Air Canada A340's without centre-gear.
 

Alright, I'll bite. Why do these Air Canada A340's have no center gear?

link one

link two

link three

LINK FOUR this time with centre-gear

There's obviously a good explanation (and it's probably been raised here before) - but what is it?

My Airbus expertise ends at 330 however:
All shots are the same A/C
4 was taken about two months before 1,2, & 3 which were all taken over a three day period. My guess is that the center gear had been de-activated for some technical reason around the end of August start of September as it is clearly fitted in June.

Li Ka Shing who thru his poxy... oops proxy son has taken out the checkbook to resurrect this basket-case has decreed, that until loads improve, center main gear is no longer required:}

It's allowable under the mel as follows:

32-15 CENTRELINE GEAR
15-01 Centreline Gear
May be inoperative in retracted
position provided the MTOW and the
MLW are limited as follows:
MTOW : 230,000 KG
MLW : 185,000 KG
Note : The centreline gear may be
deactivated in retracted position with
or without the wheel assemblies
fitted. Consider weight saving of 300
KG with wheels removed.