View Full Version : 744F with stabilizer fuel tank
stilton
5th Jun 2008, 04:57
Understand most freight operators do not use or even install this tank, does anyone use this tank on the 74F ?
Our B744Fs are coming new off the production line and have no stab tank fitted.
Just a little more info, it's the same stab tank fitted to all -400s and some late model classics however it's just missing the plumbing and has blank plates fitted where required.
AFAIK it is not offered. Aft cg can be achieved with loadplanning & payload is more important than range...
stilton
5th Jun 2008, 14:56
Interesting, did not know any classics had this tank.
I wonder if the -400BCFs have their stab tanks disabled?
The -400LCF has no stab tank.
dickxxx
5th Jun 2008, 20:44
during conversion from 744pax to 744BCF the stab-tank is indeed removed.
Phil Squares
5th Jun 2008, 21:22
Interesting, did not know any classics had this tank.
They don't!
18-Wheeler
5th Jun 2008, 23:11
Interesting, did not know any classics had this tank.
They don't!
Quite right, they don't.
stilton
5th Jun 2008, 23:27
Thanks for the info, so no 74f's worldwide with an activated stab fuel tank ?
point8six
6th Jun 2008, 19:20
I believe the first B744F, which was delivered to Air France, was to have the stab tank fitted. Whether or not it was used or deactivated, perhaps an Air France person can reveal. Joe Sutter's book 747 states that the stab tank was one of a range of new ideas for the -400, therefore I think it unlikely that any of the late Classics were fitted with one, unless an operator specified extra fuel tanks as a 'one-off'.
As has been stated, payload takes priority over range and also 10 tonnes of fuel in the stab might make load-and-balance very difficult and time consuming, to prevent the a/c tipping onto its' tail when the tail-strut is removed.
Fr8Dog
6th Jun 2008, 19:43
Quote: I believe the first B744F, which was delivered to Air France, was to have the stab tank fitted. Whether or not it was used or deactivated, perhaps an Air France person can reveal. Joe Sutter's book 747 states that the stab tank was one of a range of new ideas for the -400, therefore I think it unlikely that any of the late Classics were fitted with one, unless an operator specified extra fuel tanks as a 'one-off'.
As has been stated, payload takes priority over range and also 10 tonnes of fuel in the stab might make load-and-balance very difficult and time consuming, to prevent the a/c tipping onto its' tail when the tail-strut is removed
#1 Atlas Air was the launch customer for the 400F (no stab tanks)
#2 Some 200's & 300's did have the stab tank
point8six
6th Jun 2008, 20:09
Atlas only commenced operations in 1992 with one 747-200 on lease to China Airlines. Air France was the launch customer for the -400f, but it appears that Cargolux became the customer for the first one.
What info do you have that the later Classics were fitted with a stab tank?
Fr8Dog
6th Jun 2008, 20:31
Quote: Atlas only commenced operations in 1992 with one 747-200 on lease to China Airlines. Air France was the launch customer for the -400f, but it appears that Cargolux became the customer for the first one.
What info do you have that the later Classics were fitted with a stab tank?
#1 The Cargolux A/C came after the first 400 freighter that came off the line at Boeing as a freighter, not a converted A/C.
#2 I fly them and 2 of our 200's and our remaining 300 had the stab tank but have had them removed.
Flightwatch
6th Jun 2008, 21:09
In reply to item #1 above,
L/N 968 The prototype -400F was built for Air France and first flew in 5/93 but was never delivered (allegedly due to the refusal of the AF pilots union to fly a 747 2 crew) and was stored in Marana until delivery to Cargolux in 9/95.
The first commercial operator was Cargolux who took delivery of L/Nos 1002 and 1003 in 11/93 and 12/93.
Atlas received their first aircraft, L/N 1165 in 9/98 some 5 years later.
None of the first 3 aircraft, including the prototype has or ever had the stab tank activated in commercial service.
Fr8Dog
6th Jun 2008, 21:45
After further research, I see I was wrong about the first 400F's
Sorry for the erroneous info.
stilton
7th Jun 2008, 05:01
I don't think any classics had a stab' tank
TowerDog
7th Jun 2008, 08:27
I don't think any classics had a stab' tank
Never seen a -200 with tail-tank, not heard about it either.
Must have been a top-secret system...Don't tell the crews.:sad:
The classics after line number 703 (first -400 line number 696) have the -400 stab except without the plumbing required to make it a "tank", which is the same as the -400Fs which have a no "tank" stab, the stab is exactly the same the only thing that differs is it's either with or without the plumbing, and as I said blank plates fitted where required like on the right hand underside where the vent and positive and negative relief valves are normally fitted.
These classics also have the same hydraulic architecture for the elevators as the -400 which is different from the earlier classic models, due to the cable runs that run though the internals of the stab on the earlier classics.
I've been in the stab of line number 711 it's a -300 and saw all the various points where the pumps and plumbing would have been installed had that particular stab been destined for a pax -400.
xaf2fe
7th Jun 2008, 19:53
" I fly them and 2 of our 200's and our remaining 300 had the stab tank but have had them removed."
I believe you mean 2 of our 200s and our remaining 300 had #2 and #3 Reserve tanks, but they were deactivated and sealed.
Classics did not have tail fuel, but #2 and #3 reserve tanks were an option.