Jet fighter canopy

[wunderkind]

doubtful, imagine the visibility when driving in the rain. drivers are already half blind driving in the rain these days.

[Federico]

Yeah I know...and what about the solution proposed by fia in the video?

[Pup]

This has been talked about several times before. Rain isn't an issue - nothing will hit the canopy that wouldn't have hit the drivers visor. Oil or tire debris might be a problem, since there are no tear-offs for a windshield, but that's what pit stops are for. The bigger problem in my mind is heat, and I think the drivers will insist on the canopies remaining open for that reason alone. They could do a partial canopy, but could they make one strong enough? The canopy in the video is able to distribute the force of impact in all directions - an open canopy might just fold over.

I think that at the end of the day, the solution will be to keep an open cockpit but with a windshield that is built into a structural frame.

Of course, they'd get far more bang for their buck by protecting the wheels rather than the cockpit.

[Lycoming]

protecting the wheels wont do much for incidents like massa at hungary 2009 or schumacher at abu dhabi 2010. Perhaps the best solution would be to do an LMP type closed cockpit with cooling vents for the driver. those accidents I mentioned were close calls. I feel like its only a matter of time before we lose another driver to something like that.

[FW17]

[Pierce89]

This has been talked about several times before. Rain isn't an issue - nothing will hit the canopy that wouldn't have hit the drivers visor. Oil or tire debris might be a problem, since there are no tear-offs for a windshield, but that's what pit stops are for. The bigger problem in my mind is heat, and I think the drivers will insist on the canopies remaining open for that reason alone. They could do a partial canopy, but could they make one strong enough? The canopy in the video is able to distribute the force of impact in all directions - an open canopy might just fold over.

I think that at the end of the day, the solution will be to keep an open cockpit but with a windshield that is built into a structural frame.

Of course, they'd get far more bang for their buck by protecting the wheels rather than the cockpit.

actually tear offs on the windshield aren't unusual. Alot of endurance tin-top races use them. Every car in Nascar uses tear-offs on the windshield.

[wunderkind]

Heat and fog-up are the main issues that need to be resolved.

A spec'ed air-con unit perhaps? I don't know how, but I am sure such a unit will have to be designed from scratch to fit inside the space between the footwell bulkhead and the front suspensions. It's pretty impossible if you ask me With how today's F1 cars are. The front of the monocoque will have to increase in volume significantly in order to facilitate this. Also, such a system will have to withstand the forces and vibrations that a car has to endure in a racing weekend. What would the output of the unit in order to effectively and efficiently cool the driver and de-mist the cockpit? KERS powered perhaps?

[flynfrog]

Heat and fog-up are the main issues that need to be resolved.

A spec'ed air-con unit perhaps? I don't know how, but I am sure such a unit will have to be designed from scratch to fit inside the space between the footwell bulkhead and the front suspensions. It's pretty impossible if you ask me With how today's F1 cars are. The front of the monocoque will have to increase in volume significantly in order to facilitate this. Also, such a system will have to withstand the forces and vibrations that a car has to endure in a racing weekend. What would the output of the unit in order to effectively and efficiently cool the driver and de-mist the cockpit? KERS powered perhaps?

why not just cooled driving suits and fog icing mats like planes use. Not to mention that there are plenty of coatings that are pretty good at eliminating fog.

[Ray]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJwRJkCx ... re=related[/youtube]

well this is hungary gp3 friday practice...imagine the drivers head hitting the barriers/tires..

Reminds me of this crash by Ernesto Viso at Mangy Cours
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkSr1rQ0W1g[/youtube]

I wonder if this sort of accident could be common enough to force the FIA to institute some sort of canopy system due to insufficient safety system pressures by the public.

[wunderkind]

Heat and fog-up are the main issues that need to be resolved.

A spec'ed air-con unit perhaps? I don't know how, but I am sure such a unit will have to be designed from scratch to fit inside the space between the footwell bulkhead and the front suspensions. It's pretty impossible if you ask me With how today's F1 cars are. The front of the monocoque will have to increase in volume significantly in order to facilitate this. Also, such a system will have to withstand the forces and vibrations that a car has to endure in a racing weekend. What would the output of the unit in order to effectively and efficiently cool the driver and de-mist the cockpit? KERS powered perhaps?

why not just cooled driving suits and fog icing mats like planes use. Not to mention that there are plenty of coatings that are pretty good at eliminating fog.

Yes, cool suits and de-mister grids on the canopy would definitely help. It's the rain and wet conditions are the problems that need to be overcome.

[Richard]

actually tear offs on the windshield aren't unusual. Alot of endurance tin-top races use them. Every car in Nascar uses tear-offs on the windshield.

Presumably torn off by a mechanic in the pit stops?

[Lycoming]

that is correct. though now most of the time they use the helmet tearoffs they do it in the pitlane anyways.

[manchild]

This might sound like a joke at first but it is not

Manufacturer of the first ever jet fighter - Messerschmitt (me262), also applied canopy on their first ever (and last) car, the KR175 and KR200 models.



[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w46gw8YMTeA[/youtube]

What makes it funny is that more than a half a century ago, when that same passenger car with canopy was modified for performance, they've removed the canopy and shaped it into open cockpit!



It even had modern F1 style steering wheel



And as you can see, the one without the canopy was faster on the Nirburgring

[MIKEY_!]

Forget old minis with super-bike engines, this is the way of the future. Bernie take note

[flynfrog]

Yes, cool suits and de-mister grids on the canopy would definitely help. It's the rain and wet conditions are the problems that need to be overcome.

not really with some coatings you can get at your local auto parts store an thing over 45 will not be an issue when I raced solar cars we used quick detailer on the lexan and it shed water great. ON aircraft PPG makes a great surface treatment.