Airliners.net

I walk to the station each morning and overhead, the overnight a/c from across the pond, circle for finals to LHR. Each day, I usually see a couple of 744's and 777's etc, and I have noticed that some of them have metal coloured strips on the bottom. They stand out a lot against the blue of a BA or United a/c. These look like panels of some sort and are almost a third the length of the a/c.

Mostly, I see them on the 777's, and 767 a/c and I am baffled to what they might be?

they look like bomb doors on a bomber a/c...if you know what I mean.

Now im doubting that they are replacement panels - if they are....is there a problem with the panels on these a/c types?

I believe they are vents that get masked off when the a/c is painted for ease of maintenance.

seriously?

The bottoms of many airplanes are not painted. Hydraulic fluid tends to coat the underside and peels the paint off.

Well these ones were painted!

Does anyone know what they are? Ground people???