Questions tagged [feature-identification]
For questions about identifying a feature or design on an aircraft.
15
votes
1answer
4k views
What are these “pimples” on the jet engine for?
When looking into the General Electric CJ 805-23B jet engine, I have discovered that all forward section of the compressor is covered by a number of near identically looking "pimples". What are these ...
2
votes
1answer
206 views
What is this fairing on a Cessna 421?
What's the purpose of the fairing on fuselage, near leading edge of the wing?
0
votes
1answer
100 views
What are the hinged(?) structures in front of the F-4 Phantom's intakes? [duplicate]
What are the large flat structures on the sides of the F-4 Phantom directly in front of the engine air intakes? They are more or less square, and may be hinged vertically.
6
votes
2answers
1k views
What are these windows/portholes on the English Electric Canberra bomber?
This may be an obvious question, but I don't know, which is why I'm asking here. I've searched "Canberra canopy porthole" and "window", but didn't get any information. There is a porthole of sorts on ...
0
votes
2answers
276 views
What's on the upper deck in the picture (circled) of Cathay Pacific Cargo Boeing 747-8F? [duplicate]
Cathay Pacific Cargo Boeing 747-8F
Image Source
Is that a resting area for pilots or passengers seats?
2
votes
1answer
240 views
What position was this photo of a jet engine taken from?
From that aviation photographer, I saw that beauty:
Having in mind the jet engine I would see, let's say as a normal passenger, I am not really able to understand from where I am looking at that ...
7
votes
1answer
240 views
What are those sensors on the forward (Airbus) A321neo fuselage?
What are those sensors on the forward (Airbus) A321Neo fuselage? If it helps, this is wow air’s TF-DTR.
2
votes
3answers
350 views
What is this aeroplane - not a Blackbird?
What is the aeroplane in the first image?
I noticed this photo in a youtube clip, and at first glance thought it was a three-engine Blackbird SR-71, but it appears to be a single-seater.
The text ...
0
votes
1answer
165 views
What are these lumps on the top side of the wings of military aircraft? [closed]
There is an online video game called War Thunder that lets you fly various planes from roughly the 30s to the late 50s. It has some pretty detailed models, and I've noticed these lumps on the wings of ...
6
votes
1answer
451 views
What is this 'runway number' automatic readout system on a flight deck?
I was watching this flight-deck video (starts at 11:13) of a Turkish Airlines Boeing take off from Istanbul and just as they accelerate on the take off roll there seems to be an automatic voice in the ...
18
votes
2answers
2k views
What's the function of the plate behind the wheels of the Pilatus Porter?
Anyone knows what's the plate behind the wheel of the Pilatus Porter for?
4
votes
1answer
315 views
What is that hole on the front portion of the empennage of a CRJ-1000?
I've noticed that there is a hole on the front tip of the "dorsal fin" of the crj 1000. Ive been thinking that it would be logical if thats the intake for its APU unit. But im not really sure.
Image ...
4
votes
1answer
133 views
Is the shape of the Bell X-1 wing on Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity's artwork correct?
This answer to the Space SE question What do these patterns on Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity represent, and how are they applied? indicates that one of the aerospacecraft representations on the Unity is ...
8
votes
1answer
1k views
Why do the A220 cockpit seats have a cutout?
Why do cockpit seats on the A220 have a cutout on the bottom cushion? The answers to Aircraft pilot's seats: what is the notch for? explain that these cutouts allow for easier maneuverability of the ...
7
votes
1answer
363 views
What is this instrument that has “PACK” written on it and a temperature scale?
All I know right now is that it’s made in 1973. Another instrument I have is from a b727 and is dated 1982. This one I have no clue. Serial number- H 2590. The brand is Amphenol. That’s all the info I ...
25
votes
5answers
4k views
What is this F-18 Hornet “air intake” for?
I think I read once that they served to cool the on-board computer systems, but I'm not sure.
