1821 From Greece, joined Jul 2007, 271 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 2 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 19456 times:
Hi all i was wandering. A few years back 2003 i travelled to Manchester from SYD via LHR to watch the champions league final ( Milan vs Juventus Milan won on penalities ) and noticed something rather odd at LHR. To me it looked like an MD-11 or DC-10 but when i had a closer look it was a 747 ( it looked like a 747 ) with a 5th pod in the tail !!!
I kid u not it most definately had an engine in the tail and looked like a 747. It was white and i didn't notice any other markings on it. To this day i still can't find any info on it or what it is or even if it was a 747 with a "5th" engine in the tail.
This is no joke but a rather weird looking plane. If anyone could shed some light on this it will greatly be appreciated. Cheers happy spotting!!!
1821 From Greece, joined Jul 2007, 271 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (5 years 2 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 19010 times:
Yep thats it exept it was in white !!!!!!!!! thanx so so so so so so much Ba1978 , Geo772. When i arrive in LHR again we might meet up 4 some spotting cheers lads!!!
LHR777 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (5 years 2 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 18940 times:
It's been there a while now, and was designed to allow the training of fire crews on both double-deck aircraft (a la 747/A380) and tri-jets with high-mounted engines, when they frequented LHR on a regular basis. It does look quite bizarre though!
Albird87 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (5 years 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 18610 times:
Quoting LHR777 (Reply 8): It's been there a while now, and was designed to allow the training of fire crews on both double-deck aircraft (a la 747/A380) and tri-jets with high-mounted engines, when they frequented LHR on a regular basis. It does look quite bizarre though!
Yep spot on!
MAN also has one of these. Very odd aircraft to look at but it does its job in keeping the fireboys trained and ready to go in the event that they are needed!
I have travelled waaay too many times now into and out of LHR and actually I have never ever seen training on this aircraft!
I have seen on the tele (the the program airport!) this aircraft being used to traing a crew from Bermuda but never in use while im at LHR!
Quoting LHR777 (Reply 8):
It's been there a while now, and was designed to allow the training of fire crews on both double-deck aircraft (a la 747/A380) and tri-jets with high-mounted engines, when they frequented LHR on a regular basis. It does look quite bizarre though!
Yep spot on!
MAN also has one of these. Very odd aircraft to look at but it does its job in keeping the fireboys trained and ready to go in the event that they are needed!
I have travelled waaay too many times now into and out of LHR and actually I have never ever seen training on this aircraft!
I have seen on the tele (the the program airport!) this aircraft being used to traing a crew from Bermuda but never in use while im at LHR!
They have one at STN as well. I was observing a training once when I had an internship at the airport, so they picked me up. I have to say, I really enjoyed watching the whole show. Pretty amazing what they can simulate with that thing.
GlobeEx
As you may presently yourself be fully made aware of, my grammar sucks.
N14AZ From Germany, joined Feb 2007, 2313 posts, RR: 25 Reply 13, posted (5 years 2 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 15798 times:
Quoting 1821 (Thread starter): like an MD-11 or DC-10 but when i had a closer look it was a 747 ( it looked like a 747 ) with a 5th pod in the tail !!!
Xtoler From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 942 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (5 years 2 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 15543 times:
DTWclipper, where did you find that picture? That's awesome! Would that be what could have come about if Lockheed and Boeing hooked up in the late '60's?
1821, APU is the auxillary power unit. When the engines aren't running, there is a small engine that runs the aircraft, instead of having to use a ground power unit. Funny thing is, they have been made smaller and more efficient, but instead of installing them on aircraft, tractor trailer cabs have them now.
On a side note, 1821, if you were really to see a 5 jet 747, send me some of that Ouzo your drinking. The Ouzo I can only find here in the States sucks. Just kidding.
EMB145 F/A, F/E, J41 F/A, F/E, because my wife clipped my wings, armchair captain
Chase From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 1054 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (5 years 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 14427 times:
My local airport, IND, also has a fire-training aircraft on the field. It is an all-white 727. Last time I was spotting at BOS I saw smoke/flames repeatedly appear in the field and then be extinguished, but I couldn't tell exactly what they were lighting and putting out.
PillowTester From United States of America, joined Nov 2004, 243 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (5 years 2 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 12801 times:
Quoting Leezyjet (Reply 16): Think you might be needing that Ouzo
Dtwclipper From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (5 years 2 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 12319 times:
Quoting Xtoler (Reply 14): DTWclipper, where did you find that picture? That's awesome! Would that be what could have come about if Lockheed and Boeing hooked up in the late '60's?
That was an actual study by Boeing for a three holer to counter the L1011 & DC-10. It would have been able to use LGA for short/medium hauls.
Iflyac From Canada, joined Jun 2007, 50 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (5 years 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 7580 times:
There is a photo of this 747 somewhere on a.net. I saw it one day in the background of a BA photo someone posted. I took a double take, but wasn't sure if it was just an L1011.
What was it we had for dinner tonight? Well, we had a choice of steak or fish. Yes, yes, I remember, I had lasagna.
Pilotboi From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 2366 posts, RR: 10 Reply 22, posted (5 years 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 7251 times:
Quoting 1821 (Reply 3): No Pilotboi it is not a stupid question. I have no idea what an APU is so unfortunately i cannot answer that.
While the original question has been answered, I thought I'd share with you some info about APUs...
An APU (auxiliary power unit) is basically another jet engine, usually in the tail of an aircraft, used to generate power and air to use on the ground when the engines are not running and external hook-ups are not available. One major difference are that the inlet is usually somewhat hidden, and it is not a standard straight-through type of engine. The other major difference is the size. They are quite smaller then the main engines, relatively.
On the 747, like most other airliners, the exhaust of the APU is the very end of the fuselage, as seen here:
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21460 posts, RR: 24 Reply 24, posted (5 years 1 week 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 6274 times:
Quoting Point8six (Reply 1): It's a mock aircraft for the airport fire services to practice on.
There is (or was) an almost identical mockup fire training aircraft at AMS that looks like a cross between a 747 and DC-10. It was painted green.
25 Starlionblue: I saw a post years ago that described an overheard conversation aboard an aircraft taxiing past the training mockup at LHR: She: "That plane is on fir
26 TSS: I saw a similar aircraft parked across the runway from the terminal at RNO some time ago. Since it appeared to have some serious smoke damage, I figu
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exept it was in white !!!!!!!!! thanx so so so so so so much Ba1978 , Geo772. When i arrive in LHR again we might meet up 4 some spotting cheers lads!!!
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