ELI5: How does the “razorback” canopy design improve stability for the early-war P-51 and P47 compared to the bubble canopies introduced down the line?
Where was this claim found? Canopy shape is not a significant factor in determining aircraft lateral dynamics. Changes in canopy shape should create minimum weathervaning, because the cockpit of those aircraft are usually fairly close to the CG.
In several designs, this happened not because of the canopy itself but because of the fuselage shape behind the canopy.
Some aircraft with bubble canopies had the fuselage behind the canopy altered/lowered for improved rearward visibility, where earlier versions had a taller streamlined fairing behind the canopy. This gave the earlier versions more side area on the fuselage, which gave more resistance to sideslipping and a bit more yaw stability.
Comments
Where was this claim found? Canopy shape is not a significant factor in determining aircraft lateral dynamics. Changes in canopy shape should create minimum weathervaning, because the cockpit of those aircraft are usually fairly close to the CG.
In several designs, this happened not because of the canopy itself but because of the fuselage shape behind the canopy.
Some aircraft with bubble canopies had the fuselage behind the canopy altered/lowered for improved rearward visibility, where earlier versions had a taller streamlined fairing behind the canopy. This gave the earlier versions more side area on the fuselage, which gave more resistance to sideslipping and a bit more yaw stability.