Spotting Traffic

Wallace Berry wrote:


For my tastes, most GA aircraft have poor visibility from the cockpit.
Small windows, wings blocking the view above or below and to one side or
the other in turns serve to block out a lot of the sky. Adding to this I
suspect that the relatively high level of noise (engine and radio) and
vibration in GA cockpits causes a sort of "sensory overload" that may
adversely affect the visual scan. The extent of the effect probably
varies quite a lot from person to person, relative levels of
distractions in different aircraft, and level of experience. Quieter
headsets may improve the situation, but I think the "isolation" of
hearing protectors serves as a sort of temporary distraction in it's own
right.

I can't say I agree, especially about the sensory overload.

While my Beech Sundowner (Slowdowner G) dosen't have a bubble canopy,
it has excellent visibility everywhere but straight up, far better than
any single engine Piper or Cessna I've flown. The wing sits farther
back than a PA28, so I have nice visibility to the sides and below.
Since straight up and straight back aren't part of the typical scan, I
don't think I'd be better off with a bubble.

As far as the headset goes, my current ANR set is so comfortable, I can
doze off while my co-owner flies! G