Title: Why does the pilot sit in the back in biplanes? [Archive] - PPRuNe Forums
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Content: Shaggy Sheep Driver
31st Oct 2001, 15:12
TB said
"I've heard rumours that during WW2, student pilots would get about 5 hours in a Tiger Moth & then would be sent straight out in a Spitfire. " Sounds like a certain way to write off a Spitfire to me - and a pilot ; ~)
I thought they did a bit on a Harvard or something similar before the front line fighter. But either way they were woefully undertrained and many, I'm sure, were killed by their own aeroplanes rather than by enemy action. SSD
Lucifer
31st Oct 2001, 16:38
Read Roald Dahl's Going Solo if you really want to see how much training he got before combat. Tiger_ Moth
3rd Nov 2001, 00:44
Its because the general view is better for taxiing, turning etc as there isnt so much wing/ struts in the way. When you land you stick your head out the side so it doesnt matter too much. Its also to do with balance and on a Tiger Moth you can only see the fuel level if you're in the rear seat. Ive done all my flying in the back seat, ive never been in the front which is sensible as that is where ill sit if I fly on my own. Five hours on a Tiger Moth and straight onto a spitfire???