Tomcat boarding ladder yes or not ?

[galfa]

Callin Tomcat experts:

 

How common was for a Tomcat to be parked with an open canopy and a boarding ladder retracted ?

[Skull Leader]

not AS common, but common enough. I've got plenty of photos with the canopy up and the boarding ladder closed (some with steps open, some with steps closed), it was probably most common after a jet had been re-spotted, either before or after a flight.

Edited August 6, 2018 by Skull Leader

[GW8345]

The canopy's and boarding ladders were only left open if someone was working on the aircraft or if the aircraft was scheduled to fly shortly (to allow the cockpit area to cool).

 

If no one was on the aircraft or within the vicinity (i.e., on the next aircraft) the canopy was closed and the aircraft was "buttoned up". This was done in case of rain and also to keep birds/bugs out of of the cockpit. The boarding ladder was buttoned up to keep the wind from blowing in and the steps were closed to keep rain out.

 

You can pose the canopy open and the ladder down with not one on the aircraft, that is because someone is on the aircraft next to it who will be able to button everything in a matter of seconds if need be.

 

On the flight deck, the canopy will be open and ladder down is someone was working directly on the aircraft and needs access to the cockpit/top of the aircraft, they are not left open if no one is on the aircraft.

[galfa]

Very interesting. Thank you all.