# Mysterious metallic object between flaps on Boeing 757 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 22, 2012, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617 "2012-02-22T08:55:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kombatminipig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5ac83/32.png) [@kombatminipig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kombatminipig)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617/1 "2012-02-22T08:55:22Z")
A friend of mine posted the following pic on Facebook, wondering what the mysterious pipe-like object between the flaps is? Note the thin metallic object sticking up at an angle just where the wing angles back. [https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/421127\_10151306045320048\_690345047\_22819804\_636705071\_n.jpg](https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/421127_10151306045320048_690345047_22819804_636705071_n.jpg) My theory was that it’s for dumping fuel, but turns out that the B757 can’t dump fuel, so no go there. What sayeth you, dope? ---
**Author:** ![Khendrask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@Khendrask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khendrask)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617/2 "2012-02-22T09:13:52Z")
It looks like it could be a vortex generator, but it’s odd that it would be mounted on the trailing edge of the wing rather then the front. Perhaps it is something similar to keep the airflow smooth over and around the edges of the flaps? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617/3 "2012-02-22T09:21:55Z")
[Here’s a hi-res pic of another 757 wing](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=642897) without the object. ---
**Author:** ![kombatminipig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5ac83/32.png) [@kombatminipig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kombatminipig)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617/4 "2012-02-22T09:34:29Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > [Here’s a hi-res pic of another 757 wing](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=642897) without the object. Hm, you linked back to this thread =) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617/5 "2012-02-22T09:39:43Z")
> [@kombatminipig](#): > > Hm, you linked back to this thread =) It was for nostalgic reasons. Meanwhile [here’s a hi-res pic of another 757 wing](http://www.airliners.net/photo/1412135/L/) without the object. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617/6 "2012-02-22T11:52:59Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > It was for nostalgic reasons. > > Meanwhile [here’s a hi-res pic of another 757 wing](http://www.airliners.net/photo/1412135/L/) without the object. Your pic says that it’s a 737. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617/7 "2012-02-22T12:38:51Z")
I believe those are for dumping off static electricity that builds up during the flight. ETA, if that is what it is, “Static Wick” appears to be the proper name for it. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617/8 "2012-02-22T15:54:18Z")
That doesn’t look like a static discharge wick. Length and location is wrong for a 757 wing, AFAIK. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617/9 "2012-02-22T18:12:17Z")
Could it be the fuel vent? (I’m guessing not, but it does look a little like the fuel vent of a Cessna 177) Brian ---
**Author:** ![StrangerThanFiction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@StrangerThanFiction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrangerThanFiction)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617/10 "2012-02-22T19:00:47Z")
I asked a on another message board full of people knowledgeable on such things. Here are the responses so far: > [@](#): > > -Looks like a protruding gap seal. > > -737, and that ideally shouldnt be hanging out there! > > -Agreed, that’s a 737 and that should NOT be there. > > -Chemtrail nozzle. Normally hidden underneath. I’m assuming this one was either bent up or installed backwards. I’m inclined to believe the last guy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Blakeyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blakeyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blakeyrat)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617/11 "2012-02-22T21:24:56Z")
> [@StrangerThanFiction](#): > > I asked a on another message board full of people knowledgeable on such things. Here are the responses so far: > > I’m inclined to believe the last guy. 😃 What makes them say it’s a 737 and not a 757? I’m looking at photos of both airliners, and AFAICT, it’s definitely a 757 based on the configuration of the spoilers. [http://www.the-blueprints.com/modules/vectordrawings/preview-wm/boeing\_757-200\_winglets.jpg](http://www.the-blueprints.com/modules/vectordrawings/preview-wm/boeing_757-200_winglets.jpg) Note the 757 variant with winglets has spoilers in a constant line across the wing with no gaps. [http://www.dutchops.com/Portfolio\_Marcel/Articles/Flight%20Controls/Images/Boeing\_737\_Secondary\_Flight\_Controls.jpg](http://www.dutchops.com/Portfolio_Marcel/Articles/Flight%20Controls/Images/Boeing_737_Secondary_Flight_Controls.jpg) The 737, on the other hand, has a “gap” in the spoilers, a section that doesn’t open up. Every photo I’ve found seems to bear that out. So I believe this is a 757. I still don’t know what the tube is, though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617/12 "2012-02-22T23:41:28Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > Your pic says that it’s a 737. Thread FAIL. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617/13 "2012-02-23T15:21:32Z")
Whether it’s a 737 or 757 wing doesn’t really matter in this case, there should be nothing sticking out between the two flaps for either aircraft. I think the first answer that StrangerThanFiction received on that other forum is probably the culprit, a protruding gap seal. ---
**Author:** ![StrangerThanFiction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@StrangerThanFiction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrangerThanFiction)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617/14 "2012-02-23T17:00:20Z")
I think you’re right - a flap gap seal that got bent and pinched during flap retraction. I also agree with Blakeyrat that it’s a 757, judging by the spoilers and flap canoes. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617/15 "2012-02-23T20:43:45Z")
A slow Cessna. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617/16 "2012-02-23T23:01:16Z")
It looks like there could be another one that is _not_ sticking out in the middle gap: [http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/4339/snap1wu.jpg](http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/4339/snap1wu.jpg) (and yes, I know it looks professionally done, but, believe it or not, I circled it myself) ---
**Author:** ![Blakeyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blakeyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blakeyrat)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-metallic-object-between-flaps-on-boeing-757/613617/17 "2012-02-24T00:08:26Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > It looks like there could be another one that is _not_ sticking out in the middle gap: [ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs](http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/4339/snap1wu.jpg) > > (and yes, I know it looks professionally done, but, believe it or not, I circled it myself) I think that’s just the spoiler not sitting flush against the wing, the back end is bumped up about an inch or two.