What Am I? A Reader's Revenge

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Mon, 12/18/2006 - 11:32 — Guest

This comes to us from Customer Kim Seale. Regular readers will be familiar with Kim because he is a regular contributor to Nuts About Southwest.

I thought it was time to turn the tables on James Malone with his "somewhat" challenging guess the objects posts. So on a recent trip, I snapped this photo. Let's see if you and James can guess what it is. (Click on the pic to enlarge)

Kim sent this followup, and he has learned that you can't fool an expert.

Okay, one of my New Year's Resolutions is to never try to fool James Malone again. This man knows airplanes inside out and from such bizarre visual angles that I don't even want to know how he has learned. My second Resolution is that I should not underestimate my intelligent and perceptive fellow Southwest bloggers. Despite my feeble efforts to throw you offtrack, the fact of the matter is that almost all of you correctly guessed it. That IS the hinge at the rear of a seatback tray table. Here is the larger, uncropped photo that will make it clear to those of you who didn't get it:

I had hoped that the build-up of an unknown substance around the screw head and the tight cropping would trick everyone, but the problem is that for security reasons, there are just a limited number of places I can roam around inside a 737 with my camera without having to answer a lot of questions from people in uniforms. Congratulations to everyone who "got it", and for the rest of ya, you're confined to the rear lav for the rest of your flight. Kim :-)

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Comments

Why, that obviously wasn't taken on a Southwest flight!

Seriously, though, nice shot Kim! That looks like a tray table mount that's seen a bit too much Coke, but I'm not entirely sure.

Matthew Skok — Mon, 12/18/2006 - 16:59

Screw that connects tray table to the hinge arm...?

Gordon — Mon, 12/18/2006 - 17:03

Ack! Ditto on the tray table mount.

Paige M. — Mon, 12/18/2006 - 17:50

WOW...there's a lot of crud in there!

Dave H — Mon, 12/18/2006 - 18:48

Gee,
I'm surprised so few people recognize the screw assembly that holds the main landing gear on...

OK, in case there are any FAA airframe inspectors reading this, Southwest did not significantly alter one of their planes, and it actually is NOT the main landing gear strut, I was just kidding.

Kim :-)

P. S. However, I really AM intrigued at the lack of variety of guesses and the assumption that this was taken in the main cabin. There ARE a lot of other places on an airplane, ya know...

Kim Seale — Mon, 12/18/2006 - 22:48

Tray table screw assembly!!!!

Matt D — Tue, 12/19/2006 - 01:03

oh, oh! I know, it is part of the pilot's ejection seat! But really, I think it is part of the outer door....

Cathy C — Tue, 12/19/2006 - 01:26

It is the screw assembly on the tug the Plane hooks into at the gate.

VIOLET CALYTON — Tue, 12/19/2006 - 02:03

Since we know that Kim spends alot of time in the lav, it is a screw that holds the hinge to the toilet seat. ;-P

Joe Friedmann — Tue, 12/19/2006 - 02:20

Could you tell me what would happen if you took the screw out??? Maybe a seat would move or a door would fall off....haven't a clue but I'll be checking in to find out....

I have more pressing things to do right now...like produce a 20 sec. commercial! Keep us posted!
Jenny

Jenny — Tue, 12/19/2006 - 04:31

That is obviously the hinge to the lid of the secret storage area Brian has for his Candy Corn on each of our aircraft.

Eric H — Tue, 12/19/2006 - 14:20

heh...."somewhat"...I'm not going to guess, because you can't beat the Master...As Brian mentioned in today's post...We are taking some time off, and I'm working on some even MORE challenging What Am I's...just for Kim and the rest of ya'll.

I hope you all have a joyous Holiday Season!

Best Wishes -
James Malone
MDW FA

James L. Malone — Tue, 12/19/2006 - 14:58

...the sound of flushing is heard in the background...

Joe,
What do you mean about me spending a lot of time in the lav? I'll have you know that I pay EXTRA for my own private cabin, where I never have to share an armrest with anyone's elbow and I can get a drink of water whenever I want!

Actually, my buddy James has already been disqualified in this identification contest. He is definitely the Jedi Master when it comes to recognizing parts of the SW airplanes, In fact, I sent him the picture first just to test him, and by using The Force, he was able to discern what it was even BEFORE I e-mailed it. I'm telling you, the guy is good! Not only that, he has convinced me that these are not the droids I'm looking for...

Keep up the guessing, I'm pleased that some folks have started thinking "outside the box" now. While you contemplate this photographic mystery, I hope that all of my blog friends have a blessed and joyous holiday season, and to whom it applies, Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah!

Kim :-)

Kim Seale — Tue, 12/19/2006 - 22:57

Eric, candy corn would have. To be kept under lock and key because it is so valuable.
Blog Boy

Brian Lusk — Wed, 12/20/2006 - 04:47

Kim, it was from the other post where you guessed the correct answer of the diaper changing table. Someone mentioned you spend alot of time on planes and I asked if it was in the lav. ;-P
Where is this private cabin anyway? In the rear of the plane with a sliding latch the says Occupied/available? Or is it on the lower floor with the candycorn stash?
Merry Christmas to you or happy holidays if that applies.
Joe- in my own seat not a private cabin. :-)

Joe Friedmann — Wed, 12/20/2006 - 13:41

Joe,
My private cabin is in the rear, and yes, it has a sliding latch. How did you know? Southwest hasn't been renting out MY cabin when I'm not onboard, have they????
Kim
P. S. It is a great place to make notes for the blog, since they provide you note paper in long rolls conveniently perforated in pocket-sized sections. :-)

Kim Seale — Wed, 12/20/2006 - 19:25

I have cleaned Planes before and it is a screw that has seen better days on a tray table assembly.

Mike C. — Fri, 12/22/2006 - 15:22

Kim, you wouldn't happen to be leaving notes for Herb now would you?
I know you are in sales, but Southwest isn't interested in your European aircraft. ;-)
Now you wont have that cabin anymore.
Joe.

Joe Friedmann — Fri, 12/22/2006 - 21:02

I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE A TRAY TABLE HINGE AS WELL. ONE OF THE OLDERRR PLANES.

TYSON ANDY — Sat, 12/23/2006 - 05:00

Gee thanks, Joe, now if I want any privacy, I guess I'll have to claim one of those seats on the wings, where the FAs always threat to put passengers who smoke in the lavs, forcing them to watch the in-flight movie, "Gone With the Wind."

European aircraft?? I'll have you know that after an Army career that took him to Colonel, my wife's grandfather spent a second career at Boeing in Seattle. I've visited Boeing Field a number of times and have spent many enjoyable hours at the Museum of Flight there. I ain't hawkin' no furin' made goods!

Besides, you can tell I'm a true-blue Southwest fan; who else would check the blog on Christmas Day??

Best holiday wishes from the Lone Star State,
Kim :-)

Kim Seale — Mon, 12/25/2006 - 21:34

Hey! I was right! I thought it was the hinge to a tray table! That goofy Kim fella can't fool me.

Pass the candy corn, BB, let's celebrate!

AFoBB :-)

A Friend of Blog Boy — Thu, 01/04/2007 - 18:42

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