Mustang Curtains

The other day I was reading about Mustangs, and the pilot was talking about something called “aileron curtains.” I’ve asked a number of pilots here at the local airport and none of them knew what he is talking about; in fact, one said he was certain the old guy was making things up. What say you? Dan Niehart, Okiboji, Iowa

Ha! No one has mentioned those to me for years. Mustangs had a fabric gap seal between the nose of the aileron and the spar. Those were called “curtains,” and when they deteriorated and leaked, the ailerons got heavy.—BD