The cockpit of a Sopwith Snipe.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Sopwith Snipe / 7F.1 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1918

Another shot of a Snipe cockpit shows protective leather-covered pads on the ends of the Vickers gun breeches.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Sopwith Snipe / 7F.1 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1918

The cockpit of the immaculately-restored De Havilland D.H.9A F1010 in the RAF Museum's Bomber Command Annexe at Hendon.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland D.H.9A - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1918

The D.H.9A was fitted with protective leather-covered pads on the ends of the Vickers gun breeches. The compass is the widely-used Type 5/17.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland D.H.9A - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1918

The view emphasises the ample width and the cramped length of a Spad cockpit. The wrap-around windscreen was probably a good feature, but the clock face with roman numerals on it most definitely was not.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: SPAD S.VII - ФранцияFrance - 1916

Another RAF Museum aeroplane, this time the S.E.5a, displays its armament. The Vickers gun has its own ring-and-bead sight; the Aldis sight is mounted centrally, beneath the Lewis on its Foster-type overwing mounting.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: RAF S.E.5 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1916

This shot of Handley Page O/400 B8811 shows the cockpit area projecting out in front of the wings and propellers.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Handley Page H.P.12 (O/400) - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

In this Bristol F.2B, the instruments were skewed round in their bezels so that the needles were vertical at normal values of r.p.m., airspeed etc. This common practice enabled pilots to check their gauges at a glance.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Bristol F.2A/F.2B Fighter - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1916

The Sopwith Dolphin was designed to give its pilot an excellent upward field of vision - but at the expense of downward view.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Sopwith Dolphin / 5F.1 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1917

The pronounced back-stagger of the de Havilland D.H.5 gave its pilot an excellent view forwards and upwards. Unfortunately it also prevented him from seeing any pursuers diving from behind.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland D.H.5 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1916

The cockpit of the Handley Page V/1500 had the conventional pilot-on-the-right layout. The control wheel had to have a diameter approaching two feet and a 2:1 gear ratio to make the vast ailerons manageable. The control column could be locked in position to give the pilot a rest on long missions - a very primitive autopilot. The two instruments visible in the forward gunner's/bomb aimer's cockpit were probably an altimeter and an ASI.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Handley Page H.P.15 (V/1500) - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1918