Friday 2010-10-08 Dev. update and Discussion

[philip.ed]

Originally Posted by zapatista

fire was a real danger and probably one of the biggest fears of aviators at the time, but they wore eye protection for more general reasons then just specifically fire protection. like fluid/fuel/coolant leaks potentially splashing them in the face, or a broken canopy splintering or exposing them to very cold air (at high altitude).

goggles however reduced their vision and slightly blurred their vision to, hence many pilots didnt always like to wear them all the time, particularly in close dogfights. preparing to dive on an enemy bomber formation would be a time most would put them back on

similarly with gloves, their purpose was more for general hand protection used while operating machinery (the aircraft) and the cold air, rather then specific fire protection gear (which was an added bonus)

They'd be lucky to get the goggles in place when diving on a bomber formation! It really is not as easy to put the goggles on as one would think.

[zapatista]

Originally Posted by philip.ed

They'd be lucky to get the goggles in place when diving on a bomber formation! It really is not as easy to put the goggles on as one would think.

brittish pilots that were about to engage enemy bomber formations had adequate time to place their goggles back over their face (eye's) before engaging aircraft they had spotted earlier (or were being vectored to by ground control). as you can see from many photo's and historical video, often they had the goggles over their forehead and not over their faces while patrolling or on the way to a target. it wouldnt take them more then 3 or 5 sec to do so.

many pilots on combat patrol, or before engaging the enemy, did not always have their goggles over their face because it did reduce peripheral vision somewhat (partic early model goggles) and it also slightly blurred the vision forward. so unless at very high altitude (cold !) many pilots/aircrew did not permanently have their goggles placed over their eye's.

i suspect that during takeoff and landings it was also a good idea to put them back over you'r eye's, because of the higher risk of crashes and incidents over that period of the flight

[philip.ed]

Originally Posted by zapatista

brittish pilots that were about to engage enemy bomber formations had adequate time to place their goggles back over their face (eye's) before engaging aircraft they had spotted earlier (or were being vectored to by ground control). as you can see from many photo's and historical video, often they had the goggles over their forehead and not over their faces while patrolling or on the way to a target. it wouldnt take them more then 3 or 5 sec to do so.

many pilots on combat patrol, or before engaging the enemy, did not always have their goggles over their face because it did reduce peripheral vision somewhat (partic early model goggles) and it also slightly blurred the vision forward. so unless at very high altitude (cold !) many pilots/aircrew did not permanently have their goggles placed over their eye's.

i suspect that during takeoff and landings it was also a good idea to put them back over you'r eye's, because of the higher risk of crashes and incidents over that period of the flight

Well, seeing as though I have such a set and have tried this out first hand, I can say that it's not as easy as you say. I have played Il-2, and for fun tested what you just said, and the goggles kick up in my face and block out half my vision. The celluloid lenses don't help, and any surface scratches create shadows that look like far-away planes. With the mark IV goggles, they are easier to put in place, but for me require the strap to be tightened which is a bitch to do with one hand (too much force and you may risk snapping the strap) I can see why they might have done what you have written about, but it's not as easy as you make it sound.


The 'sunglasses' part you mention is a flipshield. If you look at the goggles the pilot is wearing in the update, you may notice they are mark IV's:

Have a look here: http://www.historicflyingclothing.co...=12088&phqu=10



The flipshields were really brittle though, and broke off easily.

Note the picture of Bob Tuck. He is wearing a pair of mark IVa or b goggles, with shortened ear-loops. The helmet is a modified b-type NOT a c-type as you may think it is. It's a very interesting set, as all aspects of his headgear have been personally modified (notice the strap on his d-type oxygen mask)

[Splitter]

Originally Posted by philip.ed

Well, seeing as though I have such a set and have tried this out first hand, I can say that it's not as easy as you say. I have played Il-2, and for fun tested what you just said, and the goggles kick up in my face and block out half my vision. The celluloid lenses don't help, and any surface scratches create shadows that look like far-away planes. With the mark IV goggles, they are easier to put in place, but for me require the strap to be tightened which is a bitch to do with one hand (too much force and you may risk snapping the strap) I can see why they might have done what you have written about, but it's not as easy as you make it sound.

ROFl, I am picturing you sitting there in front of your monitor with goggles. Next time you do this, you MUST take pics or, even better, video! I need something to show my wife and say, "See? It could be worse....". You will do us all a great service . Did they model that comic strip out of the other thread after some pics you posted?

Just having some fun, but I got a chuckle out of the mental image .

BTW, I can't believe that people are arguing against including switches to turn down realism. What is wrong with options?

Splitter

[philip.ed]

Originally Posted by Splitter

ROFl, I am picturing you sitting there in front of your monitor with goggles. Next time you do this, you MUST take pics or, even better, video! I need something to show my wife and say, "See? It could be worse....". You will do us all a great service . Did they model that comic strip out of the other thread after some pics you posted?

Just having some fun, but I got a chuckle out of the mental image .

BTW, I can't believe that people are arguing against including switches to turn down realism. What is wrong with options?

Splitter

the things I do to prove myself right... LOL