Mr Spaceman From Canada, joined Mar 2001, 2780 posts, RR: 15 Posted (11 years 5 months 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1507 times:
Hi guys.
In the photo below of the Tupolev TU-154 you can see 3 dark round objects with small holes in them on the belly of the aircraft. What are these things? I don't believe I've ever seen these circular objects on the fuselage of any Boeing or Airbus airliners. They look like drains. Could they be that simple?
Also, you can clearly see the large air intakes on the leading edge of each wing near the root. What system in the aircraft are these used for? Could they be the intakes for air conditioning Heat Exchangers? (I'm sorry if these intakes have already been disscused).
Airplay From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (11 years 5 months 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 1347 times:
The round objects look alot like radio altimeter antennas. They usually come in pairs though so unless there's a fourth one, they are probably something else.
Mr Spaceman From Canada, joined Mar 2001, 2780 posts, RR: 15 Reply 4, posted (11 years 5 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1308 times:
Hello Gentlemen. Thanks for your replies.
OK, Christianbothe says the intakes on the Tu-154's wing roots are infact for the aircraft's AC Heat Exchangers and that the fairings you can see behind these intakes are part of the exhaust for the AC packs. This is what I suspected, because most (if not all) North American built airliners have their Environmental Control Systems in the belly of the aircraft, between the wings near the landing gear bays. Different countries build different designs, however, I didn't think these intakes were fuel tank vents.
Both A/c train & Airplay have the round objects along the belly of the TU-154 up in the air. Are they Static Ports? Or are they Radio Altimeter Antennes? Obviously I don't know...and I'm thinking that any confusion over the apearance of these objects could be contributed to the fact that we don't get to see the underside of a Russian built airliner to often.
I've watched thousands of airliners fly over my head while on very short final, and have never spotted these round objects on their bellies. Perhaps they were there, but were painted the same colour as the airliner's belly...however, I doubt it.
Here's a photo of an Airbus A319's belly. I don't see any round objects. But, the pix is blurry and the nosegear is in the way.
Vc10 From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2001, 1381 posts, RR: 17 Reply 5, posted (11 years 5 months 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 1303 times:
Airplay.
I think you are correct, when you say they radio altimeter aerials, but ATC transponder's also have aerials like these so it could be a combination of both.
If ever you can catch aview of the Concorde's underside around the nose leg you will find four similar round aerials ---two for the radio altimeter and two for the ATC transponder.
Mr Spaceman From Canada, joined Mar 2001, 2780 posts, RR: 15 Reply 6, posted (11 years 5 months 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 1296 times:
Hi guys.
Here's some photos of the underside of the concorde, which show the round circles that are used for both radio altimeters and ATC transponders...as mentioned by Vc10.
Seseal From Russia, joined Jul 2000, 19 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (11 years 5 months 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1272 times:
The round objects, 3 of them which can be seen on the shot, 4 total (another one is located a bit forward and not seen) are RA antennas, 2 xmitting + 2 receiving. I know that for sure. regards.
Wasilenko From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (11 years 5 months 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 1294 times:
I'm not exactly sure but I think that these black spots are the hard points. If you take a look at the following pictures you will see that there is one support leg which is located aproximately in the area of the spots.
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