Anyone else notice those white patches on top of the planes?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: DL DM, AA EXP, BD GE
Posts: 672
Anyone else notice those white patches on top of the planes?
Riding the terminal train at DTW today after about 36 hours in transit and noticed a series of white patches on top of all of the airplanes, near the front on most of them above the cockpit, but further back on a few.
Didn't notice any difference in location based on aircraft, but they all had them. Are these new? Am I dreaming?
What are they for?
Didn't notice any difference in location based on aircraft, but they all had them. Are these new? Am I dreaming?
What are they for?
#2
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: DTW
Programs: Dirt Status w/ All
Posts: 5,040
Perhaps covers for where antennas for the old air phones may have been?
#3
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: DL SM Diamond, AA Ex. Platinum, Ph.D in STFU
Posts: 464
Well considering the weather today in DTW, my guess is its snow
#4
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: HYX
Programs: ~IHG(p)/BW~Nat'l.Exec~ ~NW(SE)~ ~Cessna~ NASM.do-07 ~AAAF.do-05/06/07/08/09
Posts: 1,529
"Perhaps covers for .. antennas for the old air phones .."
Seems those would have been belly-mount.. and certainly not on 'every' aircraft.
How about: future IFE/AVOD!?!? or inflight refuel dock?? or GPS/NAV
/.
Seems those would have been belly-mount.. and certainly not on 'every' aircraft.
How about: future IFE/AVOD!?!? or inflight refuel dock?? or GPS/NAV
/.
#5
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Seattle area
Programs: Peasant at large
Posts: 595
Prep work for trial sun roofs - the new IFE.
#6
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Alexandria, VA, USA NW Platinum Elite Since 1999, United GoldMM, Hyatt Plat, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz #1 Gold, IC Ambassador, Avis Chairman's
Posts: 7,445
just bald spots even airplanes lose a little "hair" with age... hehe
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: DL DM, AA EXP, BD GE
Posts: 672
So they're about maybe 12" wide by 18" deep and varying in shapes from oval to Superman S shaped.
Seriously, have they always been there and was I just sleep depraved wonky?
Seriously, have they always been there and was I just sleep depraved wonky?
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still a Hilton Diamond & Club Cholula™ R.I.P. Super Plats
Posts: 25,415
They're docking pods for aliens.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: DL SkyClub Lifer
Posts: 10,000
I thought those were satellite-based, in which case top-mount would make sense... but yeah, not on 'every' aircraft.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Currently in Bloomington, IN, but Normally NYC, CDG, and even POZ or wherever FT takes me.
Programs: Northwest Airlines. MTA pay-per-ride Metrocard; zero-balance Oyster card.
Posts: 14,020
#12
Join Date: May 2003
Location: MSP - NW Gold - PC Plat - Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 2,478
If you look closely it is a Delta Logo
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
There was also a sattelite-based option for phone service, but AFAIK that is still in operation; I believe CO still has it on their wide-body fleet.