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Yesterday a Speedbird 744 came in late morning and was missing the #4 cowling for the thrust reverser after arrival.... Today to my astonishment she departed still sans the cowling system exposing the entire aft portion of the engine.... I grabbed a few pictures from my blackberry.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/322...1150910.th.jpg
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/235...1150910.th.jpg
Darn, I almost made it over there too for morning spotting, was able to get there after 2:30p :-(
Amazing they would allow such a thing. Wouldn't it affect the engine components at high speed? or from other debris? or drag?
I'm not all that surprized. I remember a few years ago a BA 747 flying LAX-LHR lost an engine on take off and flew across the pond on three.
If the cowling was gone, wouldn't the fans be exposed?
Without a cowling, this is what an engine looks like:Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil D.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...urbofan640.jpg
Exactly...looks like the engine is covered up to me, but just with an unpainted cowling.
No, it is defineately one of the cowling's... The Cowling peice where the Thrust Reverser would normally deploy is completely gone on it... There is a physical structure missing from the airplane in these pictures... From my office I have a very good view of Alpha...
A temp cover it may be, but is any of the engine actually exposed?
And, it was taxiing there to depart? How do you know it wasn't taxiing to Hangar 19 or something?
Look at it closely, there is no cover. Look at the shadows... And also, as far as it actually flying... It departed that way... I have a solid 360 view nearly minus T4 in the way and one of my companies jets was qued behind him. It defineately flew.
Looks like we are now missing the #1 starting photo.
Can we MEL it or will this thread drop dead?