747 with funny engine configuration..

[Ogre]

Over here in the land of Oz, they are currently showing a TV advert for a certain brand of German automobile. The advert is designed to show how strong the car is, but opens with a shot of a Boeing 747 on the tarmac. the caption says that it's Dunsfold Aerodrome in the uk (last home of the Harrier), and lately the airfield they use in "Top Gear" to race around in expensive cars and have fun. In fact if you watch Top Gear you'll see a 747 in the background, presumably this one.

OK, with me so far? The next shot of the aircraft is from the front, where aforementioned German car is going to tow the aircraft. Now, at this point you see the wings of the 747, which do not have the expected four big podded engines hanging down. Instead there are two inboard pylons with twin, smaller jet engines on each pylon. Instead of outboard engines there appears to be a bullet shaped fairing extending from the leading edge.

The whole thing is reminiscent of a B52 wing, but only one pair of podded engines rather than two pairs on each side.

Basically (and I aploogise for taking so long), does anyone have any idea of how this fit was done, has it ever flown, and more importantly, why?

Thanks in advance

Ogre

[Dan Winterland]

It was reconfigured like this to make it look like a new type of aircraft for the filming of the last James Bond movie. It never flew like this.

[paulc]

It was also used in a recent episode of Scrapheap Challenge as the aircraft to be towed by the teams 'homemade' tugs