djb77 From UK - Scotland, joined Sep 2001, 214 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 10537 times:
Dear all,
My son and I were driving towards Frankfurt Airport last night at 19.10 on the A3 autobahn and we saw a B747 landing towards the west, directly overhead our car. As the sun was setting, the aircraft was illuminated against a very organge/red sky. Both I and my son were convinced that the landing B747 actually had six engines, i.e. it looked to be ferrying two additional engines under the wings.
As the sun was setting, light wasn't great and we couldn't identify the airline/cargo operator. Can anybody help us with additional information? Or were we simply "seeing things"...?
airbazar From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 6879 posts, RR: 7 Reply 1, posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 10459 times:
Quoting djb77 (Thread starter): Both I and my son were convinced that the landing B747 actually had six engines
falstaff From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 5673 posts, RR: 29 Reply 2, posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 10281 times:
Quoting airbazar (Reply 1): Are you sure it wasn't this, what you saw?
That would be so sweet to see, especially landing or taking off.
I have seen photos of 707s that have had an spare engine engine under the wing. They were on a pod like thing, but had a cover over the intake.
I have never seen a 747 with any spare engines hanging off it.
SonomaFlyer From United States of America, joined Apr 2010, 1176 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 10274 times:
There's a photo in the database somewhere of Qantas ferrying an engine to JNB to replace one blown on take-off. I'm pretty sure it can ferry engines under each wing.
Jetfixr757 From Jamaica, joined Jan 2006, 109 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 10254 times:
70's, 8's 10's 74's all had the capabilty of an additional engine ferry pod on the inboard l/h side of the the left engines closest to the fuselage. Referred to as 5th pod on the 4 engine jets.
Jet.
The one on the left is ferrying its own faulty engine from MIA to JNB after having one replaced. At the time it was the longest 5th engine ferry distance ever.
[Edited 2011-10-17 08:42:59]
After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says WTF...
falstaff From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 5673 posts, RR: 29 Reply 6, posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 9780 times:
Quoting andz (Reply 5): 5th engine ferry was common on 747s but I don't believe they could carry 2.
Can they all do that? Or is their some sort of optional equipment that is needed to do that?
AR385 From Mexico, joined Nov 2003, 4846 posts, RR: 27 Reply 8, posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 9449 times:
They all can do that, but not on both wings, and the flight profile changes as there are different drag penalties. I believe ony certain crews were qualified. The AI 742 that crashed off the Irish coast due to a bomb, was carrying a 5th engine.
Spacepope From Vatican City, joined Dec 1999, 2738 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 9361 times:
Quoting Jetfixr757 (Reply 4): 70's, 8's 10's 74's all had the capabilty of an additional engine ferry pod on the inboard l/h side of the the left engines closest to the fuselage. Referred to as 5th pod on the 4 engine jets.
Jet.
AA737-823 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 5340 posts, RR: 11 Reply 11, posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 8770 times:
Quoting falstaff (Reply 2): I have never seen a 747 with any spare engines hanging off it.
There are many in this very database; spend time there should you wish to see some.
Quoting falstaff (Reply 6): Can they all do that? Or is their some sort of optional equipment that is needed to do that?
All of them had the mounting facilities on the left wing; because the engine isn't producing forward thrust, it's actually a much simpler mount than the actual hard-mounted engines on the aircraft. A special pylon is used to mate the engine's standard mounts to the simple screws in the wing.
There were no provisions to do this on the right wing, so it's unlikely that the aircraft the OP saw was a 747, unless there was an odd optical illusion.
CCA From Hong Kong, joined Oct 2002, 708 posts, RR: 14 Reply 12, posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 8607 times:
Not all 744s have the 5th pod ability as you can clearly see the where it attaches inboard of #2 engine and I've seen A/C without the necessary structure.
NWAROOSTER From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 848 posts, RR: 3 Reply 13, posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 21 hours ago) and read 8028 times:
Quoting CCA (Reply 12):
Not all 744s have the 5th pod ability as you can clearly see the where it attaches inboard of #2 engine and I've seen A/C without the necessary structure.
The fifth pop for carrying a spare engine is/was an option on the 747. A special nose cone is also mounted on the engine to reduce the ability of the engine to windmill. The fan blades are also secured so the engine can not windmill.
One interesting question is, is the 747-8 available with the 5th pod option? The 747-8 has a completely new wing.
andrewtang From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 457 posts, RR: 9 Reply 14, posted (1 year 7 months 1 week 21 hours ago) and read 7817 times:
Quoting CCA (Reply 12): Not all 744s have the 5th pod ability as you can clearly see the where it attaches inboard of #2 engine and I've seen A/C without the necessary structure.
5th pod can only be used on 747 fitted with Rolls Royce or Pratt & Whitney engines and most 747 do not have the ability to fit a 5th pod because most airlines don't see the need to add this optional feature.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21488 posts, RR: 24 Reply 16, posted (1 year 7 months 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 1879 times:
Quoting SonomaFlyer (Reply 3): There's a photo in the database somewhere of Qantas ferrying an engine to JNB to replace one blown on take-off. I'm pretty sure it can ferry engines under each wing.
Left wing only.
Quoting andz (Reply 7): Quoting falstaff (Reply 6):
Can they all do that? Or is their some sort of optional equipment that is needed to do that?
I believe.... 741 to 744 all had the capability. Of course, I also believe I will be corrected!
NWAROOSTER From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 848 posts, RR: 3 Reply 17, posted (1 year 7 months 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 1726 times:
Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 16): Quoting andz (Reply 7):
Quoting falstaff (Reply 6):
Can they all do that? Or is their some sort of optional equipment that is needed to do that?
I believe.... 741 to 744 all had the capability. Of course, I also believe I will be corrected!
At least on the 744 it was optional.
The fifth pod for ferrying an engine was optional on all 747 models. Northwest Airlines bought two 747-135s from National Airlines and had to have Boeing install the 5th pod hardware to ferry an engine.
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