Stepless cockpit

In aircraft design, stepless cockpit means that the nose of the aircraft has no separate "windscreen" panels directly in front of the pilot's or co-pilot's seating positions, and generally has no "breaks" in the nose contour — curved or otherwise — from their absence. In the conventional design, the pilot's cabin is a different part of the aircraft than the nose. The stepless design is believed to help make the plane more aerodynamic thus aiding speed and fuel efficiency. The stepless design does however prevent the inclusion of a turreted gun position.

The preserved He 111P in Norway, which pioneered German stepless cockpits in January 1938.
Two large olive-colored aircraft flying over farmland.
B-29 Superfortress. Note the round, stepless nose.
The "Cabin 3" stepless cockpit of a Heinkel He 177A, with "fishbowl" nose glazing
The Messerschmitt Me 264 V1 first prototype, with stepless nose glazing almost visually replicating the Superfortress' own
Preserved Bristol Blenheim Mk.I, with stepless cockpit from its forward upper nose countour.
Flying Fortress.
B-17 Flying Fortress. Note the stepped cockpit design.
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