Have you ever seen this detail in a N.A.T-6 before?

[Fernando Estanislau]

A friend of mine published a walkaround on the only T-6 kept by the Brazilian Air Force after their retirement.

It rests nowadays in the MUSAL in Brazil, I suppose still in flying condition. Copy/paste this link if it doesn't open properly by clicking on it:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1150991123 ... bedwebsite

This machine has a giroflex in the top of the rudder, and although it isn't the first time I see this in a Texan, the closer photo reveals a sheet of something transparent like a plexiglas attached:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-feGI ... to1113.jpg


This is a detail I have never seen so close before, and I wonder if anyone can tell me what is the purpose of it.


Many thanks in advance.

Cheers,

Fernando Estanislau

[aeroeng]

My guess is that they may have been getting a little flutter caused by the air disruption so they put the little plexiglass "fin" in there to smooth the airflow.

aeroeng

[The Inspector]

Or, it makes a positive visual reinforcement to student pilots about the rudder trim mechanism and how it works or a way for the instructor to be sure the mechanics had hooked the trim back up post maintenance. The same basic clear inspection covers (probably eisenglass) were installed on the S.E.5 and a couple other British WW1 fighters.

[CAPFlyer]

I think he's talking about the "fin" Inspector, not the inspection plate.

It could be due to some flutter issue found, but it may also just be that someone thought it might be an issue and did it anyway. I've seen shields and strakes on Cessnas for the same reason. Doesn't really "fix" anything, but it makes the guys doing the install and the guys flying it feel good because it looks more "aerodynamic".

[The Inspector]

I think he's talking about the "fin" Inspector, not the inspection plate.

It could be due to some flutter issue found, but it may also just be that someone thought it might be an issue and did it anyway. I've seen shields and strakes on Cessnas for the same reason. Doesn't really "fix" anything, but it makes the guys doing the install and the guys flying it feel good because it looks more "aerodynamic".

Could be mostly psychological, I do know that what was basically a 'C' shaped tapered aluminum channel that picked up existing screws in the belly of the fork tailed doctor killer took the back seat fishtailing nauseous out a ride in the back seat.

[John Dupre]

Could the plexiglass addition have more to do with the rotating beacon rather than aerodynamics? I am not sure why they would do it but it might change how the light refracts from the red globe.