F/RF-84 canopy

[Graham T]

Having just finished the Tanmodel RF-84F I have a question that has bothered me for a while.  Why did Republic go for that "up & over" canopy opening mechanism rather than the more usual rear hinge or a simple sliding mechanism?  Always wondered.

 

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mycockpit.org%2Fphotopost%2Fdata%2F534%2FCanopy_small.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mycockpit.org%2Fphotopost%2Fshowphoto.php%3Fphoto%3D2813%26title%3Df-84f-canopy-open%26cat%3D534&docid=fkDvyXsVld5-QM&tbnid=G5NUykZ-P7w3mM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwj6tb_roNXjAhVEyoUKHVD-DPcQMwhnKBcwFw..i&w=640&h=480&client=safari&bih=737&biw=1280&q=F-84 canopy&ved=0ahUKEwj6tb_roNXjAhVEyoUKHVD-DPcQMwhnKBcwFw&iact=mrc&uact=8

[Wez]

I don't know why, it always seemed like over engineering to me.  Coincidently, the Super Mystère had a similar arrangement, it also used a licence built version of the Republic ejection seat, maybe there's a link there?

[72modeler]

The only thing that comes to mind, and I'm probably wrong, is that with the solid spine/fairing behind the canopy of both types, there is no place to put the drive motor and associated rails/tracks for a sliding hood or powered clamshell hood; if a side-opening hood was fitted, like the one on F-104's you really can't have it open while taxying; in addition, with the Super Mystere and the F/RF-84F, if you open the canopy slightly, it will be lifted up and away by the airflow, thus eliminating the need for explosive devices to jettison the hood prior to ejecting. In other words, I don't have a blinkin' clue, either!

Mike