MIflyer
Captain
Took this one myself at our local airport, a short while ago. I had not realized the flaps were fabric covered.
BT-13A
- Thread starter MIflyer
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vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Nice!
Good shot!
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- #5
MIflyer
Captain
You know I wondered why he kept the flaps down. But I guess that if they are fabric covered, keeping them down after landing decreases the chance of putting your foot through it when getting down.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
They are extended to prevent foot traffic.
Notice the red margin on the inboard portion and the offset black tread area at the root. It looks like there's also text in the red margin that most likely reads "No Step".
Notice the red margin on the inboard portion and the offset black tread area at the root. It looks like there's also text in the red margin that most likely reads "No Step".
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- #7
MIflyer
Captain
I started to ask the pilot if he knew the flaps were down while he was still in the cockpit. Normally you want to raise them to prevent damage and in WWII some units fined pilots fort failing to raise the flaps after they were on the ground. But when he got down it was obvious that he was not concerned with the flaps, and by that time we were well into a discussion into the challenges of polished aluminum aircraft and the use of "Shark Hide" protection, which I am using.
He pointed out that the flaps were in two sections because in training ground loops were all too frequent, and if you busted a wheel you would not have to replace and repair the entire flap.
He pointed out that the flaps were in two sections because in training ground loops were all too frequent, and if you busted a wheel you would not have to replace and repair the entire flap.
Some WWII planes with hydraulic flaps would "bleed down" when sitting on the ground. Or deliberately leave them extended to minimize pressure in the system and reduce leakage.
Cheers,
Wes
Beautiful shot. The control surfaces on the B-17 were also fabric.
at6
1st Sergeant
I remember how those and all other WW II aircraft were as common as flies on sh!t as I grew up. Now I get as excited as a Vicar in a strip joint when one flies over.
I am with you. It is a thrill to see any WWII aircraft in the air today.
