Why don't all fighter planes have bubble canopies?

Question

If you look at the cockpit on the F-16 it has really good visibility and nothing on it, but if you look at the F-14 or the F-18, or anything else like the F-4 Phantom they have like metal bars in the front and its not all glass/canopy. Why don't all planes have clear/bubble canopies? and if you know what are the metal things or whatever is on the canopy/glass called?

Answer 1

There is not much need anymore for the pilot to spend a lot of time scanning the horizon and he is usually extra busy just trying to keep up with the information being displayed on his cockpit "computer" screens.  The metal you see is the cockpit "window frame" and each clear segment is a separate "window."

Actually, I just double-checked and virtually all the planes you listed (at least the latest versions) DO have polycarbonate "bubble" canopies.  They look a little different, particularly when they are two-seater versions of the fighter. (But even the two-seater F-16 looks different from a standard F-16).

Answer 2

The F-4 Phantom was originally designed as an all-weather interceptor.  It would be flying through clouds and using radar and missiles to attack the enemy.  Even in clear skies it was assumed that the targets would be at the edge of visual range and would not move much in the windscreen (due to the distance).

Also slower aircraft had bubble canopies (like the P-51 and F-86) since they didn't have to hold up to the stresses and heat that a Mach 2 fighter does.  The F-16 and F-18 are both slower than the F-4 and were designed 20 years later so the technology was better.

Answer 3

In the past, fighters were designed with windscreens built to withstand bullet hits. Part of making them this strong involved the small panes and reinforcing bars you see on some of the older jets. Also, the technology for "blowing" big bubble canopies was still in its infancy. Some still managed to get it right: the P-51 and F-86 are good examples.

Fighter pilots were also used to seeing everything within a few degrees of dirctly ahead of the jet, through the gunsight. Some fighters of my experience (F-105, MiG-21) had very limited visibility from the cockpit.

All modern jet fighters have big bubble canopies. Situational awareness has become the primary pilot tool, and having an unobstructed view in all directions is a very good thing. In addition, most modern fighters employ long-range missles in combat, so the tight gunsight view is not as important. However, they all still mount a gun, just in case you get "up close & personal". Computers now evaluate potential enemy targets and display the info to the pilot on the Heads Up Display, or a panel mounted screen.