7
votes
2answers
261 views
What exactly does the MB-326's 'relight' button do?
The following picture shows the engine throttle of an Aermacchi MB-326, which is powered by the Rolls-Royce Viper turbojet:
(source - all photos © Drive&Fly Model Club)
I wonder what exactly the ...
2
votes
1answer
239 views
What does the XFR button on the Challenger 300's autopilot panel do?
I'm new to aircraft and currently I'm learning the autopilot system of the Bombardier Challenger 300. I saw the "xfr" button but don't understand what it is for. Can someone explain this to me?
6
votes
1answer
256 views
What is the three-light indicator on carrier-borne airplanes?
(YouTube)
The above three-light forward facing indicator can be seen on most (all?) nose landing gears of carrier-borne aircraft.
What is it called? I suspect it relays the angle-of-attack / E-...
28
votes
2answers
4k views
What are those hatches on the engines of a B-2 that are open during takeoff?
I just watched this drool-inducing video of Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, And noticed that there are a couple of hatches near each engine, which were open:
I initially thought they were open for some ...
1
vote
1answer
294 views
What is the overhead instrument panel (pictured) near the front galley area of an A320?
I have noticed this overhead instrument panel. It is convered by a transparent plastic lid with a small hole in the middle. Inside it has lot of switches. What is it supposed to do and who operates ...
5
votes
3answers
371 views
What is this tab above the DC-10's #2 engine? [duplicate]
What is this big rectangular tab (?) thingy extending backwards just above the DC-10's #2 engine? What does it do?
(wikimedia.org, picture modified to point out the tab thingy)
8
votes
1answer
299 views
What additional functionality is provided by the F-14 nose pitot, absent in early models?
Early model F-14A had no nose pitot:
... but they seem to have quickly acquired them sometime in the late 1970s. The Iranian F-14s have them, and it's quite hard to find a picture of an F-14 without ...
43
votes
4answers
9k views
What is this hole at the front of the engine pylon on a Boeing 707?
Images of the Boeing 707 show a hole at the front of the engine pylon just above the engine.
Can someone please tell me what is the purpose?
Also why do images show the hole absent on the left outer ...
3
votes
1answer
151 views
What's the name for this part on a Cessna 172P?
I am trying to figure out what the name for this part is.
I believe that's the door seal, but all seals I am looking at, seem to be glued to the outside now.
10
votes
1answer
547 views
What are those things under the Concorde’s cockpit windows?
I’ve noticed there are little bits sticking out under Concorde’s cockpit windows and they’re too small to be canards. Are they some kind of vortex generator or something?
(Source)
8
votes
1answer
2k views
What is the function of this fixed protrusion on the tail?
(wikimedia.org)
Above you can see a small fixed (?) part on the Embraer 190, just above the KLM logo. It is on both sides of the tail. What is the function of this part?
6
votes
1answer
485 views
What is the hole located below the 2nd or 3rd window of Boeing 737? [duplicate]
I see there is a hole located below the 2nd or 3rd window. What is its purpose?
(Sources: flickr.com and planespotters.net)
0
votes
0answers
132 views
What is that wire on the picture? [duplicate]
I thought it was HF antenna the What is the purpose of that?
What kind of nav aid use HF frequency?
12
votes
1answer
1k views
What is this red dashed line between door and cockpit window?
I noticed this dashed line located between the door and cockpit window on this 737-300 while boarding this exact aircraft at Ibiza airport. It seems to have text beside it but I did not have time to ...
7
votes
2answers
968 views
What is that missing instrument on a Beechcraft 1900C?
(Full image) Beechcraft 1900C.
I cannot find the name of the missing instrument even in the manuals.
9
votes
1answer
390 views
What is this fuselage-side aerial used for?
(instagram.com)
I have seen this picture, and this feature on the port fuselage called my attention. Does anybody know the purpose of this?
18
votes
2answers
3k views
What is this cutout in the Spitfire cockpit glass?
This is a still from the film Dunkirk. I realise this is not a historical document, but I have also found a similar feature in photos of real Spitfires. What is the purpose of this?
27
votes
2answers
5k views
What is that device on an Su-27 pilot's helmet?
While watching a YouTube video (2.5hrs), I noticed this device on the top of most Russian Su-27 combat pilot's helmet. A google search only shows it for a Su-27 and MiG-29, but apparently no other ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
What is this feature on a Sukhoi Su-27? [duplicate]
Most but not all Russian Su-27's (and variants like the Su-30, -32, -33) have a device that looks like a headlight in front of the cockpit. What is it?
19
votes
2answers
4k views
What are those arrow markings on the wing?
I recently flew on a Boeing 737-800 and found these arrow markings on the wing. What are they for?
7
votes
1answer
767 views
What is this air-scoop behind the cockpit of the Polikarpov I-153 and Stearman?
(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?
1
vote
0answers
103 views
What is this door below the lavatory? [duplicate]
What is this door below the lavatory of this airplane?
Other aircraft have similar doors near the rear lavatory?
6
votes
1answer
999 views
What is this button (pressed during approach) on the Airbus A320?
I was watching a YouTube video of a cobalt air a320 landing and I seen as he was about 2000 ft AGL he pressed a button on his right hand side just beside the Navigation display. The button illuminated ...
5
votes
1answer
248 views
What does the letter D on the underside of the wing stand for?
Below is a picture of the Junkers F.13.
What does the letter D on the underside of the wing stand for?
(Image Source)
15
votes
1answer
2k views
What is this pipe on the tail of this helicopter?
In this picture of a CH-53 you can see a pipe or rail on the tail section of the aircraft. What is that?
4
votes
1answer
326 views
What are these parts on Super Etendard?
I'm currently working on modelling a Super Etendard and just have a few questions on what are some small parts.
First of all, any ideas what this tube thing is on the right side of the exhaust? My ...
6
votes
1answer
243 views
What is this odd large sign near Aalborg airport/millitary airport?
I have recently moved to Aalborg in denmark and while riding my bike each morning I cycle past these large signs pointing out into the water. I assume they are for aircraft at the nearby millitary/...
13
votes
2answers
1k views
What engine are these fan blades from?
I bought these from a metal scrapper and paid about $30.00 total figuring they're worth more than that in cool factor. Problem is they aren't nearly as cool if I can't figure out what engine (and ...
0
votes
0answers
174 views
Can you identify this (electrical) part?
I've been given an assignment regarding this very small piece, but my professor says he has no information about it other than:
It's an electrical insulator of sorts
Is used in an aeronautical ...
43
votes
1answer
5k views
What does this plus (cross) sign on this electrical panel mean?
I'm looking at a picture of the electrical panel of a Phenom 100 and on it I see a + sign, does anyone have any ideas as to what it's supposed to mean?
12
votes
1answer
566 views
What is this “Micro T-tail” on the F-102?
I just noticed this unusual thing on the F-102 Delta Dagger. It looks like a micro T-tail. What is it actually, and what is its purpose?
19
votes
1answer
893 views
Why did some Caravelles have a very long dorsal fin?
(Source)
Why did some Sud Aviation Caravelles have a very long dorsal fin stretching half the fuselage?
Initially I thought it's to keep the fin low to fit in existing hangars as a selling point, ...
5
votes
1answer
378 views
KC-130: What are the four tanks/tube on the wings in between the engines used for?
On the KC-130, what are the 4 tanks/tube on the wings in between the engines used for?
I've seen them in photos but without explanation. I cannot find any mention of them whatsoever. If not storage ...
1
vote
1answer
768 views
What is the purpose of a small wing near the cockpit on the front of some planes?
I saw a plane leaving Luton Airport that I have never seen before.
It seemed to have an extra small rectangular wing near the front of the plane. What is it?
