A-26/B-26: one pilot or two?

[Stephan Wilkinson]

The A-26 was originally designed to be a single-pilot airplane, and I've seen photos of such a cockpit configuration. But most of the pictures I've seen of B-26 Invader front offices show two sets of controls. When did this transition take place?

[Tim Savage]

Single pilot as designed and delivered by Douglas.

Some converted to TB-26 configuration by the military and LOTs converted to dual control by folks such as On-Mark etc for both military and civilian use in the 50's and 60's.

[Invader26]

Firebombers operated single pilot..

[hueyfan]

Follow up Question: I have seen the 26 in dual pilot cockpit formation but only with a solid nose (gun nose) as opposed to a glass nose....if there is a dual pilot cockpit is there no way to enter the nose via the standard method? *standard method I would think would be on the right side, underneath the cockpit panel to access the nose.

So if two pilots = solid nose...one pilot (no right seat) = solid nose ?

[Tim Savage]

Follow up Question: I have seen the 26 in dual pilot cockpit formation but only with a solid nose (gun nose) as opposed to a glass nose....if there is a dual pilot cockpit is there no way to enter the nose via the standard method? *standard method I would think would be on the right side, underneath the cockpit panel to access the nose.

So if two pilots = solid nose...one pilot (no right seat) = solid nose ?

There are glass nose versions with dual controls but it would be difficult/impossible to get into the nose during flight. Some of the co-pilot columns I have seen are hinged to swing out of the way so one can get in the nose. I have no idea if the military ever produced/modified any TB-26s with glass noses. The nose is easily swapped so airplanes produced with the solid nose and dual controls could easily be converted to the glass nose..

[Jerry O'Neill]

The WWII combat veteran A-26 at the New England Air Museum was never totally civilianized and it only has a single pilot set-up and a glass nose.

Jerry

[airnutz]

Follow up Question: I have seen the 26 in dual pilot cockpit formation but only with a solid nose (gun nose) as opposed to a glass nose....if there is a dual pilot cockpit is there no way to enter the nose via the standard method? *standard method I would think would be on the right side, underneath the cockpit panel to access the nose.

So if two pilots = solid nose...one pilot (no right seat) = solid nose ?

There are glass nose versions with dual controls but it would be difficult/impossible to get into the nose during flight. Some of the co-pilot columns I have seen are hinged to swing out of the way so one can get in the nose. I have no idea if the military ever produced/modified any TB-26s with glass noses. The nose is easily swapped so airplanes produced with the solid nose and dual controls could easily be converted to the glass nose..

I dunno if I'm understanding the question correctly, but according to Darcy Hawkins, the Brazilian Air Force had a requirement for the co-pilot to double as the bombardier and his control column was removable in flight...an On Mark mod as was done to Randal McFarlane's bird before the big pond jump to Oz.

EDIT
http://napoleon130.tripod.com/id597.html

[Tim Savage]

Follow up Question: I have seen the 26 in dual pilot cockpit formation but only with a solid nose (gun nose) as opposed to a glass nose....if there is a dual pilot cockpit is there no way to enter the nose via the standard method? *standard method I would think would be on the right side, underneath the cockpit panel to access the nose.

So if two pilots = solid nose...one pilot (no right seat) = solid nose ?

There are glass nose versions with dual controls but it would be difficult/impossible to get into the nose during flight. Some of the co-pilot columns I have seen are hinged to swing out of the way so one can get in the nose. I have no idea if the military ever produced/modified any TB-26s with glass noses. The nose is easily swapped so airplanes produced with the solid nose and dual controls could easily be converted to the glass nose..

I dunno if I'm understanding the question correctly, but according to Darcy Hawkins, the Brazilian Air Force had a requirement for the co-pilot to double as the bombardier and his control column was removable in flight...an On Mark mod as was done to Randal McFarlane's bird before the big pond jump to Oz.

EDIT
http://napoleon130.tripod.com/id597.html

That is the configuration I was thinking of that I thought swung out of the way...guess it was removable. I haven't actually seen it, just heard about it. A lot of the dual control Invaders out there are former exec airplanes that received civilian conversions and would have had no need for such a configuration.

[A26 Special K]

Well, here is something to blow your dress up! All of the K models that were modified in '64-'65 by OnMark for the USAF came with solid gun noses and glass noses. It takes about 4 hours to change one out. This was because they wanted the airplane to serve two purposes: recon and attack. The bomb bay and glass nose could be loaded with cameras. The bomb bay doors had many ports for this purpose. They all had dual flight controls with the copilot's side being removeable by pulling a pin, but there was really no reason to do so as all of the cameras were remotely controlled from the right seat or the aft gunner's compartment. With the gun nose, the tunnel could still be accessed to the nose, but again there was no need. The 8 machine guns were charged by air thru lines that ran from the aft compartment compressor. Not only was there a right side yoke, but a full set of rudder pedals AND brakes. Many of the exec conversions did not have brakes... just rudder pedals and yoke. So why have the dual controls in the K?? Well, they were intended to go anywhere on short notice within 16 hours flying time. At first, they were given a semi civilian looking green and creme paint job. I suppose it can be left to the imagination as to who might want to borrow the airplanes from time to time and maybe go to places like the Congo or Central/S. America. A single pilot in this long overseas flight scenario might get a bit tired. JR, Special Kay B-26K