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A 'bubble canopy' is a canopy made like a soap bubble, which attempts to provide 360° vision to the pilot.

Contents

History

Examples

History

Bubble canopies have been in use since World War II. The British already had the "Malcolm hood" which was a bulged canopy but the British Miles M.20 was one of the first aircraft designs to feature a true bubble canopy and although it never went into production the idea was used for other British fighters. It was also taken on by the US for the P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt among others.

Examples

F-86 Sabre in flight	MiG-29 on the ground with canopy open
Closeup of a Su-27 cockpit with IRST system	Miles M.20 showing the bubble canopy