Dba4U From Germany, joined Mar 2005, 623 posts, RR: 16 Reply 1, posted (8 years 1 month 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 3580 times:
Indian Airlines is the only airline operating A320's with the double wheel main gear. They need it since they're using their A320's to airfields with poor runway condition which a single bogey main gear couldn't manage.
Keep Condor my Condor ~ Gib "airberlin" keine Chance!
OV735 From Estonia, joined Jan 2004, 860 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (8 years 1 month 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 3573 times:
An 8-wheel undercarriage can be very useful on runways that aren't in the best shape, and having that in mind, Indian Airlines ordered some of it's A320's in such configuration.
Rough-field performance is also why most Russian planes have larger undercarriages than their Western counterparts (Tu-154 with 12 wheels versus B727 with 4 for example).
RedFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 4175 posts, RR: 30 Reply 3, posted (8 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 3352 times:
Wow! That is too cool! I didn't know Airbus offered that option. Is it in fact an option for any buyer or did they make the mod specifically in order to win the deal with Indian Airlines? I realize once they make a mod for one customer they can then offer it to others but what I mean is, was Indian Airlines the genesis for offering the option?
RedFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 4175 posts, RR: 30 Reply 5, posted (8 years 1 month 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 3246 times:
I can't imagine Indian Airlines would be the only carrier that would need such a mod. Indeed, I would think as the 320 ages and more of them are on the used market, some one will get the idea of flying cargo into the outback in some corner of the globe and would need a landing configuration like that.
Or is that an incorrect assumption on my part?
I'm basing the assumption on the fact that if someone would want to fly limited cargo into out of the way places they'd want to pick up 320's with the mod and not have to make the mod ($$$) to standard a/c.
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15870 posts, RR: 66 Reply 6, posted (8 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 3124 times:
Quoting RedFlyer (Reply 5): I can't imagine Indian Airlines would be the only carrier that would need such a mod. Indeed, I would think as the 320 ages and more of them are on the used market, some one will get the idea of flying cargo into the outback in some corner of the globe and would need a landing configuration like that.
Or is that an incorrect assumption on my part?
Well, the mod is really quite costly and if you really need rough field ability you may be better off buying something else. Sure, it might be useful on the used market but a 320 with traditional gear is more likely to sell since most operators use paved runways. If you are the original operator you buy to your specs, not the possible ones of a second owner 10-15 years later.
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots." - from Citadel by John Ringo
HAWK21M From India, joined Jan 2001, 31201 posts, RR: 58 Reply 7, posted (8 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 3039 times:
Also heard the Vendor supplying the Bogie Gear L/G closed shop.
So IA may be forced to replace them with the Convential Two Wheel L/G in the Future.
regds
MEL
B747-437B From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (8 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 3034 times:
IC doesn't even require the 4 wheel bogies anymore since all the runways they are operating the A320 on have now been upgraded and can accomodate "regular" A320s.
Trintocan From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2000, 3191 posts, RR: 4 Reply 10, posted (8 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 2824 times:
Sorry VS75741R, no A321 has the double bogey gear. As mentioned only the 30 A320s originally purchased by Indian Airlines have this feature. 1 of them was lost in a crash in 1990, the others continue to fly. Those will certainly be very tricky planes to sell unless some operator purchases the entire batch.
UA777222 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 3348 posts, RR: 13 Reply 11, posted (8 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 2788 times:
Well you also have to take into consideration the fact that these aircraft are now close to 15 years old...
AirIndia From United Arab Emirates, joined Jan 2001, 1546 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (8 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 2686 times:
Quoting OV735 (Reply 2): Russian planes have larger undercarriages
I remember seeing TU154s being given a 'cooling' treatment right after landing in DEL. As soon as the a/c halts, 2 water tankers rush to the place and pour/spray cold water on the tyres which heat up due to friction.
I guess, tyre explosion also caused a crash in DEL, some years back. no one died though...
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