I really hope that they are on to something positive in the search but I don't think this is the piece they suspect it is.
The horizontal rivet pattern doesn't make sense for a simple window patch, SEE PHOTO 1. Five rows and no vertical rows where the patch would be fastened to the frames? The horizontal rows are also spaced too close together to be consistent with the stringers as shown in PHOTO 2. I say it doesn't match the plans and the Electra's structure as reported in the article, no way. The next sentence confirms it by stating that it was a "field modification". Field modifications by their very nature are not part of the original plans and blueprints of an aircraft.
PHOTO 3 does indeed show a patch/covering over the aft window and again looking at PHOTO 2 it would be rather large because it probably would have gone beyond the window framework. If I was installing a patch like that I would certainly avoid tampering with the framework because that's a high stress area and it's beefed up structure. Altering that would complicate the eventual permanent repair of the window.
I hope it really is a part of her plane; I just don't think it's the window patch.
Hawkeye
An Aircraft Mechanic only needs two tools, Duct Tape and WD40.
If it moves and it's not supposed to - use the Duct Tape.
If it doesn't move and it's supposed to - use the WD40.
Intel(R) i5 CPU 750 @ 2.67GHz, P55M-UD4, GeForce GTX960 8.00 GB RAM, Windows 7 Ultimate (32 bit & 64 bit on separate HDs)
