No-one ever ferried a fifth engine "just in case". When it's done, it's usually in support of an AOG aircraft as the drag of having an additional dead engine dangling in the breeze makes it's a very inefficient way to move an engine.

First choice to move an engine is by scheduled freighter, but if you have an aircraft grounded you might look at using a fifth pod (if you have an aircraft that can do it) as a cheaper option than chartering a freighter.

VS... :ok:


Just to help clear the "fifth pod" issue - it wasn't that mysterious on the 747, but it wasn't done very often. I've seen it done once, when a 747-400 on a commercial, passenger flight carried a fifth pod to faciliate an engine change with a fellow company 747-400 had lost an engine going into an "exotic" destination.

Thanks OD100 and 11fan you answered my question.

I had assumed that a component on an engine would be replaced in situ where possible, but the wording 'failed' i took to mean the engine as a whole was unusable with major component damage and possibly beyond economic repair when removed. I was enquiring about when that happened.

I wasn't aware that engines could be on a maintenance plan as a seperate item to the aircraft itself but thinking about it makes sense.

Thanks

In the good ol' days, Aer Lingus ferried replacement engines out to AOG 747's in "exotic destinations" on occasion.

Citation required; but I remember reading somewhere (take that with a pinch of salt) but the 747 was prep'd with a mounting point for a 5th pylon, and a 5th engine - which was mounted with an aerodynamic cover for the front.

(Decided to do some Googleing before hitting 'post', and came across this gem; Aer Lingus 747 with 5th Engine.

"but I remember reading somewhere (take that with a pinch of salt) but the 747 was prep'd with a mounting point for a 5th pylon, and a 5th engine - which was mounted with an aerodynamic cover for the front."

That's pretty much it; there's a mounting point inboard of number 2 engine, and as I remember it a cover was used for the core and the fan blades were removed and carried in the hold.

As an aside in the case I was involved in, mentioned above, we took over the "fifth podder" when it arrived at our exotic destination to do a "shuttle" sector - once the pod had been removed. Despite multiple PAs explaining the "pod" we nearly had a riot when those passengers who stayed onboard during the transit spotted our ground team removing one of "their" engines...... :bored:

"I don't speak Icelandic either, but if you follow the link to the article, and use Google translate - it appears to say-
"Matthias said he does not expect the same engine would be used again in the charter by the airline."
(As opposed to referring to using the actual Airline.)"

This translation is wrong. It´s saying that the company (Iceland Express - web based ticket selling agency) is not going to use this chartered aircraft again....

Iceland Express is not an airline, just to make it clear. This aircraft is Astreus aircraft and will surely be used again by this website (icelandexpress.bull):ugh:

Fifth Pod
 

There was a famous occasion in a very big airline where a fifth pod ferry on the early Classic 747 was organised to retrieve an AOG in Nairobi. Not enough range to get there direct so planned via Rome. Unfortunately engine failure on descent into Rome - at least they had a spare on board! :ok:

If my memory is correct B.A. carried a 4th pod engine on their Tristars to get a U/S a/c serviceable down the line the Tristar was capable of carrying one . but it was "blanked off" to stop it rotating in flight , the fuel load was to put more fuel in the opposite wing to couterbalance the weight of the engine and we had to change the postion of the plastic markers on the A.S.I to adjust V1 ,V2 V.R speeds

I recall that the Air India 747 lost off Ireland was carrying a fifth engine.

I remember seeing a BA 747 carrying a spare engine into the Falkland Islands (Mount Pleasant Airport - don't know the code). The airbridge route was operated by BA using 747's but the RAF were about to take over the service using Tristars. Apparently the L1011 wouldn't have the range carrying a spare engine (don't know if it even had the ability to carry one) so BA carried a L1011 engine down for them. I did have a picture of it on approach, long lost now. Must've been 1984-85 ish. I used to think it was one hell of a "sticky tape job" until somebody pointed out it was designed in by Boeing! :uhoh: