Warbird Information Exchange

What is the story behind these flaps? Never seen a T-6 set up like that before!

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1050310/M/

T-6 Jitterbug!

Are there any after pictures? Gotta have sucked up the seat cushion

Brandon, this pic popped up on the Flypast forum some months back and I asked the same question but got no replies. I'd love to know the details.

That's an SBD dressed up as a pseudo Harvard MkII. Harvard's being so rare, ya know.

Mac

Not a good picture to view when you're going to fly a T-6 today! Well, let the T-6 get 5 or 10 degrees off runway heading and a ground loop can become realilty. At least the center flap section wasnt perforated, totally disrupting airflow to the rudder/elevator. I wonder though, that if directional control is compromised, what angle would be required before turbulent airflow from the outboard flap sections would affect rudder authority.
There were many of this type sold to a host of countries in the 50's, many of which flew combat. I wonder if this was an attempt by one country to create a divebomber.

Google to the rescue.... This particular Harvard (a Mark II, built
under license by Noorduyn in Canada) used to be owned / operated
by the RAF A&AEE (Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment)
in Boscomb Down, UK. It was sold surplus in the early 90's to a
Mr. Scaglia and is/was based at Brescia-Montichiari, Italy.

The groundloop of G-BWUL / FT375 / CN 14A-1415 occurred at the
Rivanazzano Airport (close to Milan) after an air-display at the
Avioexpo airshow.

Here are some more shots after the "ride" ended:

http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_ ... d=00826729
http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_ ... d=00717627

Hopefully she's been repaired and is flying again....

Bela P. Havasreti

PS: I'm guessing the "dive-brake" flap modification had something
to do with FT-375's career / service at the A&AEE in the RAF. I'd
also like to hear more details if anyone has them.

I just hope that if I ever have a similar "ride" that everyone's digital cameras run out of batteries only moments before!