Canopy
The X-15 clamshell-type canopy.
The one-piece, pneumatically counterbalanced, clamshell-type canopy is manually operated and mechanically locked in the down position. The canopy is hinged at the rear and opens about 45 degrees after moving aft to unlock. The canopy can be manually locked from either inside or outside.
The canopy has double-pane (or triple-pane) windows [9, fig. 4-3] with an air space between the panes for defrosting air. The user can select between the default elliptical windows or the optional trapezoidal windows.
A retractable, adjustable head restraint [8, fig. 4-3] can be lowered from the top of the canopy to restrain the pilot's head during deceleration.
A canopy seal [10, fig. 4-3], incorporated in the rim of the canopy, contacts the canopy sill and a bulkhead at the rear of the cockpit to allow pressurization of the cockpit.
On the real aircraft, a cartridge-type canopy remover is fired by an initiator when the ejection seat armrests [10, fig. 4-2] are raised. Also, this initiator directs some of its expanding gases to extend a thruster at the forward end of the canopy. When the canopy leaves the airplane, it fires the ejection seat catapult initiator to eject the seat.
The canopy can also be ejected with the canopy internal emergency jettison "T" handle [32, fig. 5-1] which fires a separate initiator that does not arm and fire the ejection seat when the canopy leaves. A similar "T" handle is provided externally, behind a door [26, fig. 3-1] on the right side of the fuselage, just below the canopy split line, for ground emergencies.
Note: The canopy and the seat cannot be ejected in this software version.
An interesting feature of the virtual cockpit is the possibility to make the canopy "invisible" to create the impression that the aircraft is equipped with a bubble glass canopy. Though not realistic in the case of the X-15, the invisible canopy mode gives the pilot a better outside view, especially during landing.
To make the canopy invisible, simply pull (drag with the mouse) the yellow canopy internal emergency jettison "T" handle [32, fig. 5-1] on the instrument panel right wing (see below). Note that the internal canopy emergency jettison handle does not open the canopy. It simply makes it invisible while the simulator thinks it's still on. To open or close/lock the canopy, use the canopy internal handle [26, fig. 4-1] (see below).
Note: The canopy also becomes invisible on the external model.
For more information about how to switch windows or make the canopy and other parts invisible in the virtual cockpit, refer to "How to Switch Window Types and Configure the VC".
An inflatable rubber seal [10, fig. 4-3], built into the edge of the canopy frame, seats against mating surfaces of the canopy sill and a bulkhead at the aft end of the cockpit to provide sealing for cockpit pressurization. The seal pressurization valve is mechanically actuated just before the complete locking of the canopy to permit gaseous nitrogen to inflate the seal. When the canopy internal handle [26, fig. 4-1] is actuated to open the canopy, the seal pressurization is dumped and the nitrogen valve is closed.
Canopy external handle door on the right side of the fuselage (X-15AD-4).
On the real aircraft, the canopy external handle, on the right side of the fuselage, below the forward end of the canopy, is behind a flush door [26, fig. 3-1] that is opened by pushing a flush-mounted button just aft of the door. Pulling the black long-hinged handle out of its spring clip and rotating it upward unlocks and moves the canopy aft about one inch to permit manual raising of the canopy. Rotating the handle forward and down moves the canopy forward and locks it. Pushing the handle into the spring clip stows the handle.
The canopy internal handle [26, fig. 4-1], for locking or unlocking the canopy, is on the right side of the cockpit, just below the canopy sill. Locking of the canopy requires that the canopy be lowered manually until it is tight against the canopy sill, then the handle pushed forward until it is against the stops and then rotated outboard to lock. Unlocking the canopy is accomplished by pulling the handle inboard and aft all the way back against the stops until the canopy is unlocked. The canopy can then be raised manually. During the ejection sequence, the handle automatically moves aft when the canopy unlocks.
To open or close/lock the canopy from the virtual cockpit, simply click on the white handle. You can also use the simulator's "SHIFT-E" keyboard shortcut.
On the real aircraft, the canopy internal emergency jettison handle [32, fig. 5-1], on the instrument panel right wing, jettisons the canopy without firing the seat. The "T" handle fires a separate initiator that fires the canopy remover and extends the canopy thruster. On the ground, the handle is safetied with a safety pin inserted through the handle.
The seat is not armed when the canopy is removed by this means.
Note: The canopy and the seat cannot be ejected in this software version.
Pulling (dragging) this handle in the virtual cockpit will make the canopy "invisible". Note that the canopy internal emergency jettison handle does not open the canopy. It simply makes it invisible while the simulator thinks it's still on. To open or close/lock the canopy, use the canopy internal handle [26, fig. 4-1].
For more information about how to make the canopy invisible in the virtual cockpit, refer to "How to Change the Windows and Configure the VC".
Note: The canopy also becomes invisible on the external model.
On the real aircraft, the canopy may be jettisoned from the outside by the canopy external emergency jettison handle. This yellow, T-type handle is just forward of the canopy external handle in a recess behind a flush door [26, fig. 3-1] on the right side of the fuselage, below the forward end of the canopy.
When the handle is pulled straight out approximately 4 inches with a force of about 10 pounds, a canopy initiator is fired. This in turn fires a canopy remover that forcibly jettisons the canopy.
Note: The canopy and the seat cannot be ejected in this software version.
Because of the interdependence of the seat and canopy ejection systems, the seat and canopy safety pins are discussed together in this paragraph.
Note: There are no safety pins in this software version.
On the real aircraft, to safety the canopy and seat ejection systems adequately, seven safety pins are required. The two initiators on the canopy deck, just aft of the right side of the seat, and the two initiators on the right side of the seat near the headrest are safetied by a safety pin inserted through a hole in the initiator sear pin of each initiator.
The right-hand ejection handle, on the ejection seat, restraint emergency release handle on the ejection seat, and canopy internal emergency jettison handle on the instrument panel right wing are safetied with a safety pin through a hole in each handle.
See also:
How to Change the Windows and Configure the VC