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A380 - Different Sized Flap Guides

BA1978 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2004, 181 posts, RR: 0
Posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1486 times:

I was looking at some pictures of the A380 and noticed that the inboard flap guide on the left wing seems longer than that on the right. At first I thought it might be the angle of the picture, but looking at a few more photos you can definitely see that one is noticeably larger than the other. I've even managed to find one picture showing an unpainted A380 where you can seen the guide outline for the larger one on both wings.

Does anyone know why this may be and what, if any, purpose does it serve?

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Photo © Jan Kertzscher

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Photo © CL Kwek

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Photo © Philippe Noret - AirTeamImages

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Photo © Alex F.

There are other ways and there's British Airways

7 replies: All unread, jump to last

RichardPrice From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 1, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1486 times:

Its to hide equipment, not sure what exactly but thats the purpose for the longer housing.

Brendows From Norway, joined Apr 2006, 1020 posts, RR: 4
Reply 2, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1476 times:

Quoting BA1978 (Thread starter):

Does anyone know why this may be and what, if any, purpose does it serve?

The RAT (Ram Air Turbine) is located here, that's why it's bigger.

ImperialAero From Canada, joined May 2005, 49 posts, RR: 0
Reply 3, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1476 times:

This is total conjecture on my part, but i guess that it could possibly be due to the assymetrical airflow caused by the fact that all the engines turn in the same direction, hence causing slightly different airflow patterns over the bottom of each wing. On its own this would maybe not require the longer fairing on one side, but this could have some effect on the tail surfaces, hence the need to deflect the airflow back out more on one side than on the other to regain perfectly symmetrical airflow over the control surfaces on the tail.

Just an educated guess...

ICURFC - Who Is Sylvia?

Solnabo From Sweden, joined Jan 2008, 785 posts, RR: 2
Reply 4, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1476 times:

What´s that bulky wart thing between the wings and tail?

Micke//SWE Confused

Airbus SAS - Love them both

ImperialAero From Canada, joined May 2005, 49 posts, RR: 0
Reply 5, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1459 times:

Tailskid me thinks...

Heres hoping i got that one right at least...

ICURFC - Who Is Sylvia?

RichardPrice From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 6, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1459 times:

Quoting Solnabo (Reply 4):
What´s that bulky wart thing between the wings and tail?

That would be an American passenger Wink

Ok ok, give me a 10 second head start!

Brendows From Norway, joined Apr 2006, 1020 posts, RR: 4
Reply 7, posted (7 years 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1459 times:

Quoting Solnabo (Reply 4):
Whatï¿½s that bulky wart thing between the wings and tail?

I believe it's the tail strike protection used during the flight testing, for the minimum t/o-speed tests. Because of the much higher weight of the aircraft, it wasn't possible to use the same kind of protection that was used on the 777 and A340NG for the same kind of tests. Please correct me if I'm not correct.

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