Identify this airplane part please!

stephen · 9 October 2001, 06:21 AM

Hey, airplane geniuses! I need your help here. I'm trying to identify this piece of metal and I have nothing whatsoever to go on. For all I know it could be a frisbee. Methinks, however, that it may belong on a WWI airplane. What do you guys think this is? Its measures about 18" (or half a meter) across and is solid metal. Here it is, leaning up against a fence post in the grass... and thanks for your help!

charles · 9 October 2001, 06:38 AM

A much higher level photograph of the front and back with a ruler laid alongside would be helpful. You are photographing in too much light. Also, if you could get some tracing paper and a piece of charcoal, preferably from an art supply store so it is soft enough not to rip the tracing paper, and gently rub the surface, there will likely be, if its german manufacture, a metal impression somewhere of an inspector's stamp. It may just be a geometrical shape, but that will go a long way to identification.

What is the small tag just below dead center?

Where did you find this and why do you think it is from an aircraft?

stephen · 9 October 2001, 07:01 AM

It was dug up by a friend of mine on the Meuse Argonne battlefield in an area where at least two allied planes are known to have crashed... at least within a few hundred yards. At this date, pinpoint locations are not possible, but its very close.

I do not have the piece in my possession, but I'll be able to look at it more before year's end and hopefully get you better photos, identify the tag that you asked about and make a pencil impression. Good ideas! Thanks!

Anybody got anything else on this? Does it resemble any airplane part that you might know of?

9 October 2001, 11:14 AM

Hi Stephen

It's really hard to see the part in detail, and a sideways look would really help. I worked as an Aircraft Sheet metalworker/fitter for several year, But I never worked on anything earlier that the 40's.

the biggest factor on aircraft is fatigue, of any sort, and this part is full of holes, drilling holes in metal weakens the materal so my gut reaction is this is not from an aircraft.

for many years it has been know if you put a lip on a piece of plate, (Ie a small upward curve at the edge) this increases the strength of a plate, also any cutouts would have polished edges, again to reduce the chance of cracking and failing. But saying this I have no idea how long ago these tricks have been around.

Also the shape is not symetrical (or is it just bent!) normally what is present on one side of a sheet/plate is normally replicated on the other (but of course not totally true) lastly at the bottom there seems to be two fixings one either side on lugs which again seem to be drilled, and have other parts fixed to them. (one has to ask the question why, to drill holes, and afix other parts, would weaken that area. There seems to be no presents of ribbing, which certainly would be needed if the part was to take any sort of load (G)

All in all my gut feeling is it's not from an aircraft, even though the metal appears to be an alloy. (sorry!)

Regards

Dave1961

stephen · 9 October 2001, 01:42 PM

I am the last person qualified to give an opinion, but here's mine:

I want it to be an airplane part real bad, so for the moment I'll continue to live in my own little world (who said "I have now given up the search for truth and am looking for a real good fantasy?").

I don't think this was ever intended to take maximum stress for the airframe, but it does look like it once had bolt tabs in all four corners. So perhaps it was a centerpiece in the fuselage, with holes for control wires running to the tail? Perhaps a backing for the instrument panel, support for the bottom or back of a seat, or a floorplate with a mounting point for a joystick? Dunno... I'm grabbing at straws here, but those seem some viable options for low stress airplane parts that might look something like this animal.

Where might I find some breakdown drawings of 1918 figher planes? Maybe that would help. Any ideas?

10 October 2001, 02:22 AM

Stephen

Hope your wish comes true!

I had another look at the part, what does it seem to be made of, is it a light alloy, or is it heavy plating?

My knowledge of the insides of WW1 Aircraft is limited so I could well be i wrong.

Maybe it from a heaver aircraft (bomber!) hence the odd shape and lots of holes. Am I right in saying the centre is domed.

I will see if I can find anything like it, I have some cutouts of WW1 aircraft, who know we might just strike lucky.

Good luck

Dave1961

stephen · 10 October 2001, 04:26 AM

Yes, the center is domed, with bolt holes on each side. I don't recall if it was heavy or light metal. I'll be sure and get more and better pictures of it for us in a couple of months when I get to see it again. But if we can come up with a number of possibilities, perhaps we can narrow the search now and nail it for sure later.

I'm looking for scale drawings and breakdowns as well but can't find any yet. I can't imagine building a WWI airplane and not having a part on it somewhere that looked something like this.

Lemme know whatcha find. Thanks!

Dan_San_Abbott · 10 October 2001, 08:54 AM

Stephen;
I tried, but I can't get the picture to come up. I would like to look at it, could you send me the picture as a Jpeg.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

stephen · 10 October 2001, 11:35 AM

Dan:

Its on the way. Thanks.

Dan_San_Abbott · 11 October 2001, 08:08 AM

Stephen:
* *I studied the piece this morning , I'll be damned, I don't know what it is from. *Due the the amount of detail work on it, I suspect it is from some WW2 aircraft, but what, I haven't a clue.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *GOD bless our pilots,
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Dan-San