Cockpit & cabin heating

[Mifletz]

Were the cabins or cockpit of any Axis or Allied warplanes heated in WWII? How was the heating achieved?

[David Ransome]

Hi,

Yes, certainly the Heinkel He111 had a system which had air heated by the engine exhaust fed through wide diameter 'hoses' to various key points in the aircraft ie cockpit, rear radio & gun compartment, and dorsal and ventral gun positions.

I believe that all medium to heavy German aircraft had a similar system, I can't say for single engine fighters, where the hot engine was only a short distance from the pilot!

Regards

David

[Graham Boak]

If you look at Halifaxes and some Spitfires you will see a small pipe at the rear of the exhausts that then goes into the aircraft structure. You can also see on Canadian-built Harvards a longer exhaust pipe than on the T-6: this has a small connection into the cockpit heating system.

I believe that all other contemporary types had some similar arrangement. Technical manuals are available for most types, which I expect will provide much more detail.

[edNorth]

Hi all;

Some Ju 88 A-4 (late) had an fuel burning heater in the cockpit. The exhaust outlet had at least two locations, on lower left side of cockpit, some front of the main ´roll-over´ frame of cockpit glazing, as seen on some photos. At least a few (two confirmed) had this outlet further aft, just in front of the main wing. The Ju 188 A-3 LT and some Ju 188 F-1 also had similar heater, the exhaust trail often visible behind an flush hole, apx. 30 or 40 mm in diameter on same side of nose. Some D-1 had heaters for the cameras in rear fuselage.

cheers
ed

[Revi16]

Some German, British & American a/c also had electrical heating. Your flight suit would be electrically wired for heat and you would plug into the a/c electrical system.

Regards,
Mike