Ordnance actuation controls within the range of vision of a pilot looking forward from a cockpit

Claim 2

In an aircraft having an enclosed pilot cockpit with a view forward along the fuselage wherein a pilot cockpit is substantially below the fuselage top except for a viewing space therealong, having navigation instruments displayed across the front of the cockpit and a control stick provided for piloting the aircraft having thereon at least one ordnance trigger, the improvement comprising: a cowling forming a continuation of the fuselage extending aft into the cockpit space from said instrument panel; an arrangement of arming switch controls individual to a number of ordnance items to be actuated by the pilot in accordance with a visual sighting along said fuselage; said controls comprising a row of switches arranged along the after edge of said cowling along one side of said cockpit in approximate alignment with a direction of sighting along sAid fuselage line forward from the pilot; a plurality of ordnance devices connected for firing in response to operation of said trigger and connected to an actuating power supply by way of one switch for each of said devices, respectively, whereby said device may be fired or actuated; and said array of switches being in substantially contiguous alignment with the line of sighting in the forward direction along the fuselage and within the near peripheral vision range of the pilot such that the several fingers of the pilot''s hand in controlling the arming switches remain within the field of vision of the pilot as he observes a target.

Claim 3

A cockpit arrangement according to claim 1, said arming switches comprising a plurality of bomb-release arming switches.

Claim 4

The cockpit arrangement according to claim 1, said switches comprising arming switches for a plurality of machine guns attached to said aircraft for forward firing in which each said arming switch controls the arming of one said machine gun for actuation according to said trigger.

Claim 5

A cockpit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of switches comprise one switch for each of a plurality of bombs carried by the aircraft and one switch for each of the plurality of machine guns forwardly directed and supported in alignment with said fuselage.

Claim 6

A cockpit arrangement according to claim 1, including a plurality of switches individual to a plurality of ordnance devices and a master arming switch connecting each other said switch to a power supply and to said ordnance device when said trigger is operated, said master arming switch thereby being in series with said trigger and said individual arming switch.

Claim 7

A cockpit arrangement according to claim 5, including a plurality of arming switches individual to a plurality of bombs mounted on the aircraft and a plurality of machine gun arming switches individual to a plurality of machine guns directed forwardly through said fuselage, whereby said pilot may observe the position of his hand controlling the arming switches at the same time keeping the switches in sight while observing a target forward from the aircraft.

Claim 8

A cockpit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said array of switches comprises a plurality of finger-operated switches arranged in a linear array along the left side of said cowling whereby the individual switches are within easy reach of the pilot for finger operation by the left hand as the right hand controls said trigger.

Claim 9

An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein a master switch is located at one end of said array and in successive linear positions therefrom a plurality of bomb arming switches and a plurality of machine gun arming switches are arranged in substantial linear array parallel with the plane tangent to the fuselage surface along the line directly forward from the point of observation of a pilot seated in the cockpit.

Claim 10

A cockpit arrangement according to claim 9, said array of switches including a set of bomb arming switches connected in series to a first trigger on said airplane control stick and a second set of machine gun arming switches connected in series with the second trigger switch on the control stick of said aircraft.

Claim 11

In a tactical aircraft including a fuselage having a substantially linear sighting line along an upper surface thereof aligned substantially with a target toward which the airplane is pointing and having a cockpit arranged for the seating of a pilot with his head slightly above the fuselage level for sighting along said line, and further having an instrument panel displayed across a forward portion of a cockpit having cowling on the upper and one lateral side thereof extending aft from the fuselage surface a substantial distance beyond the instrument panel to provide a light shield, the improvement comprising: a set of ordnance arming switches arranged in a linear pattern along one lateral edge of said cowling at the rear edge thereof in facing relatiOn to the pilot seated in the cockpit; a first group of switches in said array adjacently arranged for individual arming of ordnance devices of one type each being connected for the control of arming of a said ordnance device; a trigger switch connecting each said arming switch to a power supply and an actuator for said ordnance device individual thereto; a master arming switch arranged at one end of said array of switches for ordnance devices of one kind, being in series with said individual arming switches and said trigger for further control of arming of said ordnance devices; and sensible barrier means extending substantially from said array in the direction of the pilot and having physical dimensions to guide the fingers of the pilot for locating by feel said master arming switch and each of said individual arming switches.

Claim 12

In a tactical aircraft including a fuselage having a substantially linear sighting line along an upper surface thereof aligned substantially with a target toward which the airplane is pointing and having a cockpit arranged for the seating of a pilot with his head slightly above the fuselage level for sighting along said line, and further having an instrument panel displayed across a forward portion of a cockpit having cowling on the upper and one lateral side thereof extending aft from the fuselage surface a substantial distance beyond the instrument panel to provide a light shield, the improvement comprising: a set of ordnance arming switches arranged in a linear pattern along one lateral edge of said cowling at the rear edge thereof in facing relatiOn to the pilot seated in the cockpit; a first group of switches in said array adjacently arranged for individual arming of ordnance devices of one type each being connected for the control of arming of a said ordnance device; a trigger switch connecting each said arming switch to a power supply and an actuator for said ordnance device individual thereto; a master arming switch arranged at one end of said array of switches for ordnance devices of one kind, being in series with said individual arming switches and said trigger for further control of arming of said ordnance devices; and sensible barrier means extending substantially from said array in the direction of the pilot and having physical dimensions to guide the fingers of the pilot for locating by feel said master arming switch and each of said individual arming switches.