[stephen f. polyak]

Mike,

I am an aeronautical engineer by profession. On a proper wing skin panel there would be obvious evidence of the layout of internal strengthening/stiffening structure in the form of numerous, regularly-spaced fastener holes. These holes (where rivets or other mechanical fasteners joined the skin to the underlying structural members) would run in lines in the chord and span directions, perpendicular to each other, following the the spars, stringers and ribs within. On this piece I only see four holes - there should be more. I would also expect further impressions to remain where the internal structures contacted the panel. Similar evidence applies to a section from a fuselage, but involving longerons, stringers, and formers/frames/bulkheads on the inside. Apart from all that, to me the "weathering, aging" looks contrived. I very much doubt it's the real deal; it would not be the first time such an impostor relic - a painted, marked portion of jagged-edged sheet aluminum - has come out of the UK.

Steve