Hey LMLers,
I need your help confirming what appears to be the ultimate in airframe modifications: a Boeing 737 retrofitted (emphasis on "retro") with the rudder of a Curtiss C-46 Commando --- maybe to reduce wetted area and drag. At first I thought it was a trick of the light, but on closer examination...I dunno.
Perhaps some of you stratosphere aviators may have seen a similar thing. Attached images (1 & 2) are unretouched and cut from my 8 megapixel exposure taken at ground level April 22nd of the aircraft flying over northwest Washington, along the standard Sea-Tac to CYVR route, presumably above FL150. (Note: image 2 is a 3X enlargement.)
Images 3 & 4 were taken earlier and show unmodified B737s along a parallel route a couple of miles to the east.
JHK
<4 Normal Boeing 737.jpg>
<3 Normal Boeing 737.jpg>
<2 B737 with C-46 tail-x3.jpg>
<1 B737 with Curtiss C-46 tail.png>
--