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In this video of a more complex cockpit, belonging to the SR-71, why don't we see any windshields? Were they not required for the SR-71, or are they not captured in this video? If windshields were actually not there, then please elaborate why!

enter image description here

Video

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anshabhi
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    That's just a picture of the instrument panel, the SR-71 did have windows. – GdD Jul 27 '15 at 14:42
  • foolish question then... !! – anshabhi Jul 27 '15 at 14:45
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    Just seek the video to ~8:40 where the camera pans up over the windows and to the mirrors and periscope above them. – Jan Hudec Jul 27 '15 at 15:00
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    On the other hand note that the navigator station (behind pilot), also shown later in that video, did indeed not have forward view, only two side windows to provide some natural light. Unlike most 2-crew fighters it didn't have flight controls either. – Jan Hudec Jul 27 '15 at 15:02
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    The windshields would be getting so hot that the crew would actually heat up their rations by pressing them against the windshield, so, yes, the Blackbird did have windshields, and they were in some sense even vital to mission success :-D – Jörg W Mittag Jul 27 '15 at 20:58
  • I'm sorry but this is a completely ridiculous question. Just look at any exterior photograph of an SR-71 cockpit and you can see the windows as clear as day. Or, as @JanHudec points out, the windows are visible in the very video you're asking about. – David Richerby Jul 28 '15 at 10:13
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    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is completely ridiculous. The answer is 100% obvious from looking at any exterior photograph of the plane. – David Richerby Jul 28 '15 at 10:14
  • @DavidRicherby yes this is, I am voting to close it as well! But, this bought a huge bunch of rep to the answerers anyways... – anshabhi Jul 28 '15 at 12:13

2 Answers2

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It did! You can see a bit of it here

enter image description here

or in the reflection here enter image description here

And here it is from the exterior enter image description here

Dave
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There are forward-facing windows in the SR-71. The image you posted is just of the instrument panel. The windows are better visible in the photo below. This is from a simulator but gives a better idea of what the cockpit looks like when in flight.

The windows and cockpit are small due to the high speeds and altitudes that the plane is designed for, making the cockpit resemble a smaller fighter plane.

SR-71 Cockpit

As a side note, there are planes without windshields, a notable example being the Spirit of St. Louis.

fooot
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