Helo_Mek_in_Vegas:
Bellwether - the leading sheep of a flock, with a bell on its neck. Also, an indicator or predictor of something.
"college campuses are often the bellwether of change"
Cockpit - the area, usually near the front of an aircraft or spacecraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft. The cockpit of an aircraft contains flight instruments on an instrument panel, and the controls that enable the pilot to fly the aircraft.