dsahling Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 I know the A-6A was originally designed with the fuselage speed brakes but do to pitch problems? I believe they were "disabled" and used the wing-tip ones instead. For the airframes that retained the perforated, albeit disabled fuselage speed brakes, would it ever have been possible to open them for either maintenance or inspection purposes? (Provided they weren't the bolted over kind)? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 Yes, here is one with the fuselage speed brake slightly open, took a little AAA but i don't think that had anything to do with the brake open: Here is one during maintenance: Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dsahling Posted March 8, 2017 Author Share Posted March 8, 2017 Thanks Jari, you have no idea how much you just settled my "OCMD" Obsessive Compulsive Modelers Disorder" :-) with that. I did an A-6A a ways back, and decided to pose the speed brakes open to show off some of the detail but knew they were disabled. Thanks! Dan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gary F Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 We had some of the perforated speed brakes (71-75) in my squadron. There was some wiring and piping that could be seen through the holes in the brake panels so even though the panels were closed, sure they could be opened if needed. On the other hand I never saw any opened the entire time I was with the squadron. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 (edited) Here are a couple of Navy A-6As, just slightly open in the foreground while the one in the background are even more so, also note the inside colour even though the pic is in b&w: http://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cv61-68/150.htm edit: check the top of the pic as the a/c above the photgragher has open brakes as well. Jari Edited March 8, 2017 by Finn Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ziggyfoos Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 Jari, the examples shown are aircraft with functional speed brakes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dsahling Posted March 8, 2017 Author Share Posted March 8, 2017 (edited) Since it looks like it is physically possible that they could've opened (as long as they weren't bolted up), lets just say for my "OCMD" (see description above) that a "rogue sparrow" was suspected as a stowaway and the crew were looking for it? :-) Edited March 8, 2017 by dsahling Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gary F Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 We found a bird nest in one of ours one time so the bird thing sounds quite reasonable ; ) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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