Xf5u

[Fiter Pilot]

Does anyone know what the clear nose cone is on the XF5U?

[steveinindy]

As in what it is made from or what the purpose of it was?

[Fiter Pilot]

What purpose did it serve

[Fiter Pilot]

What purpose did it serve is what i ment to ask.

[steveinindy]

Probably for radar or something like that.

[Kyle Boatright]

I'm sure it was so the pilot could see the ground when he was on his landing approach. The XF5U was supposed to land at a very high angle of attack, probably eliminating the pilot's visibility of the deck. A transparent nose cone eliminates that problem. If you look at the V-173 (the proof of concept aircraft which led to the XF5U), it has even more glass on bottom of its nose to provide good downward visibility for the pilot.

[Fiter Pilot]

That is an option, but if you look at the pictures there is an antena or something like that in the nose cone.

[Mike M]

That is an option, but if you look at the pictures there is an antenna or something like that in the nose cone.

and an opaque bulkhead the "or something" appears to be mounted on. in other words, no, i don't know why the dome is clear, either.