Explain this picture [of an airplane]

Factual Questions
#1

Melmoth undergoing tuft testing.

No, not the tuft testing. What I’m looking at is the port wing. The aircraft is in flight, as can be judged by looking at the ground and by noticing the engine is running. Just above the tail extension you can see the starboard tip tank. But the port wing seems to be missing.

#2

I’m guessing the plane is attached to a bigger plane via a rod in that wing. People in the bigger plane observe the turbulence on the little flaps of ribbon???

#3

That’s the only explanation I could come up with; but I’ve never heard of that being done.

EDIT: If he’s to the stage of tuft testing, why would it be done?

#4

Not that it’s much help but here are some more images from the same folder…

#5

Aha! The second link is a blow-up of the one I posted. On that one it’s clear that there’s a wing there.

Thanks.

#6

It is? I don’t see anything that would lead me to believe there’s a wing there. And the first link is a picture of the same plane (well, same reg number) on the ground, clearly it has nothing more than 2-3 foot stubs for wings.

#7

Lobsang’s second photo shows the structure outboard of the gate; which, like the rest of the plane, contains tufts. In the photo I posted (the same shot), this detail sort of blended into the shadows.

IIRC, the Melmoth had removable wings for towing, so Lobsang’s first link merely shows the aircraft with the wings off.

#8

Edited title.

Colibri
General Questions Moderator