Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21460 posts, RR: 24 Posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 3227 times:
I'm curious re the purpose of the narrow unpainted strip on the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer on some (but not all) LH A320-family aircraft. You can see what I mean on the A321 below. It starts about 3 feet above the fuselage and goes almost all the way to the top.
flyinTLow From Germany, joined Oct 2004, 501 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 3054 times:
Leading edges often have this as this is where hail and birds and other FOD in the air will most likely hit. Easier to replace and does not require repainting...
KELPkid From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 5929 posts, RR: 4 Reply 3, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 3048 times:
Is this a de-iced surface? I would think that the L/E of the vertical stabilizer probably is heated with bleed air...
Celebrating the birth of KELPkidJR on August 5, 2009 :-)
KELPkid From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 5929 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 3043 times:
Is this a de-iced surface? I would think that the L/E of the vertical stabilizer probably is heated with bleed air...
Celebrating the birth of KELPkidJR on August 5, 2009 :-)
tdscanuck From Canada, joined Jan 2006, 12709 posts, RR: 81 Reply 5, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 2980 times:
Quoting Viscount724 (Thread starter):
I'm curious re the purpose of the narrow unpainted strip on the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer on some (but not all) LH A320-family aircraft.
Where does the A320 put the HF antenna? I couldn't find any documentation on this but the vertical fin leading edge is a really common place for it. HF is optional on the A320.
Quoting KELPkid (Reply 3): Is this a de-iced surface? I would think that the L/E of the vertical stabilizer probably is heated with bleed air...
I'm not aware of any large airliner with deiced empennage.
N243NW From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 1491 posts, RR: 21 Reply 6, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 2963 times:
Quoting tdscanuck (Reply 5): I'm not aware of any large airliner with deiced empennage.
Not quite sure what your criterion for "large" is, but I know that the EMB-145 series and the DC-8, DC-9 and MD-80 all have tail de-ice systems. I can't speak for the others, but on the MD-80 it is activated manually from the cockpit by diverting bleed air from the wings to the tail for a short period of time. The wings and empennage cannot be de-iced simultaneously. Prior to landing, the crew typically cycles the tail de-ice one last time during descent to make sure the empennage is uncontaminated.
I am not aware of any A320 series aircraft with tail de-icing or anti-icing capabilities. As tdscanuck mentioned, the strip in the photo is likely to be an HF antenna.
EDIT: Judging by this diagram I dredged up, it may not be an antenna. A reinforced leading edge like others have mentioned sounds like the most likely option.
320tech From Turks and Caicos Islands, joined May 2004, 487 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 2948 times:
The A320 fin is composite, and the leading edge is protected by heavy duty aluminum tape to prevent erosion. I often see the tape getting replaced.
The tail is not de-iced, only the outboard slats (3, 4, & 5) and the engine nose cowls.
I believe the HF antenna, when fitted, goes along the leading edge of the fin.
The primary function of the design engineer is to make things difficult for the manufacturer and impossible for the AME.
KELPkid From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 5929 posts, RR: 4 Reply 10, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 2618 times:
Quoting HAWK21M (Reply 8): The Aerodynamic airflow will prevent ice buildup.
Is it that, or is it more that ice accretion on the vertical stabilizer isn't that critical? I would tend to think it is the latter, as aerodynamic flow doesn't prevent ice buildup on wings, hence the reason we have boots and/or heated leading edges
Celebrating the birth of KELPkidJR on August 5, 2009 :-)
HAWK21M From India, joined Jan 2001, 31201 posts, RR: 58 Reply 11, posted (1 year 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 2475 times:
Quoting KELPkid (Reply 10): Is it that, or is it more that ice accretion on the vertical stabilizer isn't that critical? I would tend to think it is the latter, as aerodynamic flow doesn't prevent ice buildup on wings, hence the reason we have boots and/or heated leading edges
The Topic was referring to the Vetrical Stablizer LE ........
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