jpmagero From United States of America, joined Apr 2012, 149 posts, RR: 0 Posted (8 months 2 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 3468 times:
Hi - I'm curious - is there anything special about the differences in these engines, besides the visual difference? I apologize, I don't know the technical terms for that part.
N243NW From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 1494 posts, RR: 21 Reply 1, posted (8 months 2 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 3452 times:
Nope. The part I'm sure you're referring to is the spinner on the center of the fan. I'm not an engine expert, but different airlines have been known to use different designs for the spinner for various reasons. Many engines don't have anything painted on the spinner, as you can see from the above aircraft. Perhaps the two engines on this A330 were sourced from different overhaul facilities or airlines.
MarkC From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 259 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (8 months 2 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 3429 times:
Even if the engines were sourced from different overhaulers, its the operator who provides the paint pattern, and it would be the same. I have overhauled spinner cones.
My two guesses:
One is a leased engine.
One is a new part that was replaced after a bird strike or something, and they did not have time to paint it.
BoeingGuy From United States of America, joined Dec 2010, 2315 posts, RR: 7 Reply 5, posted (8 months 2 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 3360 times:
On the 777, at least, the painted spinner is an optional feature. I'm guessing it's the same for the A330. So as others indicated, for whatever reason, this airplane ended up with one engine with the optional paint and the other without.
MarkC From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 259 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (8 months 2 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 3339 times:
FYI, there is no such thing as an unpainted spinner. They all have several coats of Laminar X-500 or equivalent paint. Some maybe pure white, and may seem unpainted. The actual color of the unpainted kevlar layers in the PW4000's is yellow. Not sure of other engines as I have not personally worked on them.
AA737-823 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 5341 posts, RR: 11 Reply 11, posted (8 months 1 week 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 2490 times:
I change a lot of spinner cones.... sigh.
What most likely happened here is that they borrowed one from another carrier, or as someone stated above, one engine is leased.
I believe Swiss PW4000's used the white spinners... But LX was not alone in that.
The other one isn't unpainted, it's simply black.
Now, paint is NOT a requirement; when the paint falls off (which it invariably does), you can keep the spinner flying without it. You simply have to do a visual check for corrosion. But, that said, they all have paint when new or overhauled.
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Apr 2012, 149 posts, 
From India, joined Jan 2001, 31201 posts, 
Sponsor Message: 
Printer friendly format
