747 five banger
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From: Hong Kong
747 five banger
Ok. I fly single engined GA aircraft. But I thought I knew a great deal about commercial aircraft.
I sit down tonight for my 9PM (hk) Tuesday "air accident investigation" on Nat Geo with a cold one and was immediately confronted with some new intel.
Apparently the 747 can "carry" AN EXTRA ENGINE !!!
The stricken Air India flight featured in this episode(RIP all) was apparently carrying a broken engine back to India mounted to the wing.
I have never witnessed this before or seen photos of this taking place.
Anyone???
Best,
Sicknote
I sit down tonight for my 9PM (hk) Tuesday "air accident investigation" on Nat Geo with a cold one and was immediately confronted with some new intel.
Apparently the 747 can "carry" AN EXTRA ENGINE !!!
The stricken Air India flight featured in this episode(RIP all) was apparently carrying a broken engine back to India mounted to the wing.
I have never witnessed this before or seen photos of this taking place.
Anyone???
Best,
Sicknote
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: 58-33N. 00-18W. Peterborough UK
You may want to delete your post after you've read this
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=328584
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=328584
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: In the library
5th Pod
I think it was a standard Boeing build to put fittings in the inboard left wing for the extra engine. I have fitted several, & the other point we had to sort out was the fuel loading which was non standard, with balancing fuel in the right wing.
As a point of interest I was also involved in fitting a 4th pod on a TriStar, but that went on the inboard right wing.
Tristar 500
Edited for spelling!!
As a point of interest I was also involved in fitting a 4th pod on a TriStar, but that went on the inboard right wing.
Tristar 500
Edited for spelling!!
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Too Low, Terrain.
Are there any performance/logistical advantages of having the engine mounted on the left rather than the right?
Im assuming they wouldnt allow to carry an extra engine on each wing because the An225 would get jealous????
JB
Im assuming they wouldnt allow to carry an extra engine on each wing because the An225 would get jealous????
JB
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: ATL
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Derbyshire, UK
It's called a 5th pod, 
some airlines have the capability, some don't. QANTAS used the facility earlier this year to carry a spare RB211 to Europe on one of their 744s.
I think some of the BA aircraft can also do it. The 5th engine has to have the fan blades removed and a fairing fitted over the fan disc and compressor inlet.
some airlines have the capability, some don't. QANTAS used the facility earlier this year to carry a spare RB211 to Europe on one of their 744s.I think some of the BA aircraft can also do it. The 5th engine has to have the fan blades removed and a fairing fitted over the fan disc and compressor inlet.
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: No one's home...
I was on my way to Southeast Asia back in the early 70s and was sitting in the bar at SFO sucking down my third scotch when I noticed a 747 on the gate. For some reason it looked a bit odd and then I noticed the 5th engine. Only after confirming it with someone more sober than me did I believe what I was seeing. And later I found that yes, a number of airlines had 'hard points' under the left wing to ferry an engine. Looked quite odd..
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: England
It's an old BA bird (G-BDXJ) that arrived at Dunsfold via work at Air Atlanta. The engines on it are made of plastic I think - it gets used all the time for film/tv work. Featured recently in the Westlife video for Home. Nice to see an old girl getting the showbiz treatment!
Once a year a group of MINI owners get together to spin around the Top Gear Track and we nearly always do a photo shoot in front of this jumbo. Here's my little one against the big one!
Once a year a group of MINI owners get together to spin around the Top Gear Track and we nearly always do a photo shoot in front of this jumbo. Here's my little one against the big one!
Last edited by TimV; 14th July 2008 at 12:00. Reason: update
Joined: Oct 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
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From: London UK
The 5th pod seems less popular than it used to be. Better worldwide availability of spares, better engine reliability, reduction of the 747 fleet, and the arrival of (relatively) cheap outsize Antonov 124 capacity on the charter market to haul large engines around, have all played their part.
In the early days of 747s such were the problems with the JT9D that sometimes, when ferrying out a spare to hold at an overseas base, the engineers would suddenly end up taking it off and fitting it to the same aircraft, which had suffered an en-route failure. And then ordering another spare.
In truth, although I have tended to look up at any overflying aircraft for more years than I like to admit, I can only remember seeimng the 5th pod a couple of times. It's one of those things, like operating with a winglet missing, that can surprise those who see it for the first time
In the early days of 747s such were the problems with the JT9D that sometimes, when ferrying out a spare to hold at an overseas base, the engineers would suddenly end up taking it off and fitting it to the same aircraft, which had suffered an en-route failure. And then ordering another spare.
In truth, although I have tended to look up at any overflying aircraft for more years than I like to admit, I can only remember seeimng the 5th pod a couple of times. It's one of those things, like operating with a winglet missing, that can surprise those who see it for the first time
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: South of Watford
JB2 post #7
I believe the left wing is chosen so there is less interference during ground handling. Steps or passenger boarding ramps access the left side while all sorts of heavy metal are moving around the right side during a transit.
