DC9 & B727 Ventral Stairs

[Capt Claret]

As an older codger now I can recall boarding or disembarking the DC9 or 727 via the ventral stairs but I'm damned if I can recall how one entered the stairwell from the cabin.

Did the stairs fold up into the cabin floor? If so, how were the steps manipulated to form a flat surface to walk on?

Did one access the stairs through a door in the aft bulkhead?

I await illumination from codgers older than I, or those with better memories. :}

[kingRB]

no memory required, just youtube :ok:

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[Capt Fathom]

Got several hits with google. There are some photos on Airliners.net
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[Capt Claret]

Not in my wildest dreams did I think that someone would YouTube the ventral stairs.

Thanks chaps. :ok::}

[Mr.Buzzy]

Ask Mr. Cooper (if you can find him) whether the stairs could be lowered in flight.

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[sevenstrokeroll]

I had the great pleasure of flying the DC9-30. Our planes had two sets of stairs, one that served the main cabin door and the ventral stairs.

Hydraulically operated, the ventral stairs were accessed through a door (hatch/pressurized) in the rear of the plane. There was a catwalk across the stairs so one would be able to walk to the rear tailcone inflight or while the stairs were retracted. When selected down via a handle, and having the aux hydraulic pump on, the catwalk went up out of the way and the stairs went down...provided you were on the ground. A COOPER VANE (named after DB cooper the hijacker) prevented the stairs from being deployed in flight.

IF the plane was completely shut down on the ground, one could get the ventral stairs to come down by external handle...no hydraulics required.

IF airlines like JetBlue had this type of plane.w they divert, they could easily move passengers into a terminal without jetways.

[tinpis]

The 727 could fly with the steps down :hmm:

The Last Flight From Da Nang, Vietnam 1975 - YouTube

Met up with a few guys in Bangkok that had been pretty close to this and didn't bother going back :uhoh:

http://aluwings.********.com.au/2007/08/boeing-727-continuing-revolution.html

[Capt Fathom]

Here's a different view of exiting a 9!

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[Aye Ess]

Sevenstrokeroll...the DC9-30 we had here in Australia had the ventral stairs located outside the pressurised area,so they weren't accessible in flight.

"Flight attendant,please raise the rear stairs and close the aft entry door"

You are quite correct about diversion operations. The DC9 had its own front and ventral stairs and the baggage lockers were accessible by just standing on a baggage trolley. No need for specialised equipment.

[Wally Mk2]

"C Fath' tnxs for the link on the 9 jumpers !! Imagine CASA letting that happen here in Oz! :E


Wmk2

[PLovett]

I think that is the first time I have seen a DC9 defecating. :}

[Unregistered User]

Wally Mk2: Yes, I can imagine CASA letting that happen here as long as CASA themselves did the assessments without 'chutes………….:ok:

[Ultralights]

screw the defecating DC9, how in the hell does a Twotter keep up with it?

[john_tullamarine]

Imagine CASA letting that happen here in Oz

Can't recall any higher level large drop other than Eeny Weeny with an F27 ? LONG time ago.

Re the 9, the IPEC Diesel did some flight tests with the back door open to permit access to some video kit in the tail.