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P153
(Source)

There is a Ferrari-looking air-scoop behind the cockpit of the I-153 and most of the Stearman planes too.

What is that?

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    $\begingroup$ @ymb1 I wasnt (Or werent ?) thinking it would be that bad, I simply copy pasted an "English language object template" and replaced the words $\endgroup$ Jan 1, 2018 at 19:26
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    $\begingroup$ -1 wrong colour for freehand circles :-) $\endgroup$
    – Bergi
    Jan 1, 2018 at 22:55

1 Answer 1

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enter image description here
(Source)

The F1 air-scoop / airbox is well clear of the driver's head to feed air into the engine (the airbox itself is shaped so that each cylinder gets equal share of air).

In your 3-view diagram, that's a streamlined headrest for drag reduction.

The I-153 has a top speed of 444 km/h (243 knots, 280 mph), whereas such streamlining is not needed for the leisurely paced Tiger Moth, for example.

Googling photographs makes it clear, unlike that line drawing.

enter image description here
(Source) Click to view.

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    $\begingroup$ The windshield should already take care of the pilot's neck. The fairing is mostly for drag reduction. $\endgroup$ Jan 1, 2018 at 20:07
  • $\begingroup$ The headrest protected the pilot in the case of the plane flipping over in a landing, specially in low-wing monoplanes like the I-16 or the Boeing 'Peashooter'. $\endgroup$
    – xxavier
    Jan 1, 2018 at 21:33

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