Posts by user "TURIN" [Posts: 15 Total up-votes: 0 Page: 1 of 1]¶

For what it's worth, I read a book years ago. "By the Rivers of Babylon" I think it was.
It involved a couple of El-Al (Yes I know hard to believe) Concordes that had APUs fitted in the area normally used as the forward baggage hold. Small it would have to be to fit methinks.

No idea if the author had researched it or just made it up to fit the story.

There's an interesting piece here...

Concorde: story of a supersonic pioneer By Kenneth Owen, Science Museum (Great Britain)

Dr Hooker's argument that it makes more sense leaving the dead weight of an APU on the ground rather than carry it around at supersonic speed makes sense. (I presume this is the late Sir Stanley Hooker)

As a BA apprentice in the early eighties I spent 12 months in the old 'wing hangar' (TBB) cutting my teeth, as it were, on the future of aviation. (The newly introduced B757 was also housed there so I was partly right). I was still growing-9 stone wet through and I had to run around in the rain to get wet-so if there was work to be done in the "Bent Nail's" fuel tanks then I was volunteered. Pouring tins and tins of Thiokols best sealant along leaking joints was a favoured pastime, so it begs the question were the leaks ever plugged?

I have a load of photos of G-BOAG just before it was reintroduced (rebuilt?) into service after being a Christmas tree for years. I think it was taken out of service after the wrong hydraulic fluid was uplifted but I may be wrong there. Never seen so many robbery labels before or since. If I ever get my scanner I'll post 'em up one day.

Fascinating thread gents, keep it going.

No me neither. It helps when gravity extension is required too as the airflow pushes the leg back to the locked down position.

M2Dude thanks, a lot of memories returning with this thread.

Is this another item that Airbus used for the A330/340? I can't remember the exact arrangement for Concorde, but the 330 uses a clever lever arrangement at the top of the leg. Requires regular lubrication too or .

As we're on landing gear.
Why was the sidestay a telescopic affair? Most aircraft use a hinged geometric lock arrangement. More weight saving or down to available space in the landing gear bay?

M2Dude

Elegant indeed.
We used to convince the weekend visitors to TBB that it was actually the retraction jack.
I feel so ashamed.

Already discussed on this thread Shane.

Try a search.....

I think the TU144 needs an entirely new thread. Oooh questions questions....

By a process of elimination, as my AMM discs seem to be corrupted in CH 31 & 34, those ports could be the sense ports for the Ambient Pressure Switch & the CAU Outlet Overpressure Switch.

Evolution: Survival of the fittest.

An often misunderstood expression.
Fittest does not mean the most athletic or physically strong, it means fit for it's environment.

When the environment changes the animal/plant/aircraft needs to evolve to best fit that changing environment.
Living organisms take many generations to change due to the randomness of genetic mutation. Aircraft design, in comparison, changes relatively quickly as new technology and ideas develop.

The environment changed in the seventies, fuel prices exploded. The 747, and continued lines of fuel efficient wide bodies thrived, Concorde only continued due to political will. If the price of fuel was still $20/barrel Concorde (and probably a couple of successors) would be going strong as it would still "fit" the political and economic environment. (The greens may have put a bit of pressure on though )

Simples eh?

I remember the paint job underneath was as rough as the proverbial bear's rear. The painters were forever trying to keep it nice and slick after the leaking fuel had done it's magic.

Sounds like a topic for a new thread. If it's as good as this one I can't wait.

I think the canard were for low speed control and stability as I think they retracted for supersonic flight.

A question has come up regarding air brakes on Concorde. It started off with this image...

Is that an air brake on one of the prototype aircraft?

That's what I thought but the chute door seems to open upwards not sideways.