Air India A320 Wheel Config (4-wheel bogie?!)

[320DRIVER]

Came across a picture of an Air India A320 (VT-ESJ) which appears to have a different wheel configuration than the normal production line birds. Apparently, it has a 4-wheel bogie per landing gear?! Why did Air India choose this option and what are the dis/advantages of this configuration?

Rgds to all.

320DRIVER

[Mice]

Hi 320 Driver,. .this config only taken by AI to my knowledge, and relates to the poor quality runways they use the aircraft on. It gives more loading area on the tarmac (Runway Load Strength) for the a/c weight.

Cheers

[wysiwyg]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I remember hearing it was an option for operators to less well prepared strips.

Regards. .wizzy

[LBMF]

Above replies correct, although they are looking at taking a couple of standard A320s from Orix. I don't know if Orix are required to change the legs etc for AI.

[InitRef]

Note: Air India does NOT operate A320 - . .Indian Airlines (IAC) does though.

AFAIK - ACN for the normal 2 wheel bogey is 41, but with a 4 wheel bogey, that goes down to 22. Initially IAC wanted to operate the 320 to remote airports in NE India - . .however those airports are now served by 737-200 (operated by IAC low-fares subsidiary), and spares for the 4 - wheel bogey are hard/expensive to procure, so IAC is slowly converting to the regular 2-wheel config.

[Zeke]

The aircraft were intended to be used as a replacement for some high altitude airports with low pavement strength that were previously serviced by a B737-200 which has a lower ACN.

The routes are now being flown by A subsidiary (Alliance Air) using 737-200s so the aircraft are progressively beig retrofitted with standard A320 landing gear.

[Zeke]

Weird, same answer seconds apart ....

[WhiskeyNovember]

If anyone has any photos and/or closeups of the double-bogie gear, I'd love to see them.

[mcdhu]

WN, I have a book with a photo; bit short of time right now, but will research posting the pic and get back next week if nobody else has.. .Good w/e all,. .Cheers. .mcdhu. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" />

[DVR6K]

Wotcha,. .. .Pictures on <a href="http://www.airliners.net," target="_blank">www.airliners.net,</a> dunno how to do a link to the actual picture though, sorry!. .. .Loads there so enjoy! Looks a bit weird I have to say.

[lamer]

<a href="http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=063659" target="_blank">http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=063659</a>. .<a href="http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=154720" target="_blank">http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=154720</a>. .. .regards

[WALLEY]

Thanks,. .Interesting, I believe the 737-800 has the bogie option available but as airlines dont own airports this option has not been taken up.. .. .Or has it ?