Pirate bird
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Bye bye
Apparently our favorite bird has vanished from Ndjamena for nearly one week. We shall miss its impressive takeoff at the very end of runway 23, shrouded in a black cloud of smoke.
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Africa
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It stuck somewhere in the Birao. It's APU burst into pieces.
Just talk to the crew - the owner promised to send APU for last 3 weeks, but no one credit him anymore. Crew stays at a villa without electricity and with no salary for three month. Aircraft owner is hiding from the creditors.
Anyone knows what is going on to the other aircraft in Uganda? 3X-GEL - they say it is grounded in EBB - is this true?
Just talk to the crew - the owner promised to send APU for last 3 weeks, but no one credit him anymore. Crew stays at a villa without electricity and with no salary for three month. Aircraft owner is hiding from the creditors.
Anyone knows what is going on to the other aircraft in Uganda? 3X-GEL - they say it is grounded in EBB - is this true?
Last edited by Africa_another; 24th Jun 2010 at 18:00.
Person Of Interest
Join Date: Jan 2000
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Anything is possible in Africa...The crew could share a few dollars with the fueler/handler, and fly the jet out of there, and trade it to someone for past salary and a Business Class ticket home...
Then have stories to tell their grandkids....
Then return to Africa like we all do for another "Contract"...
Africa = Addicting...
Then have stories to tell their grandkids....
Then return to Africa like we all do for another "Contract"...
Africa = Addicting...
On the AN26 the APU is actually a turbo jet engine mounted at the rear of the right engine. It provides additional thrust on take off and the aircraft is capable of taxiing with it alone. VERY noisy, not sure if it's essential for flight or if they could start on ground power and get airborne without it.
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Having seen it many times in action, taxing without a prop turning, I asked the pilots about it one day and was told it produces 900kgs thrust. It was required to increase performance for the AN-26 during the Russian Afghan war in the high altitudes.
Eventually they put 5500hp each side and with such big props, the engines had to be mounted on top of the wing AN-32.
Eventually they put 5500hp each side and with such big props, the engines had to be mounted on top of the wing AN-32.
Join Date: May 2010
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An-32 APU gives no thrust. Generator only. An-26 have jet engine APU, that is considered as a third engine and gives extra 800-900 when needed.
To start engines from GPU they need 2 GPU's. This is not available at the spot where they stuck.
To start engines from GPU they need 2 GPU's. This is not available at the spot where they stuck.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
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It is back
No problem. They tried various spare parts (straight from the scrap yard) and at last one could fit. So after having been grounded during 4 weeks in Birao, the junk is back in FTTJ and has immediately started again to fly for UN. Just a question, as APU of AN 26 is supposed to give more power during takeoff, what would have happened if instead of breaking on the ground in Birao it would have finished during takeoff ?
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The APU is required to start the engines and increase performance for take-off. Nothing like and extra 900kgs thrust just on the right wing only. If the APU is unavailable after engine start (no etxra thrust for example), I would believe it uses a reduced/regulated take-off weight then.
The third right thrust lever operates the APU and it thrust for taxi/take-off. The jet pipe for the APU can be seen at the end of the right engine nacelle.
In this little walk around video, the pilot explains the APU on this AN24 (passenger version of AN26) ( at time 2:12)
The third right thrust lever operates the APU and it thrust for taxi/take-off. The jet pipe for the APU can be seen at the end of the right engine nacelle.
In this little walk around video, the pilot explains the APU on this AN24 (passenger version of AN26) ( at time 2:12)
Last edited by Jetjock330; 14th Jul 2010 at 06:22.
Join Date: May 2010
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All of a sudden 3X-GEL become 3X-GFH right in EBB without departing from the country. Same magic happened to other planes of the operator 3X-GEV, that is grounded in FJR became 3X-GFD, 3X-GDP became 3X-GFG. These guys are real brothers of the Copperfield. All planes belong to one owner and operator same as 3X-GDI. Strange things happen in the aviation, even in UAE, where registration change is restricted
Join Date: May 2010
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Supreme Aviation, guys in charge were several times told that operation of 3X-GDI is not safe. They just laughed. At last UN refused to use this aircraft.
They say Uganda also banned 3X registered aircraft to operate in their airspace
They say Uganda also banned 3X registered aircraft to operate in their airspace
Join Date: Nov 2010
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3X-GFD
The An-26 3X-GFD was still flying for Galex Guinée in September...
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../1/1795138.jpg
How could I contact this company?
Thanks for your help.
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../1/1795138.jpg
How could I contact this company?
Thanks for your help.
