Hi!I've seen some pictures of exhibits at some air museums, and I've noticed that most of the aircraft that are displayed outside have coverings on their canopies and windows. The coverings are not there for indoor aircraft. Are they there to protect the instruments inside from decay? Or is it there for airframe preservation? Or is it just to keep the cockpit cool (which would be defeating the purpose because no one is in the cockpit)?To clarify, here are some pictures (LONG URL, PICTURES NOT MINE). The coverings are blue, but on some pictures I've seen the covers are blackF-94C (51-3560), museum unknown:http://www.flickr.com/photos/23269353@N00/4857423599/in/photostream/B-36J (55-22827) at Pima Air and Space Museum:http://www.air-and-space.com/20100329%20Pima/DSC_3489%20B-36J%2052-22827%20nose%20right%20side%20l.jpg

TH covers are put in place to keep the sun out because sun generates heat and heat degrades cockpit avionics (electronics) and colours, Th sun also has UV rays that degrade cockpit coulours, platics and fabric.Cheers,- jahman.

Thanks for the quick reply, but isn't the cockpit area (and generally anywhere inside the plane) off-limits? I've been to the Castle Air Museum and visitors are only allowed to walk around the aircraft; the cockpits are off-limits. If no one is allowed inside the plane to begin with, what's the point of saving the instruments? Couldn't they just take all the instruments out for preservation before they take the plane outside? To clarify, what's the point of making the cockpit and associated compartments (e.g. navigator, bombardier, gunner stations, bomb bays) look nice if no one is allowed inside the aircraft in the first place? :(

DISREGARD THIS POST. I ACCIDENTALLY REPOSTED THIS BY MISTAKE AND I CANNOT FIND A WAY TO DELETE IT. AGAIN, PLEASE DISREGARD THIS POST. thanks for the quick reply, but isn't the cockpit area (and generally anywhere inside the plane) off-limits? I've been to the Castle Air Museum and visitors are only allowed to walk around the aircraft; the cockpits are off-limits. If no one is allowed inside the plane to begin with, what's the point of saving the instruments? Couldn't they just take all the instruments out for preservation before they take the plane outside? To clarify, what's the point of making the cockpit and associated compartments (e.g. navigator, bombardier, gunner stations, bomb bays) look nice if no one is allowed inside the aircraft in the first place? :(

Looking at the construction pictures I have a feeling there is nothing inside anyway. Plus the original glass used look pretty bad in the first place.

Contrary to what Cessnaflyer said (no offense), I found this pic of the cockpit of the Pima B-36http://www.flickr.com/photos/cjpalmer/3207276786/It's actually not that bad for an aircraft lying around in the desert for 50 years. So they keep the windows covered to keep the instruments from frying? Couldn't they just take the instruments out and lock them up for preservation and maybe make a mock-up cockpit in the museum (or instead couldn't they just truck in a spare cockpit section found lying around)? Or will that cost too much for most museums? Why leave all those valuable gauges inside where no one can see them? o.O

Looking at the construction pictures I have a feeling there is nothing inside anyway. Plus the original glass used look pretty bad in the first place.

Contrary to what Cessnaflyer said (no offense), I found this pic of the cockpit of the Pima B-36http://www.flickr.com/photos/cjpalmer/3207276786/It's actually not that bad for an aircraft lying around in the desert for 50 years. So they keep the windows covered to keep the instruments from frying? Couldn't they just take the instruments out and lock them up for preservation and maybe make a mock-up cockpit in the museum (or instead couldn't they just truck in a spare cockpit section found lying around)? Or will that cost too much for most museums? Why leave all those valuable gauges inside where no one can see them? o.O

If you look closely it looks like it is prior to covering the windows. Light is filtering through, broken window on the right and remember the covering is blue so why is there no blue tint to the light?here is a quote about the airplane:

Severe damage to the cockpit and instruments inflicted by vandals who ravaged the airplane with fire axes and hammers was a major impediment to the flyout attempt. Only one complete set of engine gauges survived the carnage and they had to be rewired to each engine in turn as they were started.

http://www.cowtown.net/proweb/last_one.htm

I stand corrected, then. Just for the sake of curiosity, here's a picture of the flight engineer's panel of the same B-36.http://www.flickr.com/photos/cjpalmer/3206430999/in/photostream/

Just for the sake of curiosity, here's a picture of the flight engineer's panel of the same B-36.http://www.flickr.com/photos/cjpalmer/3206430999/in/photostream/

Looks like a lot of work. I still wish airplanes were like this though!