Great minds think alike

[tallguy]

Am I the only person who thinks that someone might have stolen someone's idea?
The Abrams P-1
The Pitcairn O-61
The Sikorsky H-5
Why reinvent the wheel?

 

[Dynoman]

Obviously, the only commonality in the designs are the plexiglass windows and frames surrounding the cockpit.

For an observation aircraft/rotorcraft this greenhouse-style was the best design for the ease of manufacturing in the 1930s-40s. Bubble-canopies did exist in the P-51, P-47, and others, however the amount of work and cost to design molds, ovens, etc., to manufacture the plexiglass canopies by smaller aircraft manufacturing firms with limited production runs resulted in their use of relatively flat panels or moderately shaped plexiglass panels.

 

[tallguy]

Obviously, the only commonality in the designs are the plexiglass windows and frames surrounding the cockpit.

For an observation aircraft/rotorcraft this greenhouse-style was the best design for the ease of manufacturing in the 1930s-40s. Bubble-canopies did exist in the P-51, P-47, and others, however the amount of work and cost to design molds, ovens, etc., to manufacture the plexiglass canopies by smaller aircraft manufacturing firms with limited production runs resulted in their use of relatively flat panels or moderately shaped plexiglass panels.

Obviously, the only commonality in the designs are the plexiglass windows and frames surrounding the cockpit.

For an observation aircraft/rotorcraft this greenhouse-style was the best design for the ease of manufacturing in the 1930s-40s. Bubble-canopies did exist in the P-51, P-47, and others, however the amount of work and cost to design molds, ovens, etc., to manufacture the plexiglass canopies by smaller aircraft manufacturing firms with limited production runs resulted in their use of relatively flat panels or moderately shaped plexiglass panels.

They are much more specifically alike than a general similarity

 

[Archibald]

Obviously, the only commonality in the designs are the plexiglass windows and frames surrounding the cockpit.

Another commonality is: they are all as ugly as fruck.

 

[southwestforests]

They are much more specifically alike than a general similarity

Form follows function.
Form will be shaped by the technology available at the time.
What was the three aircrafts function?
What was the transparent materials technology of 1937, 1941, 1943?
What was the condition of the intersection of aerodynamic theory, aerodynamic experience, and aeronautical materials, in 1937 to 1941?

 

[riggerrob]

A
Abrams O-61 was designed for high-altitude, photo-mapping missions and they thought that the pilot needed lots of windows to visually navigate and stay on course.
The Pitcairn auto gyro and Sikorsky helicopter were both designed as “O” for “observation” missions, hence plenty of windows. They were intended to serve as artillery spotters. The Sikorsky was later adapted as an early flying ambulance.

For comparison, look at the extensively-glazed cockpit gondolas on the German observation planes Blohm und Voss 141 and Focke Wulf 189.

 

[BlackBat242]

A
Abrams O-61 was designed for high-altitude, photo-mapping missions and they thought that the pilot needed lots of windows to visually navigate and stay on course.
The Pitcairn auto gyro and Sikorsky helicopter were both designed as “O” for “observation” missions, hence plenty of windows. They were intended to serve as artillery spotters. The Sikorsky was later adapted as an early flying ambulance.

For comparison, look at the extensively-glazed cockpit gondolas on the German observation planes Blohm und Voss 141 and Focke Wulf 189.

And the WW2 German helicopters FA-223 and FL-282 (the latter after initially being produced with an open cockpit):

FA-223:




FL-282 (first with partial glazing - note US Army test pilot for late 1945 checkout, then with full glazing):