It surprises me that you guys are pilots for 2 reasons:
1) How did you pass your medical with such bad eyesight? You need to get your eyes checked, you can just make out the position of the forward AOA vane. A very, very faint line that is horizontal (third photo). What you are seeing, as mentioned before, is the shadow.
2) When did Boeing start installing those extra large AOA vanes on aircraft? For the AOA vanes to be that large in photos taken at that distance........ It's all about scale
Also as is said, the torque links on the nose leg clearly show that it's at full extention. You can even see the witness mark (dirt for the intelectually challenged) from where the piston sits when WOW.
Guess it's just easier to be the usual anal retentive lot that most pilots on PPRuNe appear to be.
Oh and back to the question of eyesight.... Look carefully again (third photo); oval nuts/bolts on wheel halves? (no not the axle nut) I don't think so!! Evidence of rotation of the wheel methinks.
pAnmAn
Last edited by Panman; 18th Dec 2006 at 03:41.