DC9 & B727 Ventral Stairs
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DC9 & B727 Ventral Stairs
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.
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.
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DC9
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.
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.
Silly Old Git
The 727 could fly with the steps down 
Met up with a few guys in Bangkok that had been pretty close to this and didn't bother going back
http://aluwings.********.com.au/2007...evolution.html
Met up with a few guys in Bangkok that had been pretty close to this and didn't bother going back
http://aluwings.********.com.au/2007...evolution.html
Join Date: Dec 2008
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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.
"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.
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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.
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.
