Photos of our A320 fairing project as it happened…
![Fairing Flap Track 2](https://aircraftworkshop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Fairing-Flap-Track-2.jpg)
The A320 fairing houses a piston that operates the wing flaps on the aircraft. It’s that very distinctive bit sticking out under the wing.
![B747_flaps_down](https://aircraftworkshop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/B747_flaps_down-300x225.jpg)
It looks like a boat, everyone told us that it would make a good boat. We wern’t too sure but we thought we’d test the theory. We carried out a few modifications and tested the water.
![fairing](https://aircraftworkshop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/fairing-300x188.jpg)
This is what the wing does when the plane is landing. Lowering the flaps increases the surface area of the wing giving more lift and a slower stall speed.
![Chriswelding1](https://aircraftworkshop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Chriswelding11-300x225.jpg)
With the help of blacksmith Chris Dwyer we created an incredible three wheeler from some old bikes. The fairing makes for a handy sidecar.
![sidecar](https://aircraftworkshop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sidecar-300x300.jpg)
Once complete we set off to the slipway on the Thames, armed with an airline tray table for a paddle.
![boatlifting2](https://aircraftworkshop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/boatlifting2-300x210.jpg)
She was fairly tough to pedal. The driveshaft made from an old log may have contributed to the problem.
![boatlifting1](https://aircraftworkshop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/boatlifting11-300x225.jpg)
We proudly took her down to the water.
![charlieEnd](https://aircraftworkshop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/charlieEnd-300x227.jpg)
Eventually Charlie mastered control of the craft. We proved it did make a boat, just not a very good one. On conclusion we decided that the perfect craft would be made from using two fairings for a fast one man catamaran.