I mean landing gears are retracted and definitely not on display pole. So why both the doors are open?
1) Is it Russian way of getting fresh air? ( I would buy this if we confirm Heater/AC was broken )
2) Sight seeing flight?
3) Cargo ramp agent was too lazy ?
4) Some kind of test flight?
-- Did not find any thread related to pic.Moderator delete the thread if duplicate.
aloges From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 8358 posts, RR: 47 Reply 2, posted (5 months 21 hours ago) and read 10675 times:
It's a test flight for their new contract with Santa Claus. He figured that he needed a backup in case his sleigh got damaged and Antonov provided a suitable cargo aircraft with airdrop capabilities - not a year too soon, either!
Walk together, talk together all ye peoples of the earth. Then, and only then, shall ye have peace.
longhauler From Canada, joined Mar 2004, 4281 posts, RR: 36 Reply 3, posted (5 months 21 hours ago) and read 10656 times:
I would imagine they are testing some sort of procedure, as I cant even imagine the hydraulic pressure required to hold the doors open at any flying speed.
I wonder what procedure it would be though, as there must be some mechanism built for this. There also appears to be a step extended in place on both sides, when the door is open.
Never gonna grow up, never gonna slow down .... Barefoot Blue Jean Night
solarflyer22 From US Minor Outlying Islands, joined Nov 2009, 395 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (5 months 13 hours ago) and read 9205 times:
It's a military aircraft and is no doubt capable of dropping paratroopers. Usually you'd drop them out the back where its safer but maybe its alternate jump point.
rfields5421 From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 6150 posts, RR: 25 Reply 11, posted (5 months 13 hours ago) and read 8913 times:
Quoting kanban (Reply 7): My thought was jump doors especially with the jump platform extended.. but right into the props??/
Looking at photos of the aircraft from head on and on the ground - anyone exiting the door would be well clear of the props or even the immediate prop wash.
The props are about a 2/3 of a prop diameter from the fuselage and they are much higher than the bottom of the door.
TWA772LR From United States of America, joined Nov 2011, 762 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (5 months 13 hours ago) and read 8869 times:
Quoting rfields5421 (Reply 11): Looking at photos of the aircraft from head on and on the ground - anyone exiting the door would be well clear of the props or even the immediate prop wash.
How about a parachute? Aren't those designed to open as soon as the trooper is out the door?
There's nothing like the smell of Jet-A in the morning. It smells like... VICTORY!!!
rfields5421 From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 6150 posts, RR: 25 Reply 15, posted (5 months 11 hours ago) and read 8133 times:
Quoting TWA772LR (Reply 12): Aren't those designed to open as soon as the trooper is out the door?
See the photo
Though the static line will start to pull the pack releases in just a few feet, the trooper will be well clear of the aircraft before the chute deploys fully.
francoflier From France, joined Oct 2001, 3196 posts, RR: 10 Reply 18, posted (5 months 4 hours ago) and read 5453 times:
Quoting DIJKKIJK (Reply 17): Even 16 years after its first flight, the AN-70 is yet to find a customer.
I've always wondered what a joint venture with EADS to bring it to requirements would have given...
It would have been a chaotic collaboration, but I'm guessing the resulting aircraft could have been a very interesting product indeed, and certainly cheaper than the A400.
Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit posting...
flightsimer From United States of America, joined Aug 2009, 409 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (5 months 3 hours ago) and read 4773 times:
Quoting Spacepope (Reply 10): The US transports since the C-130 have all used side drop doors, just aft of the wing.
Actually, I believe all US transports capable of paratrooper drops have been out doors from behind the wing.
C-46, C-47, C-123, C-130, C-141, C-17
The C-123 was the first cargo plane that featured the rear cargo ramp. It required that the side doors be removed completely prior to flight for paratrooper dropping. There is an escape hatch in the floor just behind the cockpit on the main floor for use by people from the front of the plane in ditching because if you jump out the front side door, your going right into the prop.
Spacepope From Vatican City, joined Dec 1999, 2739 posts, RR: 1 Reply 21, posted (5 months ago) and read 3297 times:
Quoting DIJKKIJK (Reply 17):
Even 16 years after its first flight, the AN-70 is yet to find a customer.
There are orders for 65 of them: 5 for Volga Dnepr, 60 for RuAF. This prototype just started flying again in September after a massive upgrade program (avionics to reduce crew to 4, propellers for noise: see the new engine nacelles int he photo)
rfields5421 From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 6150 posts, RR: 25 Reply 22, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 2300 times:
Quoting DIJKKIJK (Reply 17): Even 16 years after its first flight, the AN-70 is yet to find a customer.
Why don't they just scrap it or put it in a museum?
The AN-70 is another case of an aircraft appearing at the wrong time. It first flew right as the Soviet Union collapsed and the design customer - the Soviet Air Force - suddenly collapsed.
Which also put hundreds of AN-12 aircraft on the market, cheap, very, very cheap.
Given the birthing problems of the AM400, going back to make the AN-70 a potential competitor is probably a good business decision. Only time will tell.
But there are a lot of old AN-12 transports what need to be replaced by something.
MD11Engineer From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 13342 posts, RR: 64 Reply 23, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 2200 times:
Quoting DIJKKIJK (Reply 17): Even 16 years after its first flight, the AN-70 is yet to find a customer.
Why don't they just scrap it or put it in a museum?
Actually in the 1990s the Germans were interested in a joint venture with Antonov to produce a NATO compliant version of the AN-70, but the French government insisted on some old contract for what would now be the A400M and insisted that Germany would have to pay a huge fine if they would leave the project.
747to380to787 From United States of America, joined Jan 2008, 5 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (4 months 4 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2083 times:
Just curious- those door hinges must be strong and there must be some drag due to distortion of aerodynamic shape of plane. Wouldn't it make sense to have that door opens inside ? Like what SOFIA does.
[Edited 2012-12-25 15:12:11]
25 rfields5421: The purpose of the door opening out is to provide realtively low airflow for the exit point. Otherwise the troops would have to fight their way out t
27 FYODOR: That is an answer, mate. Who nowdays care on cheap projects? Always think about the beneficiaries if you talk about state money, never about tax paye
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