Advanced A4D Cockpit

[RAP]

Here are a few of pictures from an AW&ST article dated Dec. 30, 1957. The design seems way ahead of it's time. If the USN accepted the design, it was to be introduced on the A4D in 1961. The throttle and side stick control handles were of an experimental shape and incorporated buttons for various function, pre-HOTAS.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Compare the early A4D-1 cockpit, and the proposed A4D-4 cockpit.

http://a4skyhawk.org/2c/a4parts/html/cockpit-early-a4d.htm


Biggest issue with the advanced cockpit is the lack of fallback instruments and the poor reliability of advanced avionics.

 

[Evil Flower]

Wouldn't the tape gauges for speed/altitude and digit readouts be largely similar to the ones used in the F-105 and 106? Were there ever serious reliability issues with those planes since I don't think they had backup instruments either.