"Know When to Fold 'Em"

A Grumman TBM "Avenger" shares ramp space with a Douglas A1-E "Skyraider" during the cape Girardeau Air Festival.

Both airplanes were intended to operate from aircraft carriers, and from the earliest days of carrier operations, designers have sought to reduce the size of an aircraft's 'footprint' to save space in the restrictive confines of the ship.

Fixed wing aircraft have been designed to fold their wings and tail surfaces, with helicopters rotating their rotor blades by folding them on their hub like a Japanese Fan, to be stowed over their rear fuselages.

The TBM's wing hinges are installed at an angle that allow the wings to rotate down and forward in an arc, to meet the wing root and be locked in place by sets of massive pins.

The Skyraider's wings drop into position, to be also locked by hydraulically actuated pins.