Droop nose (aeronautics)
Videos
The droop nose is a feature fitted to a small number of aircraft types so the nose of the aircraft can be lowered during takeoff and landing to improve the pilot's view of the ground below. This feature is used with a very-low aspect ratio wing such as a delta wing. It is installed in aircraft capable of supersonic speeds but is lowered only during low-speed operation such as takeoff and landing.
The Fairey Delta 2 high-speed experimental aircraft, which had a droop nose that included its cockpit
Concorde prototype just prior to landing; note the droop nose
British Airways Concorde in Singapore Airlines livery at Heathrow Airport; note the raised nose
A front-on view of the Tupolev Tu-144 on the ground. Note the deployed retractable canards and lowered droop nose
Tupolev Tu-144
Videos
The Tupolev Tu-144 is a Soviet supersonic passenger airliner designed by Tupolev in operation from 1968 to 1999.
Tu-144 prototype in June 1971, Berlin Schönefeld Airport
MiG-21I Analog, used as a testbed for the Tu-144's wing