Building a few of these had me wondering if the cockpits of WWII fighters were heated, and if not I wonder how cold it could get in there when flying at altitude?
I believe some did and just an FYI, this type of query would be better asked in the a/c forum.
I do recall reading about some US fighters having some sort of heating system. That was one complaint about the P-38 having a poor layout and heating system.
The De Havilland Mosquito apparently did:
http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=126
Brian
Yes although there are exceptions.
-55C at 35000 ft standard but of course varies a little.
Most were heated. However, the vast majority were considered less than adequate and not very reliable.
Pressurized cockpits were a rarity (some later 109s had them), so I’d imagine it could get really cold with all the various air leaks, etc.
IIRC, aside from a couple Me-109 G variants, there were also a couple Spitfire Marks that had pressurized cockpits.
Ta-152H was pressurized.
With all of the heat being generated by a water cooled engine, I don’t see why a cockpit couldn’t be heated. But also considering that the cockpit was also open to the rest of the fuselage it would also seem like it was a large area to try to keep heated. A vent opening towards the pilot would probably be all that was provided. A pressurized cockpit in a fighter aircraft? Better be prepared for quick depressurization when hit by an enemy round. And I am not sure about radial engined aircraft of the era, but they could be heated, too, I suppose.
Automobile heaters in this era were only vented at the floor, there were no dashboard vents as in todays cars, just the floor heat and windshield defroster (maybe).
They certainly were. You wouldn’t last too long at high altitude if they weren’t or your flight suit and gloves weren’t electrically heated, like a bomber gunner.
Other options were fuel-fired heaters or electric heaters, with ducting and fans.
Windshields needed defrosters too, Guns needed heaters, and so forth. It’s a pretty cruel environment.