one! In my opinion, David nailed it - it's for ventilation. Think of the greenhouse effect and imagine sitting in that small cockpit, suited with flying kit, on a hot/sunny day and add engine heat! To gain some air circulation and temperature relief, just slide the upper panel open; adjust it as desired with altitude and airspeed. The upper panel could also allow fumes/smoke to escape in an fire emergency. (A possible disadvantage is that the fire may then also “breath” and intensify.) Later models of the 109 with better closed-canopy ventilation, pressurization, or improved blown canopies eliminated the upper sliding panel. Any possibility a like panel was fitted to early Bf 110s (hinged canopy)? As noted, a/c with a progressive sliding canopy (e.g., Fw 190) would not need such a feature.

[Falcon]

Im sure it was for ventilation. See the difference to the G-series.

E/F-series:
- light plexi glass canopy
- sliding panels (top, left, right)
- the side triangle windows on the "Windschutzaufbau" can be open

G-series (unpressured):
- heavy glass canopy for more protection
- only left and right sliding panels
- fixed glass on the "Windschutzaufbau" side windows
Additional for better ventilation to get the E/F-series fresh air conditions:
- the vent openings left and right on the fuselage in the cockpit
- the small airscoops below the "Windschutzaufbau"

[lritger]

This is going out on a limb, but what about gun gas venting? The F was the first model with a centerline cannon, and the F-1 carried the drum-fed MG-FF/M in a zippered canvas sack between the pilot's legs. I'd imagine things got a bit hazy in the cockpit after several rounds! The F-2 went to the MG151/15, and you'll note it was in a sealed metal enclosure from that model onwards. And don't forget the port windscreen quarterlight could be opened from inside, giving cross-ventilation... it's just a guess, mind you, but it seems logical.

Lynn

[WEISNER]

How much venting do you need?, the side slides open.... there must be a practicle reason for the top slider? Pilot exit in emergency???
K

[stephen f. polyak]

If motivated by do or die, there's the possibility of attempted pilot egress through the open top panel, but even a small man would have to be a contortionist to wiggle through that hole, not to mention while wearing flight gear and rattled. Seems like a poorly executed escape route (if that was its purpose); it definitely wasn't for all sizes. Didn’t this canopy have an emergency jettison feature?