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What's This Object On The 747-SP's Wing?

Mr Spaceman From Canada, joined Mar 2001, 2782 posts, RR: 15
Posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 4055 times:

Hi guys.

I'm curious about what the square glass object is that's beside the 2 landing lights on this United Arab Emirates 747-SP-Z5.

I suspect this 747-SP is a government aircraft that flys with VIP's onboard which would explain the radar dome on top of the fuslage (I think that's what it is), and the electronic counter measures (ECM) that are located on the back of each engine pylon for the purpose of detecting a heat seeking surface to air missle (SAM). I think there's also a missle detector under the APU exhaust in the tail cone.

I've seen these ECM missle detectors before on Gulfstream V bizjets and the USA's "Air Force One" 747, but I've never seen a square glass object before like the one in this photo.

Does anyone know what it is?

A guess on my part would be that it's an ECM for detecting lazer guided SAM's or maybe it's simply a camera for some reason.

Check it out ...............

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Photo © D.Lausberg

You can see the ECM's detectors on the engine pylons in these photos.

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Photo © JetPix

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Photo © Tim Feise - AirTeamImages

Thanks,

Chris Smile

"Just a minute while I re-invent myself"

12 replies: All unread, jump to last

CFIcraigAPA From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 223 posts, RR: 4
Reply 1, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 3965 times:

Looks like some kind of IR or imaging sensor. Maybe for synthetic vision?

Prior Proper Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance

Mr Spaceman From Canada, joined Mar 2001, 2782 posts, RR: 15
Reply 2, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 3964 times:

Hello CFIcraigAPA.

Thanks for your reply.

Yeah, I agree with you that it's very possible this object is an Infra Red sensor for some purpose, such as synthetic vision that's generated on a HUD (like many fighter jets have) so that the 747-SP can fly through clouds and the pilots can still see the terrain, or even see a runway when landing in thick fog, etc.

The reason I mentioned a camera as a possibility is because it looks like it has lenses of some sort inside of it.

I tried finding some other -Z5 models of 747-SP's to compare this one to, but it appears to be the only 747-SP-Z5 version.

Chris Smile

"Just a minute while I re-invent myself"

Staffan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 3, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 3946 times:

My guess is that it's for missile detection.

Staffan

S.p.a.s. From Liechtenstein, joined Mar 2001, 954 posts, RR: 3
Reply 4, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 3943 times:

I second Staffans guess...

I would say it is a IR jammer placed in such way that it jams the IR signature from the landing lights (which can be very hot indeed)

Rgds

RS

"ad astra per aspera"

Mr Spaceman From Canada, joined Mar 2001, 2782 posts, RR: 15
Reply 5, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 3932 times:

Hi guys.

OK, so a few of you are thinking that it is for missile detection. Well, I think that S.p.a.s.'s idea of it being used to jam the IR signature from the landing lights makes a lot of sense ............ especially because of it's locations right beside the lights.

What a crazy world we live in eh! Nuts

Chris

"Just a minute while I re-invent myself"

L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29367 posts, RR: 61
Reply 6, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 3784 times:

It sure looks like an IR jammer to me too.

Those landing lights put out some serious heat.

OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.

FredT From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2002, 2184 posts, RR: 26
Reply 7, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 3768 times:

Read a discussion of those a while ago, IR signature detectors to trigger the flare launches if an IR missile is launched IIRC.

Cheers,
Fred

I thought I was doing good trying to avoid those airport hotels... and look at me now.

747Teach From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 176 posts, RR: 1
Reply 8, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 3649 times:

Mr. Spaceman: The rectangle inboard of the landing lights is actually a conditioned air outlet. The copper colored area is the temperature sensor. By closing the pneumatic isolation valve for the number 3 engine, and opening the pneumatic crossbleeds, cold conditioned air will flow through the pneumatic duct and exhaust out the louver you see. This floods the area around the escalator with cool air, so the royal personage will remain comfortable until he enters his limosine. Its good to be the king. Regards,

Wannabe From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 675 posts, RR: 3
Reply 9, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 3574 times:

747Teach,
Somehow I think we are being flooded with more than cool air.

ATCDWC From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 12 posts, RR: 0
Reply 10, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 3526 times:

Seems to be some sort sort of infared detection equipment or something to that effect.

~Chris

Mr Spaceman From Canada, joined Mar 2001, 2782 posts, RR: 15
Reply 11, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 3506 times:

Hi guys.

Thanks for your replies.

>> 747Teach, Yes Sir, just as Mel Brooks said it in "The History Of The World" ........
........"It's good to be the king!"

Your answer sounds great! Infact the chair on the escalator probably has airconditioning vents right in the seat cusion to keep the Royal personage happy. Laugh out loud

I have one question though. Why does this 747-SP have one of these rectangular conditioned air outlets & exhaust louver on both wings??? There's no belly escalator on the port side.

As you can see, they're on both wings.

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These 747-SP's sure look strange & funny from below.

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"Just a minute while I re-invent myself"

747Teach From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 176 posts, RR: 1
Reply 12, posted (9 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 3389 times:

Uhoh, I think they're on to me. Regards,

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