In the link below you can see the "fins". I am talking about the ones above and below the "m" in "Thomas Cook." What purpose do they serve, what are they really called and why are the top ones white, and the bottom ones red.
http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0380863&size=L&width=1024&height=713&sok=JURER%20%20%28%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%271110283%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27634339%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27571703%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%27380863%27%20BE%20cubgb_vq%20%3D%20%273865%27%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20&photo_nr=4&prev_id=0571703&next_id=0003865
2007-06-30 15:45:04 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
The fin antennas are for the VHF radio, that is all. GPS and ETCAS are flat and almost flush to the aircraft skin, sticking up an inch or so. ADF antennas are also fairly flush and reside on the bottom of the aircraft.
2007-06-30 23:48:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Those very small 'fins' are actually communications antennae. The top ones are white to match the paint job on the plane and the ones on the bottom are probably red to stand out enough that the ground crew will not walk into them.
cheers
2007-07-01 11:51:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are VHF communications antennas. There are also fins about 1/4 the size for transponder and DME (distance measuring equipment).
They are painted red so people will see them and not scalp themselves when they walk under the airplane. I wish every airline did that.
2007-07-01 10:39:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Antennas...The older birds used to have a cable hanging from the top of the tail fin to the front section of the fuselage in addition to the fins.
2007-07-01 00:09:16 · answer #4 · answered by MD-11 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are various antennaes for radio equipment. For example, navigational radios, communication radios, transponders, GPS, marker beacons, ADF etc.
2007-06-30 23:01:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
because nobody answered it yet they are antennas
but seriously the fin shape is an aerodynamic thing
2007-07-03 03:20:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Antennas.
They paint the bottom ones red for visibility so people are less likely to bump into them with they're head.
2007-06-30 22:50:56 · answer #7 · answered by Mr. KnowItAll 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
antennas, for electronics, satellites,communications and radar.
2007-06-30 23:57:18 · answer #8 · answered by Rogers R 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Did anyone say antennas?? :-)
2007-07-01 16:41:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