Building the old 1/72 Hasegawa kit at the moment. Just foreward and above the jet exhaust there are two parts that can either be posed open, or together. When they are together they appear to form part of the tail fin. What are they, and what do they do, and what configuartion would be appropriate for a parked aircrtaft ? All I can think of is that they are some sort of air brake ?
It is an air-brake & can be seen open or closed on parked aircraft - more likely to be open on an aircraft with an open canopy or being worked on & probably closed on a properly parked up aircraft.
Thanks a bunch !
That is the speed brake and it also encloses the braking parachute. It’s not unusual to see it opened on a parked aircraft.
If the braking drogue chute was deployed on landing then it is very common to leave the air brakes open until the chute is replaced.